Teeth whitening is a commonly used cosmetic procedure that grants people the opportunity to reenvision their smiles. One of the challenges to over-the-counter teeth whitening procedures is their timeline. For example, whitening strips may take several treatments before results can be noticeable. What is LED teeth whitening and how is it different than other methods?
Teeth whitening works by introducing compounds such as hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide to the tooth surface. These molecules react with surface stains and break apart the chemical bonds that bind to the enamel and create the stain.
How is LED teeth whitening different than alternative treatment options? LED whitening uses concentrated light waves to improve the effectiveness of whitening agents. One of the primary benefits of using LED light is that it speeds up the chemical reaction between the whitening agent and the compounds responsible for the stain. Alternative whitening treatments that do not host this benefit include:
Before implementing LED as the standard light-assisted treatment, UV light was the go-to light source for teeth whitening. However, due to the undesirable effects of UV light exposure, it was discontinued as the standard. One of the disadvantages of UV light usage in teeth whitening is that they give off considerable heat which can lead to tooth sensitivity.
LED teeth whitening treatment consists of three simple steps:
Whitening agents work at a given pace. The benefit of adding LED light into the process is that improves the effectiveness of the whitening agents and speeds up the chemical reaction responsible for the whitening. Through this process, patients can see a 6-8 shade improvement in a single session.
A brighter, healthier-looking smile doesn’t have to take months to come to fruition. Through one session of LED teeth whitening, patients can experience a significant improvement in the color of their teeth. If you’re ready for a brighter, healthier-looking smile, call Dr. Wallace’s office at (843) 410-0345.
