every visit ends with a smile

• By Verdugo Hills Dental
• Cosmetic Dentistry
• October 2, 2023

Discolored or stained teeth can leave a negative first impression in both personal and professional settings. It may also make you reluctant to smile, reducing your overall happiness and quality of life.

In-office teeth whitening is a non-invasive, quick, and pain-free procedure that’ll give you a bright and white smile.

Schedule an appointment with the best teeth whitening dentist in Glendale, CA to rejuvenate your smile and get your confidence back.

Do you still have questions about this dental treatment? Here, we’ll go over everything you need to know about teeth whitening.

Let’s get started!

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is a non-invasive process that lightens and brightens the color of your teeth. It’s one of the most sought-after cosmetic dental procedures because it significantly enhances your smile’s appearance.

Why Do You Need Teeth Whitening?

Even if you diligently brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily, teeth can still develop stains and yellowing.

The main culprits of teeth staining and yellowing are: 

• Dark-colored foods and drinks such as coffee, red wine, and tea
• Tobacco smoking and chewing
• Certain medications

These factors negatively affect the appearance of your smile, which can:

• Make you look older and less vibrant
• Affect your self-esteem and how others perceive you
• In some cases, limit career opportunities

If your teeth are stained, yellowish, or greyish, we can help. Schedule an initial consultation with our teeth whitening dentist in Glendale, CA.

Visiting a Teeth Whitening Dentist — Before and After 

After visiting a teeth whitening dentist, your teeth will be noticeably whiter right after the treatment. You may also experience temporary tooth sensitivity, but it will fade quickly.

Can I Get My Teeth Whitened?

Yes, most people can get their teeth whitened, but it’s best to consult with a teeth-whitening dentist. Call Dr. Vahag Hakopyan for personalized advice.

This is because the effectiveness of the treatment depends on several factors, for instance:

• Dental problems, like cavities, should be treated before whitening
• Receding gums or tooth decay may lead to increased tooth sensitivity during and after whitening
• Teeth whitening doesn’t work on porcelain crowns or veneers

These are just a few examples. Most people can consider tooth whitening, but each case is unique.

Schedule an appointment at our Glendale, CA dental office to get a comprehensive assessment and find out if teeth whitening is the right treatment for you.

Teeth Whitening Options at the Dentist & Types of Whitening

The teeth whitening options available at the dentist are:

• Getting in-office, professional-grade teeth whitening performed by a dentist in a single appointment
• Buying whitening kits, consisting of custom-made trays and professional grade gel, to use at home

Additionally, there are two types of whitening procedures:

• Chemical teeth whitening procedures, using bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide
• Light-activated whitening procedures, combining chemical whitening with a special light that enhances the process

Procedure for Teeth Whitening Dentist Treatment in Glendale, CA — Standard Steps

Generally, a teeth whitening dentist treatment is done as follows:

1. Assessment: The dentist examines your teeth and gums to ensure you’re a suitable candidate for whitening. They also assess your current teeth shade.
2. Preparation: The dentist polishes your teeth to remove surface plaque and debris, and uses protective measures (e.g., shielding your gums from the whitening solution).
3. Application: A whitening gel or solution is applied directly to your teeth. It penetrates enamel, oxidizing and whitening your teeth.
4. Activation: In some cases, a special light or laser is used to activate the whitening agent.
5. Waiting Period: Wait for a specified time while the whitening agent works.
6. Rinse and Evaluation: The whitening solution is rinsed off, and the results are evaluated. Additional sessions may be needed to achieve the desired results. Fluoride may be used to ease tooth sensitivity.
7. Post-Treatment Care: You’ll get aftercare instructions to maintain your newly whitened teeth.

Teeth Whitening Pros and Cons

Professional-grade teeth whitening comes with several pros, for example:

• It enhances the appearance of your smile and can boost your self-confidence.
• It’s a non-surgical, minimally invasive cosmetic procedure.
• It’s quick — it often provides noticeable results in 15-60 mins.
• It’s customizable since there are various methods to suit individual preferences and needs.
• It’s reversible and adjustable. 

