Your first whitening visit, step by step

A first whitening visit starts with a conversation and an exam, not with the gel. Your dentist checks your teeth and gums, notes your current shade, and only then, if whitening suits you, moves on to the session: prep, gum protection, whitening gel and LED light, with music in your headphones. OBIOWHITE whitening is free of pain and sensitivity. You leave with a lighter shade and a few simple instructions for the first two days.

Before you arrive

Some clinics do the exam and the session on the same day; others book them as two separate visits. Ask when you make the appointment, so you know how much time to set aside. It helps to come with answers to a few questions your dentist will likely ask:

• What medications you take, and any medical conditions your dentist should know about.
• Whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Recent dental work, and any past whitening.
• Whether your teeth are already sensitive, to cold or to brushing, for example.
• What you’re hoping for: a natural, fresher look, or as light as is realistic for you.

Have questions of your own? Jot them down on your phone beforehand. In the chair, with a retractor in, it’s easy to forget what you meant to ask.

The exam: is whitening right for you?

Your dentist looks at your teeth and gums for decay, gum inflammation, cracks and exposed roots. They note which teeth have crowns, veneers or fillings, since those keep their color, and try to work out what’s causing the discoloration. If something needs treatment, it’s treated first and whitening waits. That’s not a needless delay: it means whitening happens on teeth that are ready for it. Any sensitivity you already have is part of the exam, and your dentist plans around it. More on the in-clinic whitening page.

The shade check

A shade guide is a set of tabs in different tooth shades. Your dentist holds them next to your teeth in good light and picks the closest match. This is the moment to ask what’s realistic: your starting shade and the kind of stain shape the result more than anything else. At the end of the session, your shade is checked against the same guide, so you see the change for yourself, not just in the mirror. Your starting shade is a point of departure, not a grade.

The session, from the chair

Getting settled

You lean back in the chair. Your dentist will usually place a soft retractor that keeps your lips and cheeks away from your teeth, then clean and dry the teeth.

Prep

Your dentist applies OBIOACTIVE, the system’s prep step. According to the manufacturer, it combines citric acid at a neutral pH with potassium nitrate, and the packaging describes it as a stain-removing gel.

Protecting your gums

Along the gum line and between your teeth, your dentist applies OBIOGINGIVAL, a gel that, according to the manufacturer, forms a barrier and keeps the whitening agent on your teeth.

The whitening gel

Next comes OBIOWHITE ULTRA. Per the label, it contains 27% hydrogen peroxide and is for in-clinic use only, and it comes in a QuickMix syringe that, according to the manufacturer, makes the gel easy to apply.

Light and music

OBIOWHITE LAMP is aimed at your teeth. According to the manufacturer, it combines blue and red LED light and gives off no heat, UV or infrared. The system includes headphones, so you can listen to music. Your dentist sets the program, how long the light runs and how many rounds you need, based on your teeth, and stays with you the whole time. If anything is on your mind, just say so.

Finishing up

Your dentist removes the gel and the barrier, you rinse, and your shade is checked again. A session usually takes about an hour, and your dentist will tell you in advance how long yours will take.

Leaving the clinic

After the session, you go back to your day. If your dentist thinks it suits you, they may give you OBIOWHITE STRIPS to continue at home, with an explanation of how and when to use them. The box says they’re for professional use only, which is why they come through your dentist. See At-home whitening and upkeep. Questions after the session? Your dentist is there for you.

The first 48 hours

The instructions for the first days are mostly about color. They have nothing to do with pain or sensitivity; teeth simply pick up color more easily at first. The usual advice for the first 24 to 48 hours:

• Avoid strongly colored food and drinks: coffee, tea, red wine, cola, dark sauces and berries.
• Avoid smoking.
• Choose clear or light-colored drinks, and keep water on the table with meals.
• Brush as usual, unless your dentist tells you otherwise.
• If your dentist gave you different instructions, follow those. They come first.

For the full picture, read Keeping your whitening result and Coffee, tea and wine after whitening.