Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that brightens and whitens the shade of your teeth. Often, our teeth become discolored from years of coffee, tea, wine, and smoking. Teeth whitening can eliminate these dental stains and give you back your pearly whites!

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  • Professional teeth whitening

Professional teeth whitening is the most effective method for whitening teeth. The treatment is performed under the supervision of a dentist. A dental professional will carefully evaluate a patient’s teeth and clean discoloration from the teeth before whitening the teeth with a whitening solution. In this procedure, the dentist uses a highly concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide that will penetrate the dental enamel and eliminate stains effectively. A professional teeth whitening treatment can make the teeth brighter up to 8 shades.

  • At-home teeth whitening

While professional teeth whitening solutions are more potent, at-home teeth whitening kits can be effective for removing stains and making your teeth a few shades whiter. At-home whitening kits use a peroxide-based whitening gel. The gel is placed in custom-fitted trays that help prevent the gel from touching your gums. The trays are worn for a certain amount of time every day for up to two weeks.

When is teeth whitening recommended?

Teeth whitening can be used to address many common aesthetic dental concerns. These include:

  • Discoloration related to aging, tobacco use, and consumption of staining food and beverages
  • Yellowing associated with the use of certain medications
  • Staining that goes deeper than the enamel, such as tetracycline staining
  • Surface stains related to pregnancy
  • Surface stains related to tooth injury, such as tooth chipping
  • Stains related to orthodontic treatment
  • Stains caused by certain tooth conditions, such as enamel defects, tooth infection, and tooth trauma

Teeth whitening is also often recommended before or during cosmetic dental work, such as dental veneers or dental crowns. This helps ensure that the new dental work matches the appearance of your natural teeth.

Is teeth whitening safe?

Teeth whitening is completely safe when performed by a dental professional. It’s recommended to get your teeth whitened by a dentist rather than doing it yourself, however. Your dentist has access to stronger whitening chemicals, as well as professional tools that can ensure you reach your whitening goals.

You may schedule a consultation with our Dentist in San Francisco, CA, by calling us at (650) 794-0203 or by reaching us through an online query. We’re always happy to help.