woman with teeth whitening

Longmont Teeth Whitening

If you’re not happy with the shade of your teeth, we can brighten your smile. Even if you take great care of your teeth, stains can develop over time, so most people benefit from professional whitening.

In addition to offering Zoom whitening, we also offer custom trays for home use. Not only does professional tooth whitening make a significant impact on your appearance, but it’s one of the most cost-effective cosmetic procedures in dentistry.

Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?

Many factors can cause your teeth to become discolored, including drinking coffee, eating acidic foods, and taking certain medications. Because you’ll still consume things that cause tooth discoloration even after you get your teeth whitened, it’s not permanent, but your teeth will typically remain bright white for a few years afterward.

Luckily, there are some things you can do to make your teeth stay white for longer. For example, drink coffee over a brief period of time instead of sipping it over several hours. Coffee is acidic, and you’ll have less discoloration with less exposure.

In addition to watching what you eat and drink, oral hygiene is important too. Brushing and flossing every day along with seeing a dentist for dental exams and cleanings will make a big difference.

Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?

Hydrogen peroxide is the primary active ingredient in tooth whitening gels that dentists use for professional whitening. If your teeth are sensitive to peroxide, then you may have some discomfort while your teeth are being whitened. Your teeth may also feel sensitive when consuming extremely hot or cold items. But this is temporary and will go away within a few days of the whitening procedure.

Why See a Dentist for Teeth Whitening?

There are several options for whitening your teeth at home, such as using store-purchased whitening strips or gels. Although these are less expensive than professional whitening, they have several disadvantages.

The gel dentists use for whitening trays typically uses hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient. Home-whitening kits either use a much lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide because the trays aren’t custom-fitted, which means that the gel will encounter your gums and cause irritation.

There are some major safety concerns with in-home whitening. According to a study published in Nature Scientific Reports, carbamide peroxide can cause extensive damage to tooth enamel.¹

If you opt for professional teeth whitening, you will either get Zoom whitening or fitted with a custom tray. Both methods prevent the whitening gel from contacting your gums, so your dentist can use a gel with a higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide. This means a better experience, faster results, and less discomfort.

Teeth Whitening Services We Offer

Zoom Teeth Whitening

This option offers instant gratification. With only one whitening session in our office, you’ll get a much brighter smile.

The process starts by applying a hydrogen peroxide gel to your teeth. We then use a special lamp that helps with the whitening process, and, after about 90 minutes, you’ll be able to walk out of our office with a much brighter smile.

Custom-Fitted Whitening Trays

Custom whitening trays require two appointments. During the first appointment, we’ll take a 3D scan of your teeth using our iTero scanner. After that’s complete, we’ll create your custom-fitted whitening trays, which will fit your teeth perfectly and not allow any of the whitening gel to encounter your gums.

The second appointment will be to wear the trays and ensure they fit properly. You can then take the trays home along with the whitening gel.

What Teeth Whitening Method Is Right for Me?

Most of our patients decide to go with Zoom over custom-fitted trays. Zoom is a better choice for most as it takes less time to whiten teeth and there is less discomfort because there are fewer applications. The only time we really create custom-fitted whitening trays is if you have already undergone Zoom whitening and want a touch-up.

How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

Both Zoom and custom-fitted whitening trays cost about $600.

Why Get Your Teeth Whitened at Longmont Dental Loft?

Dr. Hedrick has been whitening her patients’ teeth for years with amazing results. Although she can’t guarantee you won’t have any pain or discomfort, she can help minimize it while achieving a much brighter smile. Contact us today at 303-772-6333 to schedule an appointment.

References

  1. Redha, O., Mazinanian, M., Nguyen, S. Son, D., et al. Compromised dental cells viability following teeth-whitening exposure. Nature.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023 from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-94745-w.