Carlisle's Dental Health Blog


Should I have a dental exam before getting my teeth professionally whitened?


Short answer: Yes, your dentist will want to ensure your mouth is healthy and that any problems such as cavities are taken care of to avoid complications and to make your whitened smile last longer!

Whitening teeth is a very popular procedure that we perform for patients who are looking to brighten up their smile. You may decide to whiten your teeth prior to a big event such as a wedding or class reunion, or if you’re planning to go on a job hunt and intent to go into interviews. You may just want to brighten up your smile as a treat to yourself!

Before getting your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist, you should have a dental exam.

When you go to a dentist for professional teeth whitening, your dentist will want to perform an exam to determine the overall health of your teeth, gums, and mouth. This exam will allow them to identify and treat any underlying causes for the initial discoloration of your teeth as well as any problems with your teeth such as decay, cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues. 

Dentist in Carlisle, PA

This pre-whitening dental exam will also allow your dentist to identify if you have any existing crowns, restorations, implants, or other restorative work that may require your dentist to work to change them to match the results of your whitening treatment for a pearly-white smile!

Treating these other issues will help to keep your mouth healthier and add to the success of your teeth whitening treatment. It will also make the maintenance and additional whitening treatments more effective when you need to “touch-up” your smile in the future. 

Dental exams before teeth whitening: conclusion

When you have a thorough dental exam by your dentist before a teeth whitening treatment, your dentist can help to treat any problems in your mouth before the treatment to provide a better whitening result. This exam can also identify reasons that your teeth are stained and your dentist can work with you to lessen the factors that lead to the staining in the first place.

Dentist in Carlisle, PA

Teeth Whitening in Carlisle: Contact us today to set-up your professional whitening treatment or ask your dentist the next time you’re at your regular appointment!