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Artisan Dentistry's Blog

DIY Whitening: What You Should Know

Sep 7th, 2018

Whitening products that can be purchased online or at the drugstore have become ubiquitous. You’ve probably seen ads on magazines or social media for easily obtainable whitening products that promise pearlier whites after one use.

The appeal is obvious. After all, everyone wants shiny, white teeth! But do these products really work, and more importantly, are they safe?

The good news is that these products will typically give you some results, to an extent. The ingredients that actually do the whitening—usually carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide—are present in many over-the-counter (OTC) whitening options, but in much weaker concentrations than what you’d receive in the dentist’s office. This means that you can’t receive the same results as quickly or effectively as you would from a professional treatment.

The bad news? Sometimes DIY whitening products, particularly those indie brands you may have seen advertised on Facebook or Instagram, are completely unregulated. They may not even have active whitening ingredients in their formulas, or may use a “magic light” that doesn’t do anything. Conversely, the active ingredients can be too strong, and dangerous to use and ingest.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, easily accessible whitening product, Crest Whitestrips are probably the best, safest option. They are regulated and accepted by the American Dental Association, and will give you some small improvement in the whiteness of your teeth. But for long-lasting, dazzling results, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.

Consult with your dentist today about which whitening option is best for you, and get ready to show off a beautiful, whiter smile!

Warranty

Our 5 Year Warranty

Anyone can train to be a technician, but few have the talent to become an artist. That’s why Dr. Mathew is able to guarantee his cosmetic dentistry work for a full 5 years. If anything goes wrong with the work, Dr. Mathew will fix it free of charge, as long as you continue with your regular 6 month preventative care cleaning and check up for the duration of the warranty.

Treatment Room

Individualized
Treatment Rooms

Our individualized treatment rooms and operatories provide patients with maximum privacy and comfort. The treatment rooms were built specifically with your comfort in mind.

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Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

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Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

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The information presented here is not intended or implied to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should be used for informational purposes only.