What Is Laser Teeth Whitening?

While it’s not plastic surgery, laser teeth whitening is considered a cosmetic dental procedure that shows significant improvement to your teeth’ brightness — up to 10 shades brighter. Bleach is applied to each tooth while a LED specialist light source enhances its effectiveness, which ultimately speeds up the process, leading to quick, dramatic results.

How Does Laser Whitening Work?

It’s not a long process, but it is precise. Check out the step-by-step breakdown below:

Prep:

• The color and shade of your existing teeth are determined using a shade indicator.
• A picture of your teeth is taken to see a before/after comparison.
• Your lips are coated with a protective SPF lotion containing moisturizers.
• A cheek retractor is inserted into the mouth, and cotton rolls are placed under the lips.

Procedure:

• A protective coating is placed over the gums to protect your mouth and gums from the bleaching gel.
• A bleaching gel consisting of hydrogen peroxide and thickening agents is applied to the front of your teeth to keep the solution on the surfaces of your teeth.
• Patients must sit still as a bleaching light or laser will shine onto the teeth to activate the bleaching process.
• Some whitening systems consist of three 15-minute sessions in one sitting.
• The gauze and the liquid dam materials will be monitored between sessions to ensure that the mouth’s soft tissues are safe and dry.

Post:

• After the treatment, avoid certain food and drinks for a few days as the pores of enamel are more susceptible to absorbing stains (lipstick, coffee, soda, etc.) and sensitive to cold food items (ice cream, cold beverages, etc.)