At Dubreuil Lévesque Dental Centre, our dentists offer an at-home teeth whitening option for patients in Gatineau.
Why Tooth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening is a safe and effective method of removing stains and lightening the color of your teeth.
Like most people, you may notice that your teeth appear more grayish or yellowish. The color of your teeth is susceptible to change due to surface stains or aging.
Thinning of the enamel and the stains caused by food, tobacco, and certain medications make tooth whitening a very popular procedure.
How does teeth whitening work?
Our dentists use peroxide-based bleaching agents. When this active ingredient breaks down, oxygen acts on tooth enamel and creates a whitening effect.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
One of the most awarded procedures is home whitening. In addition to being personalized, it has the advantage of allowing you to do touch-ups yourself over the years.
For any type of whitening, the first step is a thorough examination and cleaning of the mouth. In addition to making any necessary repairs, your dentist will be able to determine the cause of the discolouration and the chances of success of the procedure. An oral impression is then taken to design personalized whitening trays.
You will receive your trays about a week later along with your peroxide whitening gel and treatment plan.
Typically, this involves wearing the aligners for three hours a day for 14 days or overnight for about 10 nights.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Read the answers to our most frequently asked questions about teeth whitening at Dubreuil Lévesque Dental Centre.
- How long do the effects of teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening helps whiten your smile, but it's not a permanent solution.
By avoiding foods and drinks that cause stains after teeth whitening treatment, you won't need to touch up for about a year.
On the other hand, if you continue to consume this kind of food or drink, the whiteness may fade after a few months.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
Teeth whitening can make your teeth more sensitive, but this is usually a short-term side effect.
Your dentist will advise you on actions to take to reduce sensitivity, such as using toothpaste for sensitive teeth before and after your treatment.
You will also be given other recommendations to maximize your results.
- Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
The yellow and brown colored stains respond well to teeth whitening treatments.
On the contrary, gray, blue, and purple colored spots tend not to respond to bleaching. For this type of stain, dental treatments such as porcelain veneers or dental crowns may be a better solution.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, teeth whitening only works on natural teeth.
If your dental treatment plan includes restorations such as porcelain veneers or dental crowns, then teeth whitening will take place first.
- Will teeth whitening damage my tooth enamel?
When performed under the supervision of a qualified dentist, teeth whitening is very unlikely to damage your tooth enamel.
Before whitening, always consult your dentist to make sure you are using safe home teeth whitening products.
- Does insurance cover the cost of teeth whitening?
Dental insurance generally does not cover the costs of teeth whitening, as it is a cosmetic treatment that does not have health benefits for your oral health.