Teeth whitening is available for those who desire a whiter, brighter smile. But before you decide to undergo this treatment, you want to ensure that you know as much as possible about what it entails, including:
- What the process is like
- Who can do the procedure
- How much it costs
This article will answer all your questions about teeth whitening to help you determine whether this is the right teeth whitening procedure to attain your perfect smile.
What Is Teeth Whitening?
Let’s first explain what exactly teeth whitening is.
As much as we refer to them as “pearly whites,” the natural colour of teeth ranges from light grey to a yellowish shade.
According to the Canadian Dental Association, teeth naturally darken with age, and their appearance can be affected by the accumulation of surface stains from tobacco products and the consumption of certain foods or drinks.
What’s more is that some people’s teeth will never naturally look as white as others as the appearance of teeth is heavily influenced by other factors of your appearance, such as skin tone.
Despite these factors, many people still want a whiter, brighter smile, and that’s where teeth whitening comes in.
In simple terms, teeth whitening is the process of lightening the colour of one or more teeth. Teeth whitening can brighten your smile by sometimes five to ten shades, making a significant difference. This has contributed to teeth whitening treatment becoming one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments.
When it comes to tooth whitening, you typically have two options: professional whitening and at-home whitening. Let’s take a look at the process of both.
The Process of Teeth Whitening
When it comes to teeth whitening, you can either do it at home or go to your dentist to have it done professionally. Let’s start by exploring the at-home method.
At-Home Teeth Whitening Kit
Home teeth whitening kits are typically a whitening gel or a paste that you apply to your teeth using a brush. Some kits are in the form of sticky teeth whitening strips meant to stick to your teeth.
The whitening gel and paste options come with a teeth whitening tray to keep the substance on your teeth for a specified time. It also prevents too much whitening agent from getting on your gums.
Unfortunately, achieving the professional teeth whitening effect with an at-home kit is difficult, especially with teeth whitening strips. You may need to use your home teeth cleaning kit every day for several weeks before seeing significant results similar to those at your dentist’s office.
So if you’re looking for the most effective tooth whitening method possible, you should consider visiting your dentist.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is the most efficient and effective method to achieve a brighter smile. For safety reasons, the dentist’s bleaching agent is much stronger than that of at-home kits.
The process starts just as any dentist visit would start – with thoroughly cleaning and polishing your teeth to remove all the debris and prep your mouth for the whitening process.
From there, your dentist will protect your gums and then add an active whitening agent onto the surface of your teeth. The product will be left on your teeth for a few minutes to work its magic before it is washed off with water.
Following your appointment, you may experience sensitive teeth for up to 24 hours. You should also refrain from consuming high-pigmented food and drinks during this time, such as coffee, to ensure that your teeth don’t get stained again.
The results of your whitening treatment will depend on the shade of the surface stains on your teeth when you started and your discolouration, but you should be able to notice an immediate difference. It may take several sessions to achieve the full effects you desire.
Now that you know about the two types of teeth whitening, the most important question is how much does teeth whitening cost in Canada? Let’s find out.
How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost in Canada?
The professional teeth whitening cost in Canada ranges from $200 to $1000. Several factors affect this price, including:
- Your location
- The discolouration of your teeth
- Your dentist’s normal/average rates
Unfortunately, since it’s a cosmetic whitening treatment, most dental insurance plans do not cover the cost of teeth whitening, leaving you to pay out of pocket.
In contrast, at-home teeth whitening trays are usually under $100, making them an affordable alternative to the dentist.
As you can see, professional teeth whitening is significantly more expensive than an at-home kit, but it’s also more effective.
Who Can Whiten Your Teeth?
While you may see advertisements from non-dentists promoting their teeth whitening services for a lower cost than dentists, you should only get your teeth whitened by a dental professional.
This is especially true if they boast about using the same teeth whitening products as dentists. Bleach is a dangerous substance that can have harmful effects on your oral health if handled incorrectly.
Wrap-Up: The Cost of Teeth Whitening in Canada
In summary, teeth whitening can be expensive, especially if you visit your dentist. However, an in-office teeth whitening service is much more effective than an at-home teeth whitening product, so the price difference may be worth it.
If you want to brighten your smile with whiter teeth, contact Shelburne Dental Village today to book an appointment and discuss your options.
