Laser Teeth Whitening vs Professional Whitening Trays
Laser teeth whitening in kingwood texas is a great, efficient option when you are looking to whiten and brighten your smile. Your dentist probably also offers a take-home whitening kit that you can use at your own leisure. Laser whitening is much faster but is also more expensive than whitening trays. There are some concerns still surrounding laser whitening treatments and we will discuss those in this section.
The Differences Between Laser Whitening and Trays
Laser whitening is very common. One of the more popular brands is Zoom! Laser Whitening. Both laser whitening and trays use the same peroxide solution. The biggest difference is, of course, the use of a laser to expedite the whitening results. If you choose to have laser whitening treatment, your dental professional will apply the whitening solution to each individual tooth and also apply a protective gel coating to your gum line to protect the gum tissue from being burned by the laser. The laser is then direct at your teeth to heat up the peroxide solution so that the oxygen is able to penetrate the enamel surface more quickly. The oxygen is what removes the staining from teeth (remember those OxiClean commercials?!) The results of laser whitening are more immediate than those with trays.
One session of laser whitening takes about 30 minutes while the entire treatment can take up to an hour and a half depending on how many sessions you need. Some patients can see a difference after one session and want to stop after that. Others may not notice any difference at all with one session and will want to continue for the duration of treatment.
Whitening trays take a little more time and could be better for people with sensitivity issues since the whitening is gradual. The trays are typically worn for 30 minutes to an hour each day for up to two weeks.
What concerns come with laser whitening?
Laser whitening has been around for years but there are still some concerns with lasting effects. Some worry that laser whitening can cause damage to the pulp of the tooth and erode the enamel. With any whitening treatment, sensitivity is to be expected. Some patients do not experience any sensitivity while others feel “zingers“ for a couple of hours after treatment. Any sensitivity that you may experience should subside within a day or two. Some dentists may advise that you use a sensitivity toothpaste, such as Sensodyne, for 2 to 3 weeks before your whitening treatment.
Which whitening treatment is best for you?
The biggest advantage of laser whitening is the time efficiency. Laser whitening is considerably more expensive than waiting trays or over-the-counter treatments but some dentists will provide you with touch up kits to take home after your whitening treatment. If you are considering whitening, speak with your dentist to see A) if you are a good candidate for whitening and B) which treatment option will be the best to meet your individual needs.
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