At Downtown Dental of Hamilton, we can help brighten your smile with in-office professional teeth whitening. Ask your dentist if this procedure is right for you.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Seeking a safe, effective way to remove stains and lighten the colour of your teeth? You may want to consider professional teeth whitening.
As we age, our teeth become more vulnerable to staining from food and other substances. Particles are naturally attracted to your tooth enamel, and products like berries, tea, coffee and tobacco are well-known for staining teeth.
The bleaching agents used in the teeth whitening process are designed to reverse the effects of ageing and staining, lightening the colour of your teeth.
Teeth Whitening in Hamilton: Our Process
Teeth whitening solutions contain peroxide-based bleaching agents. Oxygen acts on the tooth enamel as the active ingredient breaks down and creates the whitening effect.
In-Office ZOOM! Teeth Whitening
At Downtown Dental of Hamilton, we offer ZOOM! ® professional in-office teeth whitening to lighten your smile within a one-hour appointment.
During your teeth whitening procedure, your lips and gums will be covered with an isolation material to protect them from sensitivity before the whitening gel is applied.
A special ZOOM! light is used to activate the gel and break down stains and discolouration on your teeth.
This process takes about 15 minutes and will be repeated up to three times during your appointment.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Here are some answers to our most frequently asked questions about teeth whitening at Downtown Dental of Hamilton.
- How long do the effects of teeth whitening last?
Keep in mind that a teeth whitening procedure won't permanently brighten your teeth.
If you continue to expose your teeth to foods and drinks that cause staining, you'll likely start to see the whiteness fade after a few months.
If you avoid foods and drinks after your teeth whitening treatment, you might just require a touch-up after a year or so.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
Sensitivity is typically a short-term side effect to teeth whitening and for most patients. It will fade away within a few days following a whitening session.
To reduce any discomfort, we recommend using an anti-sensitivity toothpaste before treatment and for at least two weeks after your treatment.
- Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
Yellow and brown-coloured stains respond the best to teeth whitening treatments.
Grey, blue and purple-coloured stains tend not to respond to whitening at all. For teeth with these types of stains, patients may be better candidates for cosmetic treatments such as veneers or dental crowns.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. It does not work on existing dental restorations such as veneers or dental crowns.
If veneers or crowns are part of your treatment plan, teeth whitening should take place before you receive your dental restorations.
- Will teeth whitening damage my tooth enamel?
If used under the supervision of a qualified dentist, it is very unlikely that teeth whitening will damage your dental enamel.
Always consult with your dentist to ensure that you are choosing the safest teeth whitening products and procedures.
- Does insurance cover the cost of teeth whitening?
Dental insurance does not usually cover the cost of teeth whitening because it is a purely cosmetic procedure with no health benefits for your teeth.