If your teeth aren’t as bright as they once were, today you have a lot of options for how you’ll get your smile back to it’s bright, youthful color and shine. Our dental practice in Prairie Village, KS offers the expertise and technology you need to accomplish that. Depending upon your oral health needs and the results you’re after, we have the tools and the talent to give you a gleaming white smile that will last.

Of course, there are other ways of going about teeth whitening and teeth bleaching these days, aren’t there? You don’t have to go to the dentist anymore: you can get your teeth whitened at a beauty salon perhaps. Or you might pass by a teeth-whitening station in the mall (these usually don’t have storefronts, mostly they’re in kiosks).

Then again, why go anywhere at all? Retailers now offer a huge range of over-the-counter (OTC, or sometimes called “DIY”: Do-It-Yourself) teeth whitening kits. All of them promise to be more effective and more convenient than the last. Strips, trays, toothpastes, even mud and charcoal (really).

Can these products actually live up to their claims?

Can you really buy a dental-office bright teeth whitening treatment in the same aisle as mouthwash?

In our last post, we talked about how even healthy foods can seriously stain your teeth. This time around, we’re going to take a closer look at the world of DIY Teeth Whitening and Bleaching.

What you learn might surprise you!

You Get What You Pay For!

Most people who choose DIY or OTC teeth whitening kits are doing it because they believe that they’re getting the same results as a dentist would, but for a lot less money. Right out of the box, we can tell you that just isn’t true. The materials and equipment which are only available from your dentist are much more powerful than anything you can buy on your own, bottom line.

At Prairie Valley Dental, we offer three kinds of teeth whitening solution:

Zoom! Whitening: Along with more powerful whitening gels, Zoom! uses a powerful, directed beam of light to quite literally zap stain molecules from your teeth.

Ultradent: For those who would like to have a more convenient teeth whitening experience, Ultradent is a take-home option that is supervised by your dentist. Your dentist will select the strength of gel you require to get your best smile. Depending upon the strength, you wear the specially-made trays (pre-loaded with gel for your convenience , as well as to reduce mess and ensure that the right amount of gel is used) for as little as 15 minutes or as much as an hour a day.

Custom Whitening Trays: This is something that you will never be able to buy in a store. Another “at-home” option, we’ll design whitening trays that fit your teeth exactly, based upon an impression (or mold) of your teeth. This ensures greater coverage of the teeth, optimizing the whitening agent’s ability to eradicate stains and brighten your smile. Also, OTC trays are mass-produced, meaning they don’t fit you (or anyone else for that matter) correctly. Not only does this minimize the effectiveness of the treatment, the poor fit of these trays can cause the whitening agent to spill. This can result in a lot of discomfort, and because the whitening agent isn’t being efficiently applied (if at all), you’ll go through all that pain for a sub-par smile.

Custom Vs. One-Size-Fits-All

Customization is one of the great advantages of a dentist-supervised teeth whitening treatment. In addition to trays and gels that are designed and selected just for you, your dentist can build a treatment plan for you, with your oral health in mind. You see, we don’t want you to just have a bright, white smile. We want you to have a bright, white, and healthy smile!

Many people who want to whiten their teeth on their own find the gels that come with OTC kits cause them real discomfort, to the point of tossing it before it has even had a chance to do its job (that’s just like throwing your cash in the trash!). That’s because a lot of people have sensitive teeth and gums.

If you have sensitive teeth and/or gums, you should NEVER try an OTC whitening kit. Only your dentist can provide you with the advice and treatments that will get you a bright smile without causing pain or putting you at risk.

Even if you don’t have sensitivity issues, the ADA and other medical groups recommend that before you undergo ANY teeth whitening treatment, you should see your dentist anyway for an evaluation and a cleaning.

Looking For A Revitalized Smile? Don’t Risk It!

We all want the best value for our teeth whitening dollar. Because of that, there really is no replacement for what your dentist can offer.  Your dentist will be able to get you a smile that is whiter and brighter than any store bought items.

Your dentist wants you to have a bright smile, but your health is important as well. Is it worth the risk?

Make an appointment with us now!

Call Prairie Village Dentists at 913-649-5600 and one of our friendly staff will assist you!

You can make an appointment right now using our handy online appointment form. Just click here and get started!