I Tried It and Loved It: An In-Office Teeth Whitening Session

As mentioned, I am a seasoned at-home teeth whitener and have had decent results. An in-office session doesn't compare to anything you can get over the counter, though: When Dr. Chern handed me a mirror following my treatment, I was floored with the results! There was a very noticeable difference in how white my teeth were — and she even began the session by telling me my teeth were already quite white. At the end of the session, we determined that I was able to go four shades lighter, bringing my tooth color to a 010 shade.

In addition to going far whiter than an over-the-counter product allows — and in only 45 minutes — painting the solution on and ensuring lips don't get in the way makes for a more even finished result. Another bonus (at least for me personally) was that there was zero sensitivity. This isn't the case for everyone, but speaking from experience I can say that using strips or gel trays does expose my gums to the whitening solution, which has caused some discomfort.

Image courtesy Wendy Gould