Save yourself the trouble and skip the whitening toothpastes, strips, pens, and other over-the-counter teeth whitening options. While they promise the world, they often don’t deliver the results you’re looking for. Instead our South Bend, IN, cosmetic dentist encourages patients to choose professional teeth whitening for the camera-ready smile of your dreams.
Here’s how our in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments compare to the many products found at the store.
Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me?
The answer to this question comes down to whether or not you’re satisfied with the current shade of your smile. If your response is no, our cosmetic dentist is here to help with in-office and at-home teeth whitening.
For those who prefer to have our team oversee the entire process, we offer Opalescence™ teeth whitening inside our South Bend dental office. The procedure can be completed in one visit with dramatic results. Opalescence doesn’t use any type of LED light and instead utilizes chemically activated whitening ingredients for a fast experience.
Our dentists also want you to have the choice to gradually brighten your smile in the comfort of your own home which is why we also offer custom teeth whitening trays and whitening gel. We will provide you with all of the supplies you need and detailed instructions on what to do. Depending on your desired shade, this may take several weeks to complete.
Be aware that teeth whitening is not effective for:
- Capped teeth with dental crowns
- Teeth with active cavities
- Patients with overly sensitive teeth
- Severe discoloration (porcelain veneers may be recommended instead)
Teeth Whitening Treatments From Our Dentist:
1) Are More Controlled Ingredient-Wise
When you buy something like teeth whitening strips, it can be hard to know how much of a particular whitening agent is included in each individual use. It’s quite the opposite with the whitening treatments we provide. Our dentist knows exactly how powerful each application is, whether in-office or at-home.
There’s also no fussing with a sloppy kit that is made for the general public, not just you. Our whitening trays are molded from your teeth so they fit perfectly and the professional-grade whitening gel we provide gets the job done while remaining safe. We also include easy to follow instructions so there’s no mistaking what you need to do.
2) Give You Longer-Lasting Results
It’s not uncommon for patients to tell us that they’ve been using whitening toothpaste for a month only to notice little to no difference. On the other hand, if decent results are accomplished, they often don’t last for long.
Our two forms of treatment contain a higher concentration of teeth whitening ingredients from the start to ensure your smile stays bright for much longer than any over-the-counter product. Some patients are satisfied after just one session whereas others prefer a few visits to achieve their desired shade.
3) Are Thoroughly Regulated and Proven to Be Safe
While some are approved by the American Dental Association, a large amount of the teeth whitening products on the market today are not well regulated. Ingredients are not always specified, the strength of each ingredient isn’t known, and some make grand promises such as “immediate results”.
Over-the-counter products also require you to use them more due to the lower concentration gels. This can lead to overuse which long-term, can prove harmful. This is not the case with the teeth whitening courtesy of our dentist. We monitor every part of the whitening process and would not offer what we do if it was not safe for our patients.
Make an Appointment
Leave discolored teeth in the past with teeth whitening treatments from our cosmetic dentist in South Bend, IN. To get started, call Select Dental Associates today at (574) 213-7478 to request an appointment.