Does Professional Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Often we associate beauty with pain, like attaining gorgeous brows through painful plucking or toned abs through grueling workouts. Many patients come to the Modern Age Dentistry practice wondering whether getting their teeth professionally whitened will be painful.
Dr. Ali Saeghi and his team at our offices in Atwater Village, Ojai, and West Hills, California, do everything possible to shield you from pain, no matter what service you seek. Whether you’re receiving a cosmetic dentistry treatment or a necessary dental treatment, we employ the most advanced treatment techniques and use only sophisticated methods to keep you comfortable.
I want to get my teeth whitened but am worried about pain
We understand your concerns. Whenever you contemplate dental treatment of any sort, it’s only natural to be concerned about how you will tolerate it and if it will be at all uncomfortable.
The good news about teeth whitening is that the treatment itself doesn’t cause any pain whatsoever, so you can rest easy. It’s a relief to know that you can up your self-confidence by receiving teeth-whitening treatment, but you don’t have to worry about any discomfort during the procedure.
Some patients have experienced sensitivity after treatment, but Dr. Saeghi mitigates this by simply applying a special gel to relieve it after he has removed the whitening agent. It’s as simple as that. If you know you’re prone to sensitivity, it may also help to take a pain reliever before your whitening treatment.
What happens when I get my teeth professionally whitened?
Now that you know pain won’t be a concern, it’s time to learn about what your teeth-whitening procedure will be like when you visit us.
First, it’s important to know that Dr. Saeghi selected the Phillips Zoom whitening system he uses because of its many benefits, including:
- The ability to match your unique tooth shade precisely
- A procedure that requires no mixing of the whitening gel product
- An easy and quick application process
- Safe for tooth enamel
- At-home treatments that maintain the great whitening results you got from treatment
- A special product to apply to your teeth after treatment if you have any sensitivity
Most people who have sensitivity after treatment are reacting to the hydrogen peroxide present in the product, but as we mentioned before, the gel Dr. Saeghi applies post-treatment takes care of any sensitivity quickly. It’s also the only FDA-approved sensitivity treatment offered as part of a whitening system.
The in-office treatment involves Dr. Saeghi speaking with you about whether you’re at risk for sensitivity issues and planning for them ahead of time if necessary. Then he determines which whitening shade will be the closest match to your teeth. He also evaluates your mouth before the treatment.
Next, Dr. Saeghi uses special tools, such as a bite block, that help protect the tissue surrounding your teeth. They also help him access your teeth easily for treatment.
Dr. Saeghi is then ready to apply the whitening gel multiple times, with “rest” periods in between. During whitening treatment, he and the team are focused on your comfort and doing an excellent job.
After treatment, Dr. Saeghi applies the gel that can relieve sensitivity if you need it, but if you don’t, you’re free to go — just refrain from eating or drinking for 30 minutes after treatment.
You can do certain things to prolong your whitening treatment. These include rinsing your mouth out promptly after eating or drinking anything that causes staining, like red wine or tomato sauce, and opting for a straw if you’re drinking something dark. Use a whitening toothpaste regularly too.
Finally, apart from being very detrimental to your health, using tobacco products stain your teeth as well, so stay away from them.
If you’ve been hesitating to get your teeth whitened because of worries about pain and discomfort, don’t fret anymore!
Call the Modern Age Dentistry office most convenient to you to schedule an appointment, or book one online.