Cosmetic dentistry has been in great demand over the past decade. Social media standards have changed the way people view smiles. Nowadays, your smile is more of a greeting card than “just” a part of your face. Studies have shown that when people first meet, 45% of them notice each other’s smile before anything else, including hair, eyes, and clothes. For that reason, everybody wants a fantastic smile. One of the most common ways to gain a brighter smile is through teeth whitening. This is one of the easiest and safest cosmetic dental procedures. However, there are still many questions to be answered before embarking on that journey. One of the most common questions is, “how long does teeth whitening take?” We’ll attempt to answer that here.
How is Professional Teeth Whitening Performed?
To understand how long teeth whitening takes, we must first look at the whole procedure, which goes as follows.
- The teeth are polished using a polishing paste to remove any external stains.
- The teeth are isolated using a special liquid that protects the gums, lips, and cheeks from the chemical effects of the whitening gel.
- The whitening gel is placed and spread on the teeth’s surface and activated using a specialized blue light source (we use the patented Zoom® whitening light).
- The gel is left on the teeth surface for a short time and then removed. The process is repeated until the shade required is reached.
- All the isolation material is removed and the gums are checked for any injuries or abnormalities.
After a whitening procedure, you should avoid foods and drinks containing stains (especially coffee and tobacco) for a couple of days.
How Long Does the Procedure Take?
There is no hard and fast rule. However, the isolation generally takes about 15 minutes. In addition, each whitening session (gel placed and activated with light) may take 10 to 15 minutes. So, depending on the number of sessions you may need, the complete procedure may take between 60 and 75 minutes.
Is Teeth Whitening with Zoom® Safe?
Zoom® teeth whitening is patented for being the safest type of light whitening and the one which causes the fewest side effects. Most people complain of some sensitivity when they are done with other whitening procedures. However, this very rarely happens with Zoom® whitening.
So, there you have it, the answer to one of the most common questions we are asked before whitening procedures: “how long does teeth whitening take?”
Ready to get your teeth whitened? Click here to make your appointment with one of our experienced local dentists!