Whitening your teeth can drastically change your appearance and boost your self-esteem at the same time. But deciding which teeth whitening method to choose can be confusing. If you are the type of person that likes instant results, you might consider chairside teeth whitening which can be performed directly at the dentist office. Chairside teeth whitening, also known as teeth bleaching, can dramatically whiten your teeth (around 4 to 6 shades lighter) in about an hour.

How Chairside Teeth Whitening Works

During an in office bleaching treatment, the dentist will more than likely use a product containing anywhere from 15% to 35% hydrogen peroxide gels. Before beginning the teeth whitening treatment, the dentist will isolate the gum areas by placing a gel or special shield to protect the soft tissues.

After the dentist has isolated the gum tissues, he then applies the hydrogen peroxide gel to the teeth. A laser or a special light could possibly be used to increase the whitening effect. The bleaching gel is then rinsed off and this procedure is usually repeated several times.

Effectiveness of Chairside Teeth Whitening

If you have any visible crowns or white fillings, you may want to consider having them replaced in a lighter shade because they will not lighten during a bleaching process and will stand out against your recently whitened teeth.