They say that smiles, like yawns, are infectious.  One smiling person can cause a chain reaction of smiles, nowadays people want their smile to be white and bright and noticeable.  Some people are born with heredity on their side; others have to work for it.  And still others have to reverse the visible effects that lifestyle may have left with them.  If you fall into the latter of these two categories, then listen up, here is the lowdown on professional teeth whitening.

Professional teeth cleaning is a legitimate procedure conducted by a professional dentist.   The technique is performed using whitening compounds which are peroxide based.  This agent is applied to the teeth and a laser is then used to whiten the stains left by nicotine, food or liquids. 

The effectiveness of the peroxide based whitening methods is dependent on the concentration of the peroxide and the amount of time the compound is in contact with the teeth.  Conversely, laser whitening methods uses a higher concentration of whitening compound for a shorter period of time.  The process can be complete in a few visits to your dentist.

There are a number of different products that dentists and professionals choose to perform these procedures. These include BriteSmile, LaserSmile, LumaArch, Rembrandt Sapphire, and Zoom!. These products all have their own degree of effectiveness. In order to avoid having this procedure performed in the first place avoid smoking or drinking dark colored liquids, brush after every meal. Try to remove as much plaque as possible with an electric toothbrush or by gargling with an antibacterial mouthwash.

When the dentist is ready to perform the procedure, there are three standard practices that all professionals will use when whitening teeth.

1. Surface stain and tartar are removed so that the tooth shade can be determined. The shade of the teeth needs to be documented pre-treatment as well as post-treatment in order to assess the effectiveness of the treatment. The dentist will use a flour of pumice to polish each tooth to ensure stains are completely removed.
2. The whitening agent is applied to the teeth; however these chemicals can prove to be irritating to the rest of the mouth. The dentist will isolate the teeth being whitened using dental dam barriers. This thin sheet of latex neatly isolates the teeth and cotton rolls or gauze are utilized to ensure the cheeks and lips do not come in contact with the whitener.
3. The dentist will provide a bib and eye protection to ensure the chemicals do not come in contact with the patient. Also, it is a well known fact that the lasers used for this procedure could cause eye damage if the proper precautions have not been taken.

Partaking in the teeth whitening procedure is expensive and can be uncomfortable; however the effects can be seen almost instantaneously.  Depending on the severity of the initial staining, the whitening can be completed in a few appointments, sometimes even one.  The obvious disadvantage that cannot be compromised is the cost.  Unfortunately, this technique is more expensive, but in the long run it is more permanent.  Having your teeth whitened by a dentist is the most effective and quickest way to have an instantly bright smile.