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Teeth Whitening in Ottawa
At Ottawa Downtown Dentist, our dentist offers both in-office and take-home teeth whitening options to help our Ottawa patients brighten their smiles.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
One safe, effective way to lighten the colour of your teeth and remove stains is to head to your dentist's office for a professional teeth whitening session.
As we age, our teeth become more vulnerable to staining from food and other substances. Our tooth enamel naturally attracts particles, and products such as tea, coffee, tobacco and berries are well-known to stain teeth.
Bleaching agents used during the teeth whitening treatment process are designed to reverse the effects of aging and staining, lightening the colour of your teeth.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Peroxide-based bleaching agents are an essential part of teeth whitening solutions. As the active ingredient breaks down, oxygen acts on the tooth enamel, creating the whitening effect.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
An in-office teeth whitening session takes about two hours at our dental office. First, a barrier is applied to your gums to protect them before your teeth are covered with a thin layer of gel, which chemically activates on each tooth. The process is repeated a few times until we achieve the desired shade of white.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
If you choose to whiten your teeth in the comfort and convenience of your home, you may want to consider at-home whitening options offered at Ottawa Downtown Dentist. Custom whitening trays are created specifically for your smile, and your dentist will provide you with detailed at-home instructions to follow throughout your treatment.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Read the answers to our most frequently asked questions about teeth whitening at Ottawa Downtown Dentist.
- How long do the effects of teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening is a temporary solution to whiten your smile.
If your teeth are continually exposed to foods and drinks that cause staining, you will probably begin to see the whiteness fade after a few months.
If you avoid these foods and drinks following your teeth whitening treatment, you may only need a touchup after a year or so.
- Does teeth whitening make teeth more sensitive?
Some patients experience sensitivity as a side-effect after a teeth whitening treatment. For most, this short-term side effect fades within a few days after a whitening session.
To reduce any discomfort, we recommend using an anti-sensitivity toothpaste prior to treatment and for at least two weeks following your treatment.
- Do teeth whitening products work on all stains?
We find that yellow and brown-coloured stains respond the best to teeth whitening treatments.
Grey, blue and purple-coloured stains tend not to respond to whitening at all. If your teeth have these types of stains, dental crowns or veneers may be a better fit for you.
- Does teeth whitening work on dental restorations?
No, teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. It is not effective on existing dental restorations such as veneers or dental crowns.
If veneers or crowns are part of your treatment plan, teeth whitening should happen before you receive your dental restorations.
- Will teeth whitening damage my tooth enamel?
When used with the supervision of a qualified dentist, it's very unlikely that teeth whitening will damage your dental enamel.
In order to confirm that you are using any teeth whitening products safely, always consult with your dentist.
- Does insurance cover the cost of teeth whitening?
Dental insurance does not typically cover the cost of teeth whitening because it is a purely cosmetic procedure that will not affect your overall health.