Whitening at the Dentist’s Office
Tooth whitening at the dentist’s office uses higher concentrations of active ingredients to achieve visible results more quickly.
Whitening at dentist’s office
In-office teeth whitening may require several sessions in order for you to get your teeth as white as you would like, according to 2014 research. These sessions can be expensive and aren’t often covered by insurance because they are not part of a routine dental cleaning.
Power bleaching at the dentist’s office involves rinsing your teeth with a powerful hydrogen peroxide solution for 20 to 30 minutes. Laser therapy is sometimes included in in-office tooth whitening sessions, though there is currently no strong research proving that this has any particular whitening benefit.
Teeth whitening side effects
The most common side effect of teeth whitening is temporary tooth sensitivity. Mouth and gum irritation is also common. Hydrogen peroxide can cause this reaction.
When you get your teeth whitened at the dentist’s office, your gum tissue will be protected during the treatment to reduce this side effect.
You may also experience increased tooth sensitivity after whitening with an at-home kit or at the dentist’s office. Tooth sensitivity can occur when consuming particularly hot or cold food and drinks. It can also feel like a sharp pain in your tooth, sometimes out of nowhere. This sensitivity should be temporary.
Getting your teeth whitened repeatedly or using tooth whitening kits for longer than the recommended duration can result in permanent damage to your tooth enamel, 2019 research suggests.