Teeth Whitening - 3 Steps to Whiter Teeth 

Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental treatment. More than 84% of cosmetic dentists offer cosmetic procedures like tooth bleaching. Studies have shown that people with white teeth are considered to be more attractive and may he also have better career chances.

You have three ways to get white teeth. The cheap over-the-counter bleaching set, the dentist's bleaching tray and the in-office power bleaching.

Before you decide to whiten your teeth you should know that it's not suitable for all kind of tooth coloration. Whitening works best with yellow teeth or teeth which have been stained by age, drink, food or smoking. Bleaching does not work well for gray teeth or a tooth that has been colored due to an injury.

Power bleaching can also cause some tooth sensitivity which should go away after one or two days. It also doesn't work on crowns, veneers or fillings.

The cheapest solution is to buy an over-the-counter bleaching set at your locale drugstore. There are various products available which all contain only a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide. That's why they are less effective and you have to use them for several days to see an effect.

The second and more expensive option to whiter teeth is the way to your cosmetic dentist. He can either get the bleaching by a custom-made tray or by a power bleaching procedure. The tray costs between $300 and $500 and is also used at home for two hours a day for several days. It contains a higher concentration of the bleaching gel so it's more effective.

The in-office power bleaching is the most pricey but fastest way to beautiful smile. The dentist has access to special whitening products from Britesmile and Zoom which are not available over the counter. First a gel or shield is applied to your gum to protect it from the bleaching process. Then your teeth become several shades brighter when the dentist applies the bleaching gel to your teeth together with a high frequency light, either laser or ultraviolet. This takes just one or two hours.

Whether if you choose the tray or the power bleaching, the effect is the same. Power bleaching is just faster but costs up to $1000. In both ways a high concentrate of peroxide is used, usually between 15% and 35%. The stronger the concentration the larger the effect. You should consult with your cosmetic dentist which is the best for you.

Cosmetic dentistry has made many advances the last years and cosmetic dental procedures became very popular. Many patients went from bleaching over to dental porcelain veneers, a permanent way to whiter teeth. However, whithening is not woking on bad teeth. Porcelain veneers are very thin layers of porcelain which are applied to the surface of your teeth. This way you get perfect white teeth and can achieve a complete smile makeover. This is what the movie stars and celebrities are doing. The costs are very high though, up to $1200 per tooth, but it lasts up to twenty years.