As the weather warms and nature comes alive, spring is the ideal time to refresh your smile. With a variety of exciting events on the horizon - from graduations and proms to weddings and more - now is the perfect opportunity to whiten your teeth and feel confident in your appearance.
Take-home whitening is a great option for those with sensitive teeth, busy schedules, or who don’t need an instant drastic whitening treatment. One appointment is required so we can take impressions of your teeth.
These impressions enable us to have a dental lab create custom-fit whitening trays that fit snugly over your teeth and don’t come into contact with your gums, unlike over-the-counter trays which can damage your soft tissue.
The in-office treatment will instantly and dramatically whiten your teeth by up to 10 shades in one session, making it desirable for special occasions like weddings or graduations. During your appointment, we will utilize a cheek retractor and protective gel to keep the bleaching agent away from the soft tissue inside of your mouth.
The whitening gel is carefully applied to each of your teeth and activated with a UV light. The entire process takes about an hour and multiple treatments may be necessary for severely discolored teeth.
INITIAL CONSULTATION: At your consultation, Dr. Michael Hanna will determine if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening by examining your teeth or taking x-rays. You should not have any active tooth decay or gum disease. If you have tooth sensitivity, take-home whitening will be a better option for you.
IMPRESSIONS: If you elect to whiten your teeth at home, we just need to take impressions of your teeth so we can send them to a dental lab that will create custom-fit whitening trays for you to wear at home.
GUM PROTECTION: We protect the soft tissue in your mouth from the whitening agent. Take-home trays are designed to fit securely around your teeth and do not run over into your gums. For in-office whitening, we use a cheek protector and protective gel so the peroxide doesn’t come into contact with the soft tissue.
TEETH BLEACHING: In both cases, a peroxide-based whitening gel is applied to your teeth for a certain amount of time. You will apply it to your whitening trays and wear the trays each day for 2 weeks as instructed. In the office, we will carefully apply the whitening gel to your teeth and activate it with UV light. This process takes about an hour.
Rooted in Santee, we love caring for our community and brightening peoples’ days. We treat each patient like family and we’ll always go the extra mile to help you feel right at home!
At Santee Dental Group, your comfort is at the heart of our care. That’s why we use best-in-class technology to secure the most gentle, relaxing, and efficient appointments.
Whether you’re looking to elevate your preventive care routine or need restorative solutions, we’ve got you covered with a full spectrum of services tailored just for you.