If you’re not satisfied with the color of your smile, your dentist may recommend teeth whitening. This is a simple and quick procedure that many people use to brighten their teeth, but if you’ve never had it done before, you may be wondering what’s involved and what to expect. Here are three simple steps to the teeth whitening process.

A Guide to Teeth Whitening

1. Preparation   

The dentist or a dental hygienist will begin by putting a polishing paste on your teeth and doing a general cleaning. This ensures that any plaque on the teeth is removed, and they are a fresh canvas to work on.

Your dentist will also have a “shade chart.” This is used to identify the current shade of your teeth so they can compare it to the end result and see how effective the treatment was.

2. Protection

The peroxide whiteners used on your teeth during the treatment can sometimes irritate the surrounding gums and tissue. Therefore, your dentist will try to isolate your teeth from the rest of your mouth before starting. They may use a cheek retractor, cotton balls, gauze, or a mouth guard so that your teeth will be separated from your cheeks and tongue. This will allow your dentist to use the whitening chemical without having to worry about it coming into contact with anything but your teeth.

3. Application

Your dentist will then begin to apply the whitener, which comes in gel-form, on each individual tooth. You'll get to rest as you wait for the bleaching gel to take effect. Some whitening solutions work by shining a bleaching light or laser onto the gel. This is called “activating” the whitener. Once enough time has passed, you can rinse out your mouth and look in the mirror to see your new smile.

If you’re ready to upgrade your smile with teeth whitening treatment, contact the professionals at Daniel M Hamrick DDS in China Grove, NC. Dr. Hamrick and his staff provide a variety of dental services in a friendly and welcoming environment to patients throughout Rowan County. Whether you’re in need of a routine check-up, a root canal, or dental implants, Dr. Hamrick and his team are committed to giving you quality service while answering any questions you may have along the way. For more information, visit them online or call (704) 857-7497.