Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes the prospect of lots of time spent outdoors soaking up the sunshine with friends and family. From pool dates to exotic vacations, family reunions to wedding celebrations, afternoons spent hiking to evenings enjoyed downtown, there is a lot to look forward to as summer break nears. But before you start your own summer adventure, don’t you want to make sure your smile is looking its best? If so, talk to your cosmetic dentist about how professional teeth whitening could make your smile close-up worthy, just in time for all the excitement that summer has in store!

Is Whitening Right for You?

Over time, most people begin to noticing staining and discoloration of their teeth. It’s not surprising, considering how many foods and drinks come into contact with the porous surface of your teeth’s enamel. While whitening toothpaste might help slightly, in most cases the product spends too little time in contact with the teeth to create very dramatic results.

Many other over-the-counter whitening products are similar, in that they cannot guarantee fast or dramatic results. Fortunately, professional whitening is different, in that it is designed to help drastically lighten teeth in relatively short amounts of time, so that patients can feel confident showing off their brighter, and often younger-looking smiles

Which Treatment Is Right for You?

Many cosmetic dentists offer a variety of professional whitening services, each with its own unique benefits:

1. In-office Treatment – for patients wanting results as quickly as possible, in-office whitening is a great option. By protecting sensitive tissues, and applying a whitening gel directly to the teeth, a cosmetic dentist’s team can use a special light to speed the whitening process, generally in less than an hour.
2. At-home Treatment – anyone wanting dramatic results, without the pricetag of almost immediate results, at-home treatment is a great solution. First, the dentist will custom fit you with whitening trays and instructions for how long to use a whitening gel in conjunction with the trays. For most patients, this means wearing trays once a day for one or two weeks, in order to achieve great whitening results in the comfort of their own homes!