How Do Dentists Whiten Your Teeth?

If you’ve ever wondered what happens during a professional teeth whitening appointment, you’re not alone. Many patients ask how the whitening treatments at a dental office differ from over-the-counter products. Dentists whiten teeth using safe but powerful bleaching agents and specialized techniques to achieve faster, more dramatic results than typical home methods. Here’s an inside look at how we brighten your smile in our Red Deer dental clinic. 

In-Office Whitening & Professional Bleaching  

The most rapid way dentists whiten teeth is with an in-office treatment, often completed in about 60-90 minutes. We use a concentrated peroxide-based whitening gel – much stronger than store-bought whitening products. To begin, the dentist or hygienist will prep your mouth: we’ll place protections like a rubber dam or liquid barrier on your gums and lips. This is crucial because the high-strength gel can irritate soft tissue; by isolating your teeth, we ensure the gel only contacts the enamel. Next, the whitening gel is applied to the front surfaces of your teeth. Depending on the system we use, the gel might stay on for 15-20 minutes per round, and we may do multiple rounds in one visit. 

Often, an accelerating light or laser is shone on the teeth after applying the gel. The light is believed to help break down the peroxide faster, speeding up the stain removal. During each round, you just sit back and relax (we’ll make sure you’re comfortable – you can listen to music, etc.). We’ll suction off the gel and reapply fresh gel for a second or third round as needed. By the end of the session, patients typically see their teeth lighten several shades. 

One key reason dentist-supervised whitening works so well is the strength of the bleaching agent. We use gels that might be around 30-40% hydrogen peroxide equivalent. By comparison, over-the-counter whitening strips are maybe 5-10%. The powerful gel, combined with proper isolation and technique, yields significant whitening in one visit. However, because it’s strong, it’s handled carefully.  

Our team ensures your gums, cheeks, and tongue are safely protected. We also monitor you – if you feel sensitivity, we can pause or adjust the treatment. Tooth desensitizers or fluoride may be applied after whitening to help reduce any post-treatment sensitivity. 

Take-Home Professional Teeth Whitening Kits 

Another way dentists whiten teeth is by providing custom take-home whitening kits. As mentioned in the first blog, this involves us making molds of your teeth to create custom-fit trays. We then give you professional whitening gel (usually a carbamide peroxide gel in a moderate concentration, e.g. 10-20%). You’ll be instructed on how to place a small dot of gel in each part of the tray corresponding to a tooth, then wear the trays at home for the recommended time (anywhere from 30 minutes a day to overnight, depending on the formula). 

This approach is dentist-supervised but done on your own schedule. It achieves the same final result as in-office whitening, just more gradually over 1-2 weeks. Some patients prefer this gentler, gradual whitening because it can minimize sensitivity and gives them control over how white they go. Plus, you can keep the trays for future touch-ups – we’ll supply more gel as needed.  

Custom trays ensure even coverage of the whitening gel on all tooth surfaces and keep the gel sealed against your teeth (and away from saliva dilution). This method is extremely effective for uniform whitening and can tackle deeper stains if used consistently. Studies have shown that home bleaching with dentist-provided trays is safe and yields significant shade changes when patients follow the guidance. 

Often, we actually recommend a combination: an in-office jumpstart followed by take-home trays to continue whitening or maintain the result. It provides the best of both – instant result plus long-term flexibility. 

Results and Maintenance 

Dentist-whitened teeth can often get several shades lighter in one appointment (for in-office). However, keep in mind results vary based on the type of staining and your enamel. Also, the change isn’t permanent – unfortunately, whitening doesn’t last forever. On average, with good habits, an in-office whitening can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years before some dulling occurs.  

Those who consume staining substances will see re-staining faster. That’s where touch-ups come in. Many patients come back for another round of whitening after a year or so, or use their custom trays at home periodically to refresh their smile. 

The good news is that repeating whitening (with professional guidance) is fine as needed. There’s no evidence that occasional professional whitening (say once a year or every couple years) damages teeth. Tooth sensitivity is the most common side effect, but it’s temporary. We mitigate it with fluoride treatments or sensitivity toothpaste. 

Teeth Whitening in Clearview, Red Deer 

If you’re looking to brighten your smile, a consultation at our office can determine the best whitening method for you. Some patients even combine treatments – e.g., do an in-office session for an initial boost and then use take-home trays for a few more days for maximum whiteness. We tailor the plan to your preferences and sensitivity level. 

Schedule an appointment with our dentists and we’ll make a tooth whitening plan together!