But there are also cons to this procedure, including the fact that:

• It can cause tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, albeit temporarily.
• It can cause gum irritation during or after treatment.
• Results can vary depending on the cause of staining and individual factors.

FAQs About In-Office Teeth Whitening Procedures

Can Teeth Whitening Truly Remove Stains Off of My Teeth?

Yes, teeth whitening procedures can effectively remove tooth stains, including those caused by pigment-rich foods, beverages, and tobacco.

Does Whitening Toothpaste Really Work?

Whitening toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide can help remove surface stains, but it’s ineffective at removing deeper stains. Professional treatments are needed in this case.

Are At-Home Kits Better than Teeth Whitening Dentist Procedures?

Dentist procedures often yield more dramatic and long-lasting results compared to at-home kits since they use professional-grade whitening agents and custom trays.

What’s the Safety of Teeth Whitening at Dental Clinics?

Teeth whitening at dental clinics is safe and effective.

Dental professionals use safe and approved whitening products, do proper case-by-case evaluations, and take precautions that minimize risks and ensure patient safety.

Is the Agent Used in Teeth Whitening Toxic?

The whitening agent used in teeth whitening, typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, is not toxic when used as directed.

Dental professionals follow safety guidelines to ensure the safe application and non-toxicity of whitening agents.

Does Teeth Whitening Cause Permanent Tooth Sensitivity? Is Teeth Whitening Painful?

The teeth whitening procedure is not painful.

In addition, sensitivity from tooth whitening is temporary. It typically goes away within one to two days after treatment, and patients return to the sensitivity level they had before the procedure.

In reality, sensitivity can be more significant with store-bought kits due to ill-fitting trays compared to custom trays from a dentist.

How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

The cost varies depending on the method. In-office professional treatments can range from $300 to $1,800 or more.

What Factors Affect the Whiteness of Your Smile?

The main factors affecting the whiteness of your smile are:

• Your oral hygiene: Brushing twice a day and flossing daily is essential.
• Your food intake: Teeth-staining foods like coffee, red wine, tea, blueberries, tomato sauce, and curries can have a major impact on the color of your teeth.
• Tobacco and smoke: Smoking causes brown stains on teeth that are hard to remove with brushing.

How to Prepare My Teeth for Teeth Whitening?

To prepare your teeth for teeth whitening, the dentist will start by cleaning them to remove tartar and plaque. Then, they’ll apply desensitizing toothpaste with strontium chloride and potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity.

Does Teeth Whitening Affect Fillings, Veneers, or Crowns?

Teeth whitening doesn’t significantly affect restorative materials like porcelain or crowns. However, it may temporarily reduce the bond strength between enamel and composite restorations.

Contact us to schedule an appointment with our teeth whitening dentist in Glendale, CA, to find out whether this procedure is compatible with your existing dental work.

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?

Professional-grade teeth whitening results typically last one to three years, with some studies showing up to 10 years. It depends on your oral hygiene habits and lifestyle.

How to Maintain Whitened Teeth?

To maintain whitened teeth results, you need to practice good oral hygiene, avoid staining substances, and schedule periodic touch-up treatments with your dentist.

Plus, avoiding smoking and color-rich foods and drinks such as red wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato-based sauces, balsamic vinegar, curry, and soy sauce will help you maintain the results.

Book an Appointment with the Best Teeth Whitening Dentist in Glendale, CA 

Yellow, grey, discolored, or stained teeth can make you look older and less vibrant, and it often leads to lower self-esteem.

Unfortunately, an unattractive smile affects how others perceive you and can even limit your career opportunities.

You deserve to smile freely and proudly without ever getting self-conscious.

Our professional teeth whitening dentists will rejuvenate your smile so you can get your self-esteem and confidence back.

Visit us at 3600 N Verdugo Rd Montrose CA or schedule an appointment online to start your journey towards a whiter and brighter smile.

If you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to call 818-839-7475 to have a chat with the team at Verdugo Hills Dental or to schedule an appointment.