Your smile says so much about you, and when you are not happy with the appearance of your teeth, people can get the wrong impression about your level of happiness or confidence. Even slight staining or discoloration on your teeth can make you self-conscious about smiling or talking, but fortunately, professional teeth whitening services offered by Dr. Jameela Jifri at Scott and Derry Dental Care in Milton, ON can help you improve your smile and get those pearly whites safely in a short amount of time!

How professional tooth whitening works

At Scott and Derry Dental Care, we provide tooth whitening treatments using a system of custom-fitted trays and a medical-grade tooth bleaching gel that you use at home. The gel contains a peroxide solution that loosens the pigments staining your teeth without damaging any of your tooth structure.

While some dental offices advertise rapid, in-office tooth whitening treatments that use bright lights and potent bleaching agents, we find that those quick treatments are less comfortable for patients, cause greater tooth sensitivity, and the UV light used in those treatments can cause long-term damage to your teeth, lips, gums, and eyes. The home treatment trays used by Dr. Jifri are a safe and gradual whitening option that provides optimum comfort and less sensitivity.

To start your tooth whitening treatment, Dr. Jifri will evaluate your overall oral health to ensure that your teeth are healthy and have enough enamel to sustain the whitening gel without too much sensitivity and that your gums are healthy and free from periodontal disease. Dental impressions will then be taken of your mouth that are used to create your personalized trays that hold the whitening gel.

Once your trays are ready, you can pick them up at the dentist’s office and you will be provided with the prescription strength whitening gel and instructions on how to use the trays and for how long each day you should use them. Each patient’s tooth whitening schedule is different depending on factors such as their tooth sensitivity and desired end results, but in general, people typically wear them for about an hour each day.

After you have achieved the level of brightness that you want, you can stop using the trays and focus primarily on good home care of your mouth, including brushing your teeth after eating meals, avoid drinking deeply pigmented beverages, and flossing daily. If you begin to notice your teeth yellowing again, you can simply start using the trays and gel again until your teeth are back to the dazzling white shade you want!

Is professional tooth whitening better than over-the-counter bleaching systems?

You may have seen tooth whitening kits at the pharmacy or grocery store and wondered if they are something your dentist would approve of. In short, Dr. Jifri highly recommends that patients who would like to brighten their teeth talk to her about professional tooth whitening treatments before spending their money on over-the-counter remedies. This is because there are numerous benefits of professional treatment when compared to over-the-counter whitening systems:

• It is more effective and achieves better end results
• It is more controlled, and the dentist can oversee your treatment so the side effects such as tooth sensitivity are minimized
• The bleaching agents used in prescription-grade tooth whitening materials are safer for your body in case you accidentally ingest them
• The trays provided by your dentist are custom-fitted for a comfortable experience
• Because the trays snugly fit your teeth, the gel doesn’t leak out onto your gums, which can irritate them
• The customized trays are easier to use than flimsy strips or molds that you have to boil and shape around your teeth
• It is easy to do maintenance treatments every few months

Learn more about tooth whitening and other treatments

If you are interested in learning more about your tooth whitening options, simply ask Dr. Jifri the next time you are getting your regular cleaning done or call Scott and Derry Dental Care at (855) 438-4999. In addition to tooth whitening services, we also offer several other cosmetic dental treatments to help you not only have healthy teeth, but a smile that you are proud to show to your family, friends, and coworkers. We love seeing our patients’ healthy, beautiful smiles!

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