“How long does teeth whitening procedure take?”

If you want in office whitening, it is generally broken up into two to three 15-20 minutes cycles depending on how “white” you want to go. It is usually a one hour appointment for most people. To maintain your new smile, take home bleaching trays are always recommended.

Take-home whitening shows good results in as little as 2 weeks. In-office whitening can show immediate results, but tends to relapse sooner. When we do in-office whitening, we recommend that the patient also follow up with take-home products to intensify and prolong the new, lighter shade. I usually say that, if you just remembered you were getting married this weekend and forgot to get your teeth lightened for the wedding, we could get you in for an in-office treatment that would make you look great for the wedding photos. But it might fade sooner, and you would have to touch it up with the take-home products. Take-home whitening usually involved taking impressions for the fabrication of custom trays that are filled with the whitening gel and worn for about 20 minutes a day. They can be messy, and they often lead to tooth and gum sensitivity (which are temporary). In-office whitening rarely causes sensitivity, but can take up to an hour and cost much more. Frankly, we have not been using either method for some time. We've discovered a new, OTC method that has proven to work faster and with no sensitivity. And the price is lower than we can charge. Patients and family are really liking it, and those who have tried the older methods especially notice a positive difference. Though I am not affiliated with the product in any way whatsoever, I have been recommending Snow Teeth Whitening for almost 2 years. My patients get the results they want at a lower price, and there is no extra work for the office staff. It's a "Win-Win" product for us. You can look it up and see if it is right for you. Some things to remember about what ever type of whitening you choose. If you have any tooth-colored fillings in your teeth or any crowns or veneers, they will not lighten. If those restorations no longer match the new, lighter shade, you will need to replace them. That adds to the cost of the whitening . Also, during the whitening process, your teeth may be more susceptible to staining, so you need to avoid smoking and eating and drinking dark foods and liquids (Colas, Red Wine, Blueberries, Coffee, Tea, etc.). Good luck with your decision!