Do you have a special event like a wedding, graduation, interview, or family reunion coming up? It only makes sense that you’d want to look great in front of your friends, relatives, and coworkers, and having a whiter smile is a great way to have more confidence as you socialize. Luckily, professional teeth whitening treatments from your dentist can help you have a stunning smile for the occasion. Here’s an overview of the teeth whitening process and how long it can take so you can have your treatment completed in time for the big day.
How Long Does Professional Teeth Whitening Take?
Your dentist can provide you with a customized teeth whitening kit that can deliver results far superior to those of any similar product you can find at the store. One of these kits includes a tube of professional-grade whitening gel and a set of dental trays customized to fit your teeth. You’ll only need to apply the gel to the inside of the trays and wear them over your smile for about an hour every day for two weeks. Once you’ve finished this process, your teeth will be up to ten shades whiter.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening requires no anesthesia or downtime, but you may have sensitive teeth for a few days afterward. This can be especially noticeable when you eat or drink hot, cold, spicy, or sweet items, but you can treat this issue by brushing with desensitizing toothpaste. Giving yourself a few days after the end of your whitening treatment before a special event can allow you to enjoy all the foods there without any resulting discomfort. Contact your dentist if you have dental sensitivity that persists or gets worse after several days.
With excellent oral hygiene, the results of your teeth whitening treatment can last for up to three years. By starting the process at least three weeks before a special event, you can have enough time to complete the treatment and recover from any resulting dental sensitivity. Your beautiful smile will be commemorated in photographs taken at the occasion for years to come.
About the Author
Dr. Shelly Strohman earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the UMKC School of Dentistry and has achieved her Level I Sedation Permit and certification in basic life support and nitrous oxide. She is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association. Her office in Wichita Falls, TX offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To schedule a teeth whitening consultation, contact her office online or dial (940) 613-0299.