Although it has taken on something of a “Hollywood” reputation and become associated with the worst excesses of our celebrity-obsessed age, the fact is that people have been whitening their teeth for many years now in one way or another. The only difference between then and now is really the efficiency of the methods used. Before, you might have got some passable results, but as time goes by the practice of teeth whitening has become more refined and the effects are more pronounced. In many people’s view, the best way to go about it now is to get your teeth whitened by a laser.

The one thing that all tooth-whitening procedures have in common is that they use peroxide as a way of bleaching the teeth, or more specifically on the enamel surface. The major difference that laser treatment has against other methods is that the laser treatment carries a larger dose of peroxide, and a more effective treatment which generally does the job in one sitting. Due to this it allows a dentist to focus specifically on the areas that really need treated – whether that be your front teeth or somewhere on the lower row.

One thing that puts a lot of people off the idea of having their teeth whitened with laser treatment is the idea of a laser being dangerous. However, the type of laser used in tooth whitening is actually an argon laser which carries none of the potential dangers that other laser treatments for other parts of the body have had in the past. There is no sensation of heat when an argon laser is trained on your teeth, nor does it result in bleaching of the gums or chemical burns.

As with any other form of cosmetic dentistry, you should first consult your own dentist to ensure that you are going to be safely able to undergo the surgery. There are some cases, and they are rare, in which it is not advisable to undergo laser tooth whitening. Your dentist will be able to inform you on what these are – and whether they need concern you.