I got free teeth whitening online but my dentist won’t help me with it

After I found out how much my dentist charges for teeth whitening, I started looking around to see what I could find that was much cheaper. I found a website where you can complete surveys and after survey #20 you could pick a gift. Free teeth whitening was one of the gifts so I chose that. The whitening kit came about 6 weeks ago. The instructions have a disclaimer about not whitening your teeth without a dentist’s supervision. What’s the point of that? Anyway I’ve had a dental cleaning appointment since then and told my dentist about the free teeth whitening. She said she doesn’t recommend it and she will not supervise it for me because she doesn’t know the source. I think it’s unfair. If I can’t afford whitening from her, what’s wrong with getting free teeth whitening? It seems like she isn’t interested in helping me improve my smile unless I’m getting the work done from her. Is it worth it to find another dentist who can work with me on this? – Shauna

Shauna,

Before you receive teeth whitening of any kind, there are several things you should know:

  • Are your teeth healthy enough? Your teeth should be clean and free of decay before they are whitened.
  • Is whitening the right option? Depending on the cause of the stains in your teeth, whitening them can make the stains more noticeable. In these cases, a dentist wouldn’t recommend it.
  • What bleaching gel is best for your teeth? The cause of your stains, the extent of them, and any sensitivity issues with your teeth help a dentist determine the type and the strength of bleaching gel you need.
  • You need bleaching trays. The teeth whitening gel should not be applied directly to your teeth. A minimal amount of gel should be placed in custom bleaching trays to keep the gel in contact with your teeth, but away from your gums. Excess gel can irritate your teeth and gums.
  • How long should you use the bleaching gel? It is possible to over-bleach your teeth. During the treatment period, bleaching gel should be used for a limited amount of time each day. With professional-strength bleaching gel, the length is usually about 30 minutes. After a two-week period, your dentist will check the progress of your treatment.
  • You need periodic touch-ups. Periodic touch-ups are needed to keep your teeth white. Usually, once or twice a year is enough. You will need to obtain additional bleaching gel for touch-ups.

Your dentist’s concerns are valid. Without being able to verify the source and the contents of the free teeth whitening gel, how can she predict the results? Of course, she would feel responsible for the outcome. Seriously consider your dentist’s concerns before you use the whitening gel. Any dentist would have the same concerns about bleaching gel from a questionable source.

The safest way to get your teeth whitened is with a dentist’s supervision. If whitening isn’t affordable through your dentist, you can consider switching to a dentist who offers free whitening for patients who stay current with dental cleaning and exam appointments.

This post is sponsored by Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.