Reasons to use professional teeth whitening vs DIY in Bloomington IL

Trusted dentistry is at the heart of all Eastland Dental Center does. This carries over in all we do including the whitening options we provide. Trust the methods Drs Mike and Marisa Milligan employ to lift stains from a single tooth to your entire smile.

Here, they’ve listed a few of the reasons to use professional teeth whitening in Bloomington IL, versus opting for a retail product marketed as a teeth whitener.

Unsurpassed effectiveness

As licensed dentists, Drs Milligan have access to professional-grade products that contain proven whitening ingredients. The products sold in stores or online generally don’t contain the same ingredients, or they don’t have the concentration of whitening agents to break up stain molecules. Products may even contain ingredients with a blueish tinge. The color blue offsets brown or yellow discoloration; teeth appear whiter without actually lifting stains.

Eastland Dental Center has a variety of options for whitening, including the KöR Whitening system, Phillips Zoom Whitening, and Whitening for Life. This allows us to find the best option that fits yours needs. These systems utilize hydrogen peroxide to whiten the teeth. The oxygen molecules from the whitening agents penetrate enamel and react with the discolored molecules in your teeth, breaking them apart. As the oxygen molecules spread out, your entire tooth is whitened.

The KöR Whitening treatment is typically for patients with tetracycline staining. KöR’s special whitening gel is designed to seep deeply into the teeth. Tooth structure becomes more permeable to whitening. Large stain molecules break down into smaller, colorless particles. Even very dark brown, yellow or orange stains or blue or gray discoloration caused by early and excess antibiotics use is amenable to this type of “deep bleaching.”

Philips Zoom in-office whitening can improve the shade of your teeth in a single office visit and in about an hour and a half. An advanced blue LED light unlocks the power of Zoom’s HP-based whitening gel. This light-accelerated treatment makes for a particularly efficient option for patients who want to whiten their teeth right before a big event. Professional whitening at the dentist’s provides patients with access to near immediate results, unlike the products that you can buy off the shelf, which can take several days to weeks to get results.

Whitening for Life involves custom trays made from impressions taken in the office. You will then wear the custom trays at home. You will receive one tube of gel at each regular six-month cleaning appointment. With this option, you get out what you put in. The more you commit to wearing the trays, the better results you will achieve.

Safety

The technologies and products used at your dental professional’s office are FDA approved. You are welcome to ask the Eastland Dental Center team any questions about ingredients and the process. There is peace of mind in knowing that all dental procedures, regardless of whether they’re preventive, restorative, or cosmetic in nature, are recommended with your best interests in mind and with your oral health and wellbeing at the forefront. Consider:

• Your teeth and gums must have a clean bill of health before you undergo whitening. If teeth have decay, whitening can cause the areas of decay to worsen or become sensitive. Procedures will not be effective on exposed tooth roots, as those roots don’t have an enamel layer. Exposed roots are also more vulnerable to decay, and bleaching agents certainly won’t help the situation.
• It’s necessary to restore the health of your mouth first, and then move forward with cosmetic treatments such as whitening.
• Keep in mind that materials used to make restorations don’t whiten. Therefore, previous fillings or crowns will not whiten. Your dentist will sit down with you to discuss the treatment plan that makes the most sense for your situation.

Eastland Dental Center ensures all safeguards are in place for both in-office and home whitening. In-office, your teeth are isolated before the whitening gel is applied. So, there is no chance the gel will get on your gums, lips, and other tissues. In addition to protecting your mouth, this rubber dam or sheet ensures even application of the whitening gel. The dental trays that are loaded with whitening gel and worn in your mouth as part of the home whitening process are customized to you, based on impressions of your teeth. Since they’re customized to your mouth, you avoid the discomfort and potential irritation and damage that can arise from over the counter whitening kits. 

Value

Eastland Dental Center’s Whitening for Life program makes it affordable to maintain your dazzling smile. For a one-time fee, you get custom trays and a touch-up whitening kit at every six-month check-up. If new trays need to be made over the years or whitening gel is desired more frequently than every six months, additional fees will apply. Moreover, you get a great return on any investment that you make in the beauty of your smile. No more wasting money on whitening toothpastes, strips, kits, and pens that don’t work! For trusted dentistry and whitening options, call Eastland Dental Center in Bloomington IL at (309) 663-4711.