Is your smile less than brilliant due to stains or discoloration? Teeth whitening is a fast, effective treatment that can help you feel more confident in your appearance with minimal impact on your budget. At Serenity Family Dentistry, Dr. O’Connor provides both take-home and in-office teeth whitening options to meet our patients’ varied needs. Whether you would like to brighten your smile in the comfort of your own home or at our office in just one visit, we can help. To learn more about teeth whitening, contact our office and schedule an appointment today.

In-office Whitening

We use the Sapphire Whitening system for our in-office whitening treatments. Sapphire Whitening is one of the most trusted whitening systems because it provides amazing results while minimizing sensitivity. Before beginning your whitening treatment, Dr. O’Connor will examine your smile to determine whether you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. If you have severe dental discoloration, we can recommend alternative treatment options, including porcelain veneers to help you achieve your desired appearance.If you decide to proceed with treatment, the doctor can determine the appropriate level of hydrogen peroxide in your bleaching gel. This is the whitening agent that will reach deep within your teeth to break up stains. Once your gums are protected, you will relax in one of our comfortable treatment chairs. One of our team members will carefully apply whitening gel to your teeth and position you under the Sapphire blue LED light. This light activates the hydrogen peroxide, enhancing its whitening power. In-office whitening is comfortable and provides instantaneous results. Once your treatment is complete, typically in under an hour, you are free to return to work or other activities.

Take-home Treatment

Many patients prefer a take home whitening system to brighten their teeth. This is a more affordable means of treatment because it does not require much time in our office. Take-home treatment is often preferred by patients with especially sensitive teeth. The take home gel gradually whitens your teeth over several treatments that you administer during your free time. To begin at-home whitening, you will first come in to our office so that we can take impressions of your teeth. These impressions are used to create customized trays that will hold your whitening gel in place.

To whiten at home, you will apply a thin line of gel in your trays, then slide them over your teeth. Most patients whiten at home for 15-30 minutes at a time. While you wear your trays, you can relax, watch television, clean, or do other activities. Once your treatment is complete, you will simply rinse your teeth and go about your day. Most patients whiten several times a week for a few weeks at a time until they have achieved their aesthetic goals. At-home whitening is a safe for your teeth and provides an easy path towards a more beautiful smile.

Keeping Your Smile Bright

Many of our patients choose to combine in-office and take-home whitening for the most comprehensive results. Once you have undergone in-office treatment, touch-ups with take-home kits can maintain a bright, white smile. Additionally, you should consider:

  • Minimizing your consumption of staining foods and drinks like dark berries, wine, coffee, and cola
  • Quitting smoking or chewing tobacco use
  • Brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily, in addition to rinsing after meals whenever brushing is not available

These healthy habits and lifestyle adjustments can keep your smile lustrous for years to come.