Teeth whitening is all the rage today and there are a number of options to choose from if you are suffering from stained, dull or discolored teeth.  Our Georgetown dentists recommend having a teeth whitening procedure performed by a trained dental professional to achieve optimum results.  Let us advise you on the best teeth whitening method available for your individual needs.

Unfortunately, too many times, people turn to products widely available at the local supermarket or over the Internet in hopes of achieving a brighter, whiter smile.  The problem is that in the commercially available products, the whitening agents in these teeth whitening systems is formulated at a much lower dosage than that of what you would receive from a dental professional like that of our Georgetown dentists.  You are only looking at concentrations of 3%-10% in a store-bought system, while your professional teeth whitening system will be much higher, at 15%-43%.  Naturally, the higher the hydrogen peroxide concentration, the better results you will achieve.

Many times teeth whitening offered by our Georgetown dentists can achieve shades 8-10 shades whiter, while store brands will generally only get you 1-3 shades whiter.  Also, the commercial products, including trays, pastes, strips and paint on liquids, will take anywhere from 7-14 days to see any results and will usually revert if you stop using the system.  Our teeth whitening system, performed by a Georgetown dentist trained in its application, can be done in the office in about an hour.  For some people with resistant discoloration follow-up visits will be required, but the initial results will be virtually immediate.

Another unfortunate problem some people encounter when opting not to choose a professional teeth whitening system, and instead purchasing one of those recently hyped products currently being offered on the Internet, is that they end up being the unwitting victims of a scam.  Not to mention that we are unaware of any of these “celebrity-type” products being effective.  Some people have complained about being charged as much as $78 dollars for a product advertised as being a free sample after they unknowingly signed up for a program that allowed their credit cards to be charged every month.  Contact information for these companies is not listed so getting a refund is next to impossible.  We strongly caution buyer beware when purchasing teeth whitening products via the Internet.  Use a reputable, well-known company if you decide to go this route.

A better option, though, is to have your teeth whitening done professionally by one of our Georgetown dentists.  When done properly, professional teeth whitening is safe and effective and can last for as long as five years.  This is much longer than any result you may achieve with a do-it-yourself kit and the savings you will reap over the long term are likely to be well worth the up- front cost for achieving the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.