Your Meteghan SureSmile Provider
The dentists at Acadian Smiles offer both in-office and take-home teeth whitening options to help Meteghan patients brighten their smiles.
What Is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening is a safe and effective way to remove stains and lighten the colour of your teeth.
Coffee, tea, berries, and tobacco are notorious for staining teeth because particles from these items are naturally attracted to the enamel. Plus, teeth become more susceptible to staining from food and other substances as they age.
The bleaching agents used in teeth whitening treatments are designed to reverse the effects of ageing and staining on your teeth, thus lightening their colour.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Teeth whitening uses peroxide-based bleaching agents, which contain unstable oxygen molecules. The oxygen helps to break away the chemical bond that traps stains in the enamel of your teeth. This breakdown is what creates the desired whitening or "bleaching" effect.
In-Office Teeth Whitening in Meteghan
At our dental clinic, in-office teeth whitening takes about two hours. A barrier is placed around your gums to protect them, and then a thin layer of gel is applied to each tooth and chemically activated. We repeat this process several times until we get the desired shade of white.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
At Acadian Smiles, we offer at-home whitening options so that you can whiten your teeth in the comfort and convenience of your home. Custom whitening trays are made to fit your smile perfectly. Throughout the course of your treatment, your dentist will give you detailed at-home instructions to follow.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Read the answers to our most frequently asked questions about teeth whitening at Acadian Smiles.
- How long do the effects of teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening isn't a permanent solution to whiten your smile, so if you continue exposing your teeth to foods and drinks that stain, the whiteness will likely start to fade in a few months.
If you avoid these foods and drinks after your teeth whitening treatment, you may just need a touchup after a year or so.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
Sensitivity is a short-term side effect of teeth whitening. It usually fades away within a few days after a whitening session for most patients.
We recommend that you use an anti-sensitivity toothpaste prior to treatment and for at least two weeks afterwards to reduce any discomfort. - Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
Yellow and brown stains respond the best to teeth whitening treatments.
Grey, blue, and purple stains are the least likely to respond to whitening. Patients who have teeth with these types of stains may be better candidates for cosmetic treatments like veneers or dental crowns.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, teeth whitening only works on natural teeth and not on existing dental restorations, like veneers or dental crowns.
Teeth whitening should take place before you receive your dental restorations.
- Will teeth whitening damage my tooth enamel?
If used under the supervision of a qualified dentist, it is very unlikely that teeth whitening will damage your dental enamel.
Always consult with your dentist to ensure that you are using any teeth whitening products safely.
- Does insurance cover the cost of teeth whitening?
Dental insurance does not usually cover the cost of teeth whitening because it is a purely cosmetic procedure.