Laser Teeth Whitening

Laser Teeth Whitening

Laser teeth whitening is an extremely popular cosmetic dentistry procedure that whitens and brightens teeth in just one visit to Dr. Angela E. Mulrooney. More and more people of all ages are seeking out this exciting procedure because it not only makes their smile brighter, it lifts their spirits and improves their quality of life. Several of our patients claim that they feel happier since their teeth have been professionally whitened in our office. Laser teeth whitening (also known as light-activated teeth whitening) is a fairly new method of whitening teeth and can make your teeth significantly whiter!
Laser teeth whitening involves using a beam of special laser light on the desired areas of the mouth. One of the many advantages to this procedure is it can be completed in just one visit! Another reason laser teeth whitening is so popular is in addition to only taking about an hour, you can see the results immediately. Laser teeth whitening uses hydrogen peroxide gel or carbamide peroxide gel, both of which are strong bleaching agents in the form of a gel. The gels are put directly on the tooth’s enamel, and the laser beam activates the whitening gel. Your teeth will appear ten shades whiter in just one treatment.

Popular Laser Whitening Treatments

Most dental offices use one of three laser whitening treatments: Zoom!, BriteSmile and Sapphire. With all three whitening systems, the translucent bleaching gel is applied to the teeth, and a laser beam activates the crystals to absorb the energy from the light and penetrate the enamel to increase the lightening effect on the teeth. The length of time necessary for whitening your teeth depends on how discolored your teeth are; after an thorough evaluation, we can estimate how long the procedure will take.
After the in-office whitening process is complete, we will create a custom-made whitening tray for you to take home. At-home whitening is a very important part of the whole process. The whitening kit we give you to use at home ensures that the correct amount of whitening solution is used and that your teeth are properly exposed to the whitening solution. The custom-made tray provides a much better fit than a one-size-fits-all mouth tray that you will find on store shelves.
The steps in the home whitening kit are very easy, and we will go over them with you so you understand exactly what needs to be done at home. We will be available to check your teeth and answer any questions you may have during the process.
At home, you will have the tray with solution in your mouth for a couple of hours, depending on the level of discoloration you have. We may advise you to keep the tray in your mouth overnight. Typically, you will follow your home teeth whitening regimen for two to three weeks, after which time you will return to our office for a follow-up visit.

Whitening Pros and Cons

We believe in giving our patients both the pros and cons to whitening, so you can make an educated decision to determine if you want to proceed. Since people find members of the opposite sex more attractive when they have a white, bright smile, one advantage to teeth whitening is that it makes you feel more appealing. When people have a bright, white smile, they tend to smile more and are less self-conscious. A whiter smile tends to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, which gives you a more youthful, vibrant appearance. White, bright smiles exude confidence, success and happiness. People report a generally better quality of life with whiter teeth.
Laser teeth whitening is very effective, but the bleach can cause soreness in the gums and teeth. If you are sensitive to chemicals, please tell us this early on, so we can test your sensitivity to the bleaching solution.
Another drawback to whitening is that some patients experience discomfort when wearing the mouth tray at home. The discomfort does not last long, but if it does not go away in a day or two, please give us a call so we can schedule a follow-up appointment. We may be able to make adjustments to lessen the discomfort you feel at home.
If you would like to learn more about laser teeth whitening, please contact Dr. Angela E. Mulrooney today to schedule a new patient oral health examination.