4 Things To Know About Take-Home Teeth Whitening Trays

When patients ask a dentist about options for teeth whitening, many dental offices offer take-home whitening trays as professional treatment for addressing stains on the surface of the teeth. When considering this common teeth bleaching procedure, it helps to understand what the process entails and how long it may take to achieve the desired results.

Understanding teeth whitening trays from a dentist

Similar to other methods used to brighten a person’s smile, take-home trays use a bleaching agent, such as hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, to remove discoloration caused by improper cleaning, certain foods and tobacco use. Continue reading to learn four important facts about this teeth whitening treatment.

1. It takes time to make a custom-fitted tray

When using bleaching trays provided by a dentist, patients are provided with a custom-fitted tray that is designed to fit closely around the teeth. During the initial appointment, impressions of the patient’s mouth are made using a dental putty and then sent to a lab. Over the course of one to two weeks, the lab makes a tray that looks similar to clear aligners or retainers. However, these trays contain extra room for inserting the bleaching solution and are designed to allow the product to reach every part of the tooth without leaking onto the surrounding gums.

2. The treatment process is around two weeks

Most people only need to wear the trays for about an hour a day for a two-week period. However, this will vary depending on the patient’s needs and the type of bleaching product being used. Typically, solutions with a higher concentration of peroxide are faster-acting but need to be worn on the teeth for a shorter period of time. Patients can stop wearing the trays after reaching the desired shade of whiteness.

3. It is essential to follow the instructions

Unlike an in-office bleaching session, patients who choose take-home teeth whitening trays apply the solution themselves. The dentist will provide specific instructions on how to prep the teeth, how to insert the solution onto the trays, how long to wear the trays and how to clean the teeth after. In order to effectively whiten the teeth and prevent unnecessary pain or damage, it is important that the patient does not skip any steps or leave the solution on for a longer period of time than directed.

4. The results vary for each patient

While many people assume that a whitening treatment always ends with perfect, bright white teeth, that is not the case for every patient. Bleaching is often effective for addressing extrinsic stains that build up over time due to a person’s diet, but intrinsic discoloration due to genetics, medication or trauma may not be remedied using normal teeth whitening methods.

Conclusion

Take-home teeth whitening trays can be a good solution for patients with yellow stains on the outside of the teeth who want to brighten their smile at home with the help of a dentist. By using a custom-fitted tray, patients can see results in a shorter time period and prevent gum irritation.

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