At O'Connor Dental Health Group, we offer teeth-whitening services in our office and as a take-home alternative to help our Ottawa patients with the look of their smiles.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening removes surface stains and lightens the colour of your teeth.
Your teeth will become more susceptible to stains from food and drinks as you get older. Particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel, and products like berries, coffee, tea, and tobacco are infamous for staining teeth.
The bleaching agents used during the teeth whitening treatment process are designed to reverse these effects of aging and staining, lightening the colour of your teeth.
Teeth Whitening in Ottawa: The Process
The teeth whitening process used peroxide-based bleaching agents. As the active ingredients break down, oxygen acts on the tooth enamel which is where the whitening effect comes from.
In-Office Teeth Whitening in Ottawa
In-office teeth whitening can take up to two hours at our dental clinic. First, a barrier is applied around your gums to protect them, then a thin layer of peroxide gel is applied and chemically activated on each tooth. We keep repeating the process until we reach the shade of white you would like.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening in Ottawa
At O'Connor Dental Health Group, we offer at-home whitening options so that you can whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home and in your own time frame. Custom whitening trays are created for your smile. Your dentist will also provide you with at-home instructions to follow during your treatment.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Read the answers to our most frequently asked questions about teeth whitening at O'Connor Dental Health Group.
- How long do the effects of teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening isn't a permanent solution to whiten your smile.
If you continue to expose your teeth to foods and drinks that cause staining, you could start to see whiteness fade after a few months.
If you avoid these foods and drinks after your teeth whitening treatment, you may just need a touch-up after a year or so.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
Sensitivity is a short-term side effect of teeth whitening. For most patients, it fades away within a few days after your appointment or session.
To reduce any discomfort you might be feeling, our dentist recommends using anti-sensitivity toothpaste before your treatment and for at least two weeks after the treatment.
- Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
Yellow and brown-coloured stains respond the best to teeth whitening treatments.
Grey, blue and purple-coloured stains tend not to respond to whitening at all. For teeth with these types of stains, patients may be better candidates for cosmetic services such as veneers or dental crowns.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. It does not work on existing dental restorations such as veneers or dental crowns.
If veneers or crowns are part of your treatment plan, 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 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 typically cover the cost of teeth whitening procedures because it is a purely cosmetic procedure with no health benefits for your teeth.