How much whiter will my teeth get after whitening treatment?

If you are considering some form of teeth whitening, you may wonder how much of a difference you will see in the mirror after the procedure. While each person’s results are not predictable and individualized, we have some considerations for patients looking into whitening treatments. The amount of whitening varies from person to person due to a combination of factors such as individual tooth structure and habits, from what you eat/drink to your daily hygiene routine.

It's important to note that some staining is more stubborn than others, so certain areas of your teeth may require repeated treatments. Older patients may also require more time with whitening therapy than younger patients. Finally, yellowing or “brown” stained teeth typically see quicker results than teeth that are “gray” in color.

Will a stronger teeth whitening product get my teeth whiter?

A stronger concentration of whitening ingredients may speed up the process and require fewer repeat treatments to achieve the same level of change. However, in general, all active whitening products can achieve the same level of whitening. The difference is in how many repeated sessions are needed with a specific product, how long you may have to wear a specific product, and how comfortable a specific treatment may be. So, in short – you may be able to achieve the same whitening effects with any product; it may just take longer or “more work.” This is why we recommend a whitening discussion with your Winter Park dentist.

How does a stronger teeth whitening product whiten my teeth faster?

In most cases, a stronger concentration on teeth whitening will achieve results faster. However, the best way to think about the percentage strength is not how many shades but how many sessions may be required to achieve the desired shade. For reference, most over-the-counter whitening products have 5% strength, and our in-office service is 45% strength.

However, in some less common cases, patients respond better to 4 sessions of 15% whitening spaced out over one or two weeks instead of a single 2-hour session with 45% strength. In short, some patients do better with lower strength whitening repeated over a long period.

What are the different tooth shades?

Your Winter Park dentist uses a tooth “shade guide” as a reference to check both your natural and desired tooth color. Because every person is different, a wide range of tooth shades are available. The standardization of a guide allows your dentist and the dental lab to produce and reproduce dental restorations for you consistently. This is also useful for tracking progress on tooth whitening procedures to see “before” and “after” results on whitening. The primary categories of tooth shades are:

• A for reddish brown tooth color

• B for reddish yellow tooth color

• C for grey tooth shades

• D for reddish grey tooth shades

Within each shade category are several numbers indicating the level of that shade. For example, in A1, A2, A3, and A4, “A1” would be considered the “whitest” looking category. To keep up with the demand for whiter teeth, new shade guides have been created called “Bleaching Shade Guides,” which include the BL categories and numbers like “BL1” to match the whiter-than-natural teeth colors.

What options do you provide for Teeth Whitening?

We offer three options for patients looking to whiten their teeth. Some patients may be good candidates for any of these three, while others may be best suited for a specific treatment. Please note that all of these treatments provided by our office are stronger than “over-the-counter” products and require our doctor to see you confirm that the whitening treatment will not put you at any dental risk.

Express Whitening Kit – For patients looking for a quick and easy way to whiten at home

• 4 Sessions of at-home whitening

• Pre-made trays are “one size fits all."

• Pre-filled with 15% strength whitening gel, easy to use

• Available immediately after a standard dental checkup

Custom Whitening Kit – For patients wanting to minimize sensitivity or need custom repeated treatments to whiten effectively

• Custom-designed (3D printed) whitening tray

• Whitening consultation with Dr. Yu

• 4 to 6 sessions of prescribed whitening gel available in multiple strengths: 10%, 15%, 20%, or 35%

In-Office Whitening Service – For patients needing the fastest results and do not want to “DIY” whitening products

• Whitening service administered by Dr. Yu and the staff

• 2 to 3 sessions (during the same appointment) of our fastest whitening products, which are a 40% strength whitening gel

• All sessions typically performed within a single 2-hour appointment

• An optional add-on for sensitivity treatment is available 

For the Express Whitening Kit, how long is the four-session treatment?

Some patients ask if the express whitening kit is a four-day process or if the trays are used once a week for one month. In terms of wear time, the 15% strength Express kit is worn for 30-60 minutes at a time. We recommend whitening every other day, but some patients do it four days in a row. Most of our patients do the four trays within one week.

If I cannot achieve the whitening shade I want, how long should I wait before trying other options?

If a specific whitening procedure did not yield sufficient results for you, we suggest waiting 10-14 days for everything to settle before evaluating other options. In this case, a consultation with Dr. Yu would be the best next step. In the case that typical whitening options are not yielding results for you, our office would help you consider if the staining is related to internal staining/discoloration, old fillings/crowns, or perhaps tetracycline staining (which is a side effect of some antibiotic medications). Other specific options like “internal whitening” may be required for your situation. Make sure to follow procedures to maintain and keep your teeth white after the whitening procedure.

If you need a teeth whitening consultation or other services, please make an appointment online or call us!