Drugstores are filled with over the counter options for teeth whitening. But those are rarely the safest — let alone best — option for getting a whiter smile. Dr. Ali Sarkarzadeh, a cosmetic dentist in Rockville, Md, explores the professional teeth whitening options available at his practice, Congressional Dental Care.
ZOOM! Teeth Whitening
At Congressional Dental Care, we offer ZOOM! whitening for both in-office and take-home teeth whitening treatments. If you choose to get your whitening done in-office, the process takes about an hour to get your teeth up to eight shades whiter. Dr. Sarkarzadeh uses a professional-strength whitening gel that also minimizes sensitivity. Over the counter options often cause or aggravate tooth sensitivity.
For this process, Dr. Sarkarzadeh precisely paints on the whitening gel. He takes care to avoid your gums, making sure that the whitening agent doesn’t harm the soft tissue. A special light is placed over the teeth to activate the whitening agent within the gel. After that hour, you’ll have a brighter smile!
The take-home whitening option is a more gradual, natural way to whiten your teeth. It’s also nice to be able to do your treatment in the comfort of your own home. Dr. Sarkarzadeh will use molds to create custom trays of your teeth. These trays will allow you to make sure the whitening gel only stays on your teeth and not your gums.
You’ll wear these trays for a certain amount of time each evening, continuing over the span of a few weeks. Your teeth will slowly whiten over this time, leading to a natural change instead of an instantly whiter smile.
The Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
When you get your teeth whitened at a professional level, the quality of the whitening device is much better than you get with over the counter products. First, they fit better. If you’re using take-home trays, they’re fitted exactly to your smile. With over the counter products, you risk having ill-fitting trays that can get bleaching gel on your gums, causing pain and sensitivity.
Over the counter whitening can aggravate sensitivity in general. If you have sensitive teeth already, over the counter products often make it worse. ZOOM! teeth whitening gel is unique in that it’s specially designed to protect against sensitivity.
Lastly, the quality of the whitening gel itself is also much better. You’re able to get a healthier, whiter smile while using a professional whitening treatment. Over the counter products may not be able to get your smile as white as you would like it to be.
Beyond Teeth Whitening Treatment
If you have teeth that are stained from things like genetic conditions or prescription medications, you may need more than just teeth whitening treatment. Talk to your Rockville, MD cosmetic dentist about the possibility of dental bonding or porcelain veneers to take care of your teeth whitening needs.
Your Cosmetic Dentist in Rockville, Maryland
Don’t waste your time and money on over the counter teeth whitening that may not work. Call us today to schedule an appointment and get the whiter smile you desire.