At Bearbrook Dental Centre, our dentists offer both in-office and take-home teeth whitening options to help our Ottawa patients brighten their smiles.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening is a safe and effective way to remove stains and lighten the colour your teeth.
With age, teeth become more vulnerable to staining from food and other substances. Particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel, and products like coffee, tea, berries and tobacco are notorious for staining teeth.
The bleaching agents used during the teeth whitening treatment process are designed to reverse these effects of aging and staining, lightening the colour of your teeth.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Teeth whitening uses bleaching agents that are peroxide-based. Oxygen acts on the tooth enamel as the active ingredient breaks down, creating the whitening effect.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening takes about two hours at our dental clinic. First, a barrier is applied around your gums to protect them, then a thin layer of gel is applied and chemically activated on each tooth. We repeat this process a few times, until the desired shade of white is achieved.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
At Bearbrook Dental Centre, we offer at-home whitening options so that you can whiten your teeth in the comfort and convenience of your home. Custom whitening trays are created specifically for your smile. Your dentist will also provide you with thorough at-home instructions to follow during your course of treatment.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Read the answers to our most frequently asked questions about teeth whitening at Bearbrook Dental Centre.
- How long do the effects of teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening isn't a permanent solution to whiten your smile.
If you continue to expose your teeth to foods and drinks that cause staining, you will likely begin to see the whiteness fade after a few months.
If you avoid these foods and drinks after your teeth whitening treatment, you may just need a touch up after a year or so.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
Sensitivity is a short-term side effect to teeth whitening. For most patients it fades away within a few days after a whitening session.
To minimize any discomfort, we recommend that you use an anti-sensitivity toothpaste prior to treatment and for at least two weeks following your treatment.
- Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
Yellow and brown-coloured stains respond the best to teeth whitening treatments.
Grey, blue and purple-coloured stains tend not to respond to whitening at all. For teeth with these types of stains, patients may be better candidates for cosmetic treatments such as veneers or dental crowns.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. It does not work on existing dental restorations such as veneers or dental crowns.
If veneers or crowns are part of your treatment plan, teeth whitening should take place before you receive your dental restorations.
- Will teeth whitening damage my tooth enamel?
If used under the supervision of a qualified dentist, it is very unlikely that teeth whitening will damage your dental enamel.
Always consult with your dentist to ensure that you are using any teeth whitening products safely.
- Does insurance cover the cost of teeth whitening?
Dental insurance does not usually cover the cost of teeth whitening because it is a purely cosmetic procedure with no health benefits for your teeth.