Your Port Moody Invisalign® Provider
At Westport Dental in Port Moody, our dentists offer in-office and take-home teeth whitening options to help our Tri-City patients brighten their smiles.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening is typically a safe and effective way to remove stains and lighten the colour of your teeth.
With age, teeth become more vulnerable to staining from food and other substances. Particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel, and products like berries, tea, coffee, and tobacco are notorious 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.
At Westport Dental, we offer both in-office and take-home teeth whitening so you can pick the treatment option that best suits your lifestyle.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Teeth whitening uses bleaching agents that are peroxide-based. Oxygen acts on the tooth enamel as the active ingredient breaks down, creating the whitening effect.
Zoom!® In-Office Whitening System
In our Port Moody office, we offer the safe, effective and fast tooth whitening system, Zoom! This system uses LED technology that minimizes post-procedure tooth sensitivity.
Before beginning treatment, your dentist will complete a thorough exam of your teeth and gums to ensure they are healthy enough to handle the bleaching process.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
At Westport Dental, we offer at-home whitening options so that you can whiten your teeth in the comfort and convenience of your home.
Custom whitening trays are created specifically for your smile. Our team will provide you with thorough 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 Westport Dental.
- 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 will begin to see the 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.
- How does Zoom! in-office teeth whitening work?
If your dentist determines Zoom! is right for you, they will being by isolating your lips and gums. Next, they will apply the Zoom! whitening gel, which contains specifically formulated, pH-balanced hydrogen peroxide, on the teeth.
To activate the Zoom! whitening gel, your dentist applies a specially designed, low-heat light that penetrates the teeth. During this process, the hydrogen peroxide in the gel attaches to stained molecules on the teeth, weakening them. This allows oxygen to enter the tooth enamel and lighten them.
Your dentist will repeat this twenty-minute gel application two more times for the Zoom! teeth whitening system to reach its full effect.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
Sensitivity is a potential short-term side effect to teeth whitening. For most patients, it fades away within a few days after a whitening session.
To help minimize discomfort, we recommend that you use an anti-sensitivity toothpaste prior to treatment and for at least two weeks following your treatment.
- Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
Brown and yellow-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 treatments such as veneers or dental crowns.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, it does not work on existing dental restorations such as veneers or dental crowns. Teeth whitening only works on natural teeth.
If your treatment plan includes veneers or crowns, 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 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 usually cover the cost of teeth whitening because it is a purely cosmetic procedure with no health benefits for your teeth.