Some Things to Know About Laser Teeth Whitening

You have heard about laser teeth whitening right? Well, just in case you haven't, it's a rather common cosmetic dental technique that combines light with whitening gel. When applied properly, this technique produces the fastest teeth whitening results possible.

Done as an in-office procedure by your dentist, a whitening gel is first applied to both your upper and lower teeth. Then a concentrated light is focused to shine directly on the gel. The light acts as a catalyst on the chemicals in the gel. That means it causes the active ingredients in the gel (the ones responsible for the bleaching in the first place) to work faster. And so the whitening process is speeded up. The result is you get whiter teeth in a shorter amount of time.

The reason that laser whitening works so fast is due to the way the whitening gel reacts to both the light and the heat of the laser. Almost all bleaching gels contain a very high concentration of hydrogen peroxide or one of its cousins. This is usually in the 30% to 38% range. And the peroxide molecules are sensitive to the light.

When the photons from the laser hit the gel, they excite the active molecules. That causes them to pulsate faster than normal. This faster pulsation causes the chemical reaction within the gel to speed up which means the bleaching process goes faster. And that means your teeth actually whiten faster too. 

When going through a teeth whitening treatment, some side effects are normal. After all, exposing not only your teeth but the soft tissue inside your mouth to any chemical substance isn’t exactly normal. And a peroxide-based gel definitely qualifies as a chemical substance.

Usually, the normal side effects range from a mild increased teeth sensitivity directly after treatment to severe irritation or even swelling of the gums. Thankfully, since laser treatments are done under a dentist’s watchful eye, side effects are usually quite minimal. Plus laser whitening treatments are shorter in duration than other whitening treatments – the shorter chemical exposure time means side effects are less likely to occur.

Most people generally are. After all, who wouldn’t want their teeth whitened in the shortest amount of time possible? Many of us have tried home whitening remedies but they do take discipline to be effective. You have to be consistent and apply the bleaching gel and wear the mouth trays for the allotted amount of time every day. And the process could take weeks to see the results you want.

That kind of time investment isn’t for everyone. On the other hand, even though the time investment is less with an office whitening procedure, the office procedure is also more expensive.  You’ll pay for the time-saving convenience of it all. That cost could be somewhere in the neighborhood of $300.00 but it could also be hundreds of dollars higher. The true cost for you will depend on your dentist’s rates, the condition of your teeth, and how many treatments you need to achieve the whiteness you desire. Oh, and don’t count on your insurance paying for any of it either; insurance companies see this kind of treatment 

Laser teeth whitening is a solid way to whiten your teeth. Lasers have been in wide use for years now in both cosmetic and general dentistry, so they’re safe and effective. But the question is, “is laser teeth whitening for you?”

Are you willing to pay for the convenience of it all? If you are, then you should start out by discussing this and other whitening options with your dentist. He or she will definitely have an opinion on what they think will work well for you and if they don’t work with laser techniques themselves, they can probably give you a referral to someone who does. Then, weigh your options, make you best decision, and go out and make your smile sparkle.

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