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When to Schedule Teeth Whitening

If you want to remove stubborn stains from your smile, ask your dentist about professional teeth whitening treatment. They can determine a personalized treatment regime that will suit your oral health needs and smile aesthetic goals.

The timing around your dental treatment can affect this smile enhancement process. Your dentist can explain how your unique smile will respond to different teeth whitening solutions.

But you should also pay attention to the scheduling. Read on to find advice from your dentist about booking your teeth whitening appointment so that you can see the best results.

When to Schedule Teeth Whitening

Plan Strategically Before a Special Event

Many people prioritize professional teeth whitening due to an upcoming special occasion. For instance, they could anticipate photos taken at a wedding. Or they may want to make a good impression at a job interview.

The best time to schedule teeth whitening ahead of a big event will depend on the type of treatment you pursue. If you want to try a take-home teeth whitening kit, then you can anticipate completing the process in one or two weeks. You will need to factor in this treatment window when planning for the event.

You can finish in-office teeth whitening treatment in a single one-hour session at your dentist’s office. However, you should not delay calling your dentist to book this appointment. You want to ensure the dentist is available for your dental work.

You should also consider that it may take 48 hours after in-office teeth whitening to see the full effects of the procedure. Leave wiggle room between your dental visit and your special event to ensure you achieve the results that you deserve.

Consider Other Scheduled Dental Work

To achieve maximum aesthetic benefits from teeth whitening, your smile should be healthy and clean. The dentist can clean your teeth prior to your treatment, and they will also perform an oral exam to look for signs of underlying dental problems like cavities. They will want to treat tooth decay and other issues before starting the whitening process.

If you are planning other dental work, like adding fixtures such as implants, crowns, or veneers to your smile, you should let your dentist know. Caps and prosthetic teeth are made from a beautiful ceramic material. They can resist staining, but they also will not respond to bleaching agents in teeth whitening treatment.

For this reason, you should plan to complete these treatments first before whitening your smile. This way, you can look forward to even coverage without interference from other dental work.

When to Whiten Your Teeth at Home

Take-home teeth whitening kits from your dentist feature custom-made trays that you fill with bleaching gel. You wear the trays over your teeth as directed to gradually brighten your tooth color.

Dentists suggest wearing these whitening trays before you go to bed. Then, your teeth have time to recover during sleep without the worry that other substances may disrupt the whitening process. Make sure that you follow guidelines from your dentist with this treatment for optimal results.