If you’re thinking of whitening your teeth but have some questions, then you have come to the right place for an explanation of how it works.
How Long Does It Take to Whiten Teeth?
Often when patients are thinking about having a tooth whitening procedure with us, one of their first questions is “how long will it take for my teeth to be whiter?”
It is a good question, but it is not one that just has a simple answer. This is because it depends on a few pre-existing factors such as the condition of your teeth, why your teeth are discoloured and the type of procedure that is chosen.
Some patients want to have their teeth whiter for a particular occasion. If this is you, then we will always try our best to schedule you for the fastest procedure to whiten your teeth.
Teeth whitening will usually begin with a good clean of your teeth to remove any build-up of plaque. The cleaner your teeth are, the better any whitening procedure can work. If you choose to get your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist, the procedure usually takes about an hour and a half, and you will have whiter teeth before you have even left the dental clinic!
If you have deeply stained teeth, then a second appointment may be required to get your teeth to be the colour that you really want them to be.
Depending on the process, your dentist will usually have to make a mouthguard to match your teeth before the procedure can take place. This can take up to about four weeks in some cases. So, if you have an event coming up, that you would like to have whiter teeth for, then it is better to book in sooner rather than later.
Take Home Whitening Kits
The take-home whitening kits supplied by many dentists are a cheaper option than getting the procedure done in the dentists’ chair. One of the drawbacks, is that it takes longer for the whitening process to work.
For many patients, whitening at home can take around one month of wearing a mouthpiece each night to see a good level of whitening occur. Whereas in the chair whitening gives you results instantly.
Your Hollywood Smile!
We would also like to point out that if you are comparing yourself to a famous celebrity’s smile, then there is something you should take into consideration. Most famous actors and actresses have veneers. They have not just whitened their teeth. Teeth whitening does not make your teeth look straighter or more even.
Koo Wee Rup Dental would be thrilled to help you achieve a nice bright smile, to find out more about how we can help you make the best decision around whitening your teeth, simply give us a call or email us any questions you may have.