There are multiple different dental treatments available for those looking to whiten their teeth.
Different treatments give you different results, but laser teeth whitening has become an increasingly popular choice for those wanting more noticeable results, and because the treatments have become more widely accessible.
What Laser Teeth Whitening Is And How It Works
Laser teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment, where concentrated light sources are used to accelerate the bleaching of your teeth.
Your dentist first checks your teeth to evaluate the causes of your discoloration, like coffee, tobacco, aging or medications, to check if you’d be a good candidate.
They then isolate your gums, and apply a professional-strength whitening gel, and activate it with a laser or similar light.
With laser whitening treatments, you’ll notice how quickly you get whitening benefits, due to the precision of the laser targeting stained areas. The light helps to break down stain molecules faster than using a whitening gel alone.
How Laser Technology Enhances Whitening Results
When your dentist uses laser technology with a whitening gel, the light energy speeds up the chemical breakdown of the stain molecules on your teeth, so your teeth then brighten up more, but in less time.
As the whitening gel activates faster, your overall laser teeth whitening treatment duration is usually shorter than a traditional dentist whitening treatment, but you get more dramatic results with just one single visit.
With the lasers, it also allows your dentist to target specific teeth, or darker areas, for better precision and better uniform results, but it costs between £300 and £1000 per treatment, depending on the clinic.
During your treatment, the dentist will wear protective eyewear, and use gum barriers in your mouth with controlled laser settings, to ensure your mouth tissues are protected, whilst maximizing the whitening power.
You may still get some temporary sensitivity issues, like most whitening treatments, but the dentist can recommend sensitizing gels and adjusted exposure times if needed.
When it comes to the cost, laser whitening often costs more per visit, than a non-laser treatment, but the faster and more noticeable results can make the treatment worthwhile, especially if you want quick results for a special occasion, like a wedding.
How Laser Whitening Compares To At Home Whitening Options
When looking at a cost comparison, as I mentioned above, laser whitening has a higher upfront price, however one single laser whitening treatment session can give you the same, if not better results than several cycles of expensive home whitening kits. Although, with drugstore whitening kits let you spread costs out over time.
Laser teeth whitening allows you to lighten teeth by several shades, which is incredible considering it’s usually a single appointment treatment, with no down-time or preparation needed.
Your in-office whitening treatments are supervised, with your gums being carefully protected. At home, there’s a chance of user error like overuse, a poor tray fit or not following the directions properly, causing sensitivity and irritation.
Home whitening is easy to fit into your daily routine, but it’ll take days or weeks to get noticeable results. Laser whitening is a single appointment, with fast and controlled results that are customized for your teeth.
