At-home teeth whitening with trays
Custom-made trays and whitening gel for use at home, with a check-up beforehand and dentist supervision: how it works and what precautions it calls for.
Teeth whitening with trays
There are many products on the market today for whitening your teeth at home using trays. They consist of a tray, a syringe of whitening agent (usually a carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide gel) and, in some cases, a light source to activate it.
It should be stressed, however, how important it is for whitening treatment to be carried out under the supervision of a dentist. There are several reasons for this. The first is that this kind of tray whitening should be done without decay, gum disease or a build-up of tartar on the teeth, which means a check-up beforehand and the correction of any dental problems there may be.
Whitening agents can also cause tooth sensitivity, and the professional is best placed to judge the concentration of the product and the application time according to each patient's characteristics. Finally, the dentist can provide the patient with a custom-made tray that fits the teeth perfectly and therefore makes the most of the whitening agent. All these considerations are essential if the treatment is to achieve the desired results.
In any case, at-home teeth whitening with trays is the most widely used whitening technique, given how easy, convenient and effective it is. The treatment can last between two and six weeks, depending on how long it is applied each day (from one to three hours).
It should be noted that these timescales may increase if tooth sensitivity occurs, in which case the daily application time of the whitening gel should be reduced, and even its concentration lowered. Conversely, if no tooth sensitivity occurs, the process can be speeded up by increasing both the concentration of the whitening gel and the time it is applied each day.
At-home teeth whitening with trays can also be combined with light-activated whitening carried out at the dentist's surgery.
Frequently asked questions
How does at-home whitening with trays work?
Impressions of your mouth are taken and custom-made clear trays are produced. At home you apply the gel inside the tray and wear it for the time you are told, usually a few hours a day or overnight, for one or two weeks.
Is at-home or in-clinic whitening better?
Neither is better than the other: in-clinic whitening is faster and at-home whitening is more gradual and causes less sensitivity. They are often combined, starting at the clinic and consolidating at home. The choice depends on your starting shade and on your sensitivity.
What should I do if I get a lot of sensitivity?
Space out the applications, reduce the wearing time and use a desensitising toothpaste or gel. There is no need to give it up as a rule: the sensitivity is temporary. If it is very intense, check with us before continuing so the regimen can be adjusted.