The teeth whitening procedure is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments today. With the help of a skilled cosmetic dentist, you can whiten your teeth by several shades. But if you haven't been to the dentist for a while, you might need to do so before you whiten your teeth because your teeth might not be ready for the whitening treatment just yet.

Learn how you need to prepare your teeth before you whiten them to get the best results.

1. Book a Dental Exam

A dental exam can help you identify any issues that might interfere with the whitening process. This is an especially important step if you haven't had a dental exam in a while. Some dental issues are difficult to spot without the assistance of a dentist.

If you have any dental issues, such as gum disease, tooth sensitivity, or cavities, then a dentist can identify these issues before you whiten your teeth. If you whiten your teeth while you have existing dental problems, complications could arise. For instance, if you have gum disease, the whitening treatment may irritate your gums.

2. Fill Your Cavities

If you whiten your teeth while you have untreated cavities, you will likely experience pain during the whitening treatment. The hydrogen or carbamide peroxide bleaching solution needs to penetrate teeth in order to whiten them. But if you have cavities, the bleach will penetrate more deeply than usual, and this could create discomfort.

The bleach may even irritate the nerve in the center of a tooth if a cavity is large. If that happens, you could need a root canal to remove the nerve if it dies. If you have cavities, get them filled before you whiten your teeth.

3. Get Your Teeth Cleaned

The whitening agent cannot penetrate tartar in the same way that it can penetrate teeth. And a thick layer of tartar will only prevent the whitening agent from reaching every part of your teeth. The result will be that your teeth won't appear uniformly white after the whitening procedure.

This is why dentists always recommend that you go for a dental cleaning before you whiten your teeth. Sometimes, you can whiten your teeth on the same day as your dental cleaning. But if your gums are sensitive after a cleaning, your dentist will recommend that you wait a few days or more for your gums to heal.

4. Use Desensitizing Toothpaste

If you know your teeth are prone to sensitivity, then prepare them before you whiten them. Speak to your dentist about desensitizing toothpastes that can help to lower sensitivity. Many dentists provide desensitizing toothpaste to patients with sensitive teeth. This will allow you to prepare your teeth first for a week or two so that you don't experience extreme sensitivity during your treatment.

5. Schedule Restorations After the Whitening Appointment

If you plan to have some restorations done on your teeth before your whitening treatment, postpone those treatments until after your whitening treatment. The whitening agent cannot penetrate porcelain in the way that it can penetrate enamel. The best thing to do is to whiten your teeth first, and then have restorations like veneers or crowns fashioned and placed.

If you do your tooth restorations after your whitening treatment, this will allow your dentist to match the shade of your restorations to the shade of your newly whitened teeth.

Are you ready to whiten your teeth ? Then get in touch with New England Dental Health Services P.C. With the help of one of our highly trained and qualified dentists, you can achieve the shade of white that best suits your smile.