Nothing lights up a room like a bright, beautiful smile, and professional teeth whitening is a sure way of achieving a smile that can dazzle anyone. If you’ve been considering a smile makeover, whitening your teeth at Alaska Dental Arts is fabulous way to begin your smile transformation. Alaska Dental Arts specializes in bringing the finest luxury, cosmetic dental services to all Alaskans with offices in Anchorage, Juneau and North Pole.
Contact Alaska Dental Arts today for a consultation to learn how we can make your smile shine brighter than ever!
Professional teeth whitening is the #1, most popular cosmetic dental service in the industry and with good reason. When your teeth are sparkling white, it gives you a look of vitality that makes it easy to overlook any imperfections that might normally make you smile conscious. Like cleaning your house, when everything is put away and made to look spick and span, it feels and looks wonderful. We’ll discuss the two main options for professional teeth whitening and walk you through what each process looks like.
Professional Teeth Whitening Appointments: Brighten Your Smile in a Single Visit
There really is no comparison to chairside whitening by an experienced cosmetic dentist. Your Alaska Dental Arts professional can remove years of staining and discoloration in a single visit giving you the smile you’ve always wanted. The process is easy, and the results are both dazzling and immediately noticeable.
First Things First: A Clean and Healthy Smile
A healthy smile is a beautiful smile, and we want to make sure your teeth and gums are in great shape and free of disease before we begin whitening. Your dentist will want to clean your teeth and give you a thorough checkup. For some patients this can be daunting and even anxiety producing. At Alaska Dental Arts we want you to be totally at ease, so we provide a luxury setting to make you comfortable. If you experience dental anxiety, please let us know and we can discuss how to better accommodate you.
Made in the Shade: Choosing Your Brightness
A tooth shade chart will be used to determine the current shade of your teeth and how many shades of lightening you can expect in your smile transformation. We’ll discuss any trouble spots and conditions that may not be conducive for whitening, because unfortunately, not all tooth stains respond well. If your dentist believes that is true in your case, he or she will help manage expectations or might possibly recommend another procedure like porcelain veneers or possibly custom-made, take-home trays. Please note that artificial surfaces, like crowns will not be whitened, but your dentist will guide you and help make the best decision with you.
Very Important Steps Before Whitening: Polish and Prep
Your Alaska Dental Arts professional will carefully prep your teeth by polishing the surface with pumice to remove any lingering plaque that might interfere with whitening. This important step must be done with care to ensure there is no damage to your enamel and to help give you the best results possible.
Positioned for Success: Gum Protection
Protecting your gums and the inside of your mouth is paramount and your dentist will select the best tools for the job to keep your mouth open and sensitive tissue safe and sound. For anyone who has had an OTC whitening experience go drastically wrong, you’ll be glad you selected a caring and experienced dentist whose hands you can trust.
Let the Whitening Begin: Laser Teeth Whitening
By now you should be settled in comfortably and ready to get this dazzling party started. You can relax while your dentist applies the whitening agent to your teeth and uses a laser or light to activate the chemical process. It really is that simple. The whole process takes less than hour and you’ll be amazed by the results. It’s possible that you may feel a little sensitive and could even experience a few zingers—sharp twinges of pain that may surprise you. Your dentist can help manage the pain and even scale back the process a bit as the two of you work together on this leg of your smile journey.
A Little Coaching Before You Go: Teeth Whitening Aftercare
Once you complete your luxury chairside whitening, you’ll want to keep those pearlies sparkling white. Your teeth will be dehydrated from the process and highly susceptible to staining, so please exercise caution over the next 5-7 days. Your dentist will give you instructions and possibly suggest a pain killer in case your teeth are a bit sensitive immediately following.
The following tips are ultra-important during the first week. After that, your teeth will not be as porous and not nearly as vulnerable. Nonetheless, keep in mind that over time, yes, your teeth can still stain. So, pay attention to the habits you are creating.
- Avoid anything that might stain teeth, such as berries, coffee, red wine, curry or tomato sauce.
- If you are going to drink wine, try a nice Chardonnay or Prosecco instead of the usual Merlot.
- If you do drink something that might stain, like coffee or soda, please use a straw and rinse immediately following.
- For the first few days, avoid exposing your teeth to extreme hot or cold temperatures when eating and drinking.
- Keep a pain-killer handy. Your teeth may feel a bit sensitive the first day or two. You might experience a few of those zingers again. It’s okay and they will pass soon.
The results of whitening can last a long time with good habits. Brush, floss and continue with your regular check-ups and dental cleaning. Your dentist may even suggest creating custom-made take-home trays to touch up whitening from time-to-time. This leads us to the other option for whitening. Read on!
Professional Whitening With Take- Home Trays
If you are unsure about having in-office, chairside whitening service or you simply prefer exercising DIY autonomy, your Alaska Dental Arts dentist is delighted to speak with you about professional whitening using custom take-home trays. This method does take significantly longer than chairside and requires diligence on the part of the patient. However, if your dentist feels like your teeth are prone to staining or your teeth and gums are extra sensitive, this might be the route to go.
Consultation and Great Impressions
At your initial consultation, your dentist will discuss expectations and timeline for whitening. Your dentist will make an impression of your teeth and create customized take-home trays, similar to those used with Invisalign. But instead of being formed for straightening teeth, they are made to be filled with a whitening agent. You will be given instructions on how to use your personalized trays, including how many hours a day you will need to wear them and for how many weeks. You may be asked to wear them anywhere from two to ten hours a day for up 28 days, depending on the degree of whitening that needs to occur.
Custom Trays for Your One-of-a-Kind Smile
Custom fabricated trays take time to be created, so you likely will not leave with them the first day. Trust us, it will be well worth the wait! Oh, the difference you’ll experience with custom trays that are specially tailored for your one-of-a-kind smile! Because custom fabricated trays are designed to fit your dental arches perfectly, they tend to give more comprehensive whitening results than OTC systems. The snug fit is ideal for those hard-to-reach crevices. They also offer the best protection by far to keep your gums and cheeks from being irritated when it comes to whitening at home.
Trays can also be used for follow-up whitening for those who have had in-house, chairside service.
Our Alaskan Dental Savings Plan: Quality Care Made Affordable
We love making Alaskans smile! While Alaska Dental Arts accepts most forms of insurance, we also offer flexible payment options. We don’t want to see anything stand in the way of your smile goals, including lack of insurance.
Our Dental Savings Plan was designed with you in mind to help make your dream smile both affordable and attainable. The best part is you are guaranteed acceptance and will never be disqualified due to pre-existing conditions. It’s hard to resist savings beginning with 20% off all treatment including extractions, root canals, crowns, bridges, dentures, cosmetic and more!
Contact us today and learn how you can receive 50% 0ff Teeth Whitening with our Dental Savings Plan.
Your Dream Smile Starts Now
Alaska Dental Arts prides itself in being your premier luxury cosmetic dentist without the luxury cost. Your journey to a healthy smile starts here! Contact us today for a consultation.
