Maybe you’ve wandered around the mall and seen one of those kiosks that offer teeth whitening. Maybe you’ve wondered to yourself, “Hmm…could that work for me?” Before you plunk down your hard earned cash to get your smile brightened, heed this word of caution from the Michigan Dental Association (MDA):
Teeth whitening should only be performed by a licensed professional.
Unfortunately, not all of these whitening clinics and kiosks are run by a licensed professional. If you are interested in whitening your teeth, you should see your dentist.
In this month’s issue of the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association, the MDA reports its “continuing efforts to stop teeth-bleaching enterprises conducted by unlicensed individuals.” Shockingly, many people are having their teeth whitened by people with no dental training or education. The MDA reports that they are aware of the public having their teeth whitened by unlicensed professionals in “a variety of non-dental settings, such as in shopping malls, hair salons, warehouse club kiosks, and through in-home visits by salespersons.”
Unfortunately, choosing to have your teeth whitened by someone other than a licensed dentist leaves you open to the chance for harm. Dentists receive intensive schooling and continuing education on teeth whitening. Safety procedures and precautions are carefully followed during in-office systems to protect a patient’s teeth and gums from harm. Having your teeth whitened in a professional dentist office is the safest option.
Today there are a number of options to choose between when you decide to whiten your smile. From over-the-counter products, such as whitening strips, to one-hour whitening performed by your dentist, making a decision about what’s best for you can be difficult. Visiting your dentist for a consultation is a good place to start. He or she can help you decide what would work best for your smile.
Of course, the health of your smile is your dentist’s top priority and should be yours, too. Before you can think about cosmetically altering your smile, you’ll need to make sure your teeth are free of any decay and your gums are healthy. You can help maintain the health of your smile by brushing and flossing at least twice daily and visiting your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup.
If your dentist decides that you are a good candidate for teeth whitening, one option available at most dental offices is a take-home system where impressions are taken of your teeth and custom trays are made for you to wear at home, usually at night, with whitening gel inside the trays. This process usually takes a few weeks to get to your whitest.
An exciting option available at many dental offices, including Bright Side Dental, is the Zoom® whitening system. Zoom® is an in-office system that allows you to complete your whitening in just one visit. In a matter of hours you can see results of up to eight shades whiter teeth.
Bright Side Dental is a dental group with locations in Sterling Heights, Livonia, Canton, and Royal Oak, Michigan.
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