There are various ways of brightening teeth. Some of the techniques require a professional's touch, while others can be tacked as DIY brightening. The following are some of the circumstances under which you should opt for professional teeth whitening.

First-Time Whitening

If you have never whitened your teeth before, then you probably know very little about teeth whitening. Consult your dentist to give you an overview of teeth whitening techniques and their pros and cons. That way, you will be able to make an informed decision.  You also need to understand the precautions you need to take before whitening your teeth. For example, it's best to take care of any dental problems you might have before bleaching your teeth.

Extensive Stains

Many techniques used to whiten teeth at home do not work as well as in-office whitening. This is because home bleaching products are formulated with lower concentrations of active ingredients because of the inherent dangers of DIY bleaching. Nonprofessionals do not always take the necessary precautions when bleaching their teeth. Therefore, if your teeth are extremely discolored, you will get better results from the dentist than DIY bleaching.

Intrinsic Stains

There are two major forms of teeth discoloration: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains only affect the enamel — the outermost layer of the tooth. Intrinsic stains affect the inner tooth structures of the tooth, such as the dentin. Dental bleaching treatments only work for extrinsic stains but not intrinsic ones. When you consult a dentist, they may prescribe alternative teeth whitening treatments such as the use of veneers to cover up your intrinsic stains. 

Sensitive Teeth

One of the side effects of dental bleaching is the hypersensitivity of the teeth. Unfortunately, some people suffer from sensitive teeth, and bleaching sensitive teeth will intensify the sensitivity. Bleaching your teeth at home can leave you with pain and discomfort due to enhanced hypersensitivity. At the dental office, however, the dentist will take the relevant measures to limit dental hypersensitivity.

Fast Reaction

Lastly, you are also a good candidate for in-office whitening if you want fast results. If you elect to whiten your teeth at the dentist, you will walk into the dental office with discolored teeth and walk out with white teeth. The same is not true of other forms of at-home whitening, such as the use of whitening toothpaste, which takes time to work.

Whether you opt to brighten your teeth at home or the dentist, it's best to consult the dentist for an in-depth examination of your teeth first. Hopefully, you will have bright teeth within no time. Contact a clinic like Silver Lake Family Dental to learn more.