Teeth Whitening in Collingwood, ON
At Collingwood Dental Centre, our dentists offer both in-office and take-home teeth whitening options to help our Collingwood patients brighten their smiles.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
A safe, effective way to remove stains and lighten the colour of your teeth is to have them professionally whitened.
With age, our teeth become more vulnerable to staining from food and other substances. Teeth naturally attract particles to the enamel, and products such as tea, coffee, tobacco and berries are notorious for staining teeth.
Peroxide-based bleaching agents used during the teeth whitening process are designed to reverse the effects of aging and staining, gradually lightening the colour of your teeth.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Teeth whitening uses peroxide-based bleaching agents. Oxygen acts on the tooth enamel as the active ingredient breaks down, creating the whitening effect.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
An in-office teeth whitening treatment can be completed in about two hours at our dental clinic. First, your dentist applies a barrier around your gums to protect them, then covers the area in a thin layer of gel, which chemically activates on each tooth. The process is repeated a few times until the desired shade of white is achieved.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
The at-home whitening options offered at Collingwood Dental Centre will enable you to whiten your teeth in the comfort and convenience of your home. Custom whitening trays are created specifically for your teeth. Your dentist will also give you detailed at-home instructions to follow during your course of treatment.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Read the answers to our most frequently asked questions about teeth whitening at Collingwood Dental Centre.
- How long do the effects of teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening is a temporary solution you can use to whiten your smile.
If your teeth are continually exposed to foods and drinks that cause staining, you will likely begin to see the whiteness fade after a few months.
If you manage to avoid these foods and drinks following your teeth whitening treatment, you may just need a touchup after a year or so.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
One potential short-term side effect to teeth whitening is sensitivity. For most patients, sensitivity fades within a few days following the session.
To reduce any discomfort, we recommend using an anti-sensitivity toothpaste before treatment and for at least two weeks following your treatment.
- Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
We find that yellow and brown-coloured stains often respond best to teeth whitening treatments.
Purple, grey, and blue-coloured stains tend not to respond to whitening at all. For teeth with these types of stains, patients may be better candidates for cosmetic treatments such as dental crowns or veneers.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. It will not affect existing dental restorations such as veneers or dental crowns.
If crowns or veneers 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 teeth whitening treatments and solutions are used under a qualified dentist's supervision, 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 typically cover the cost of teeth whitening because it is a purely cosmetic procedure with no health benefits for your teeth.