Professional Teeth Whitening in Ottawa: Reveal Your Brightest Smile
Safe, effective whitening with custom trays at BluSky Dental Holland Cross
Why Choose Professional Teeth Whitening?
A brighter smile can transform your confidence. Whether you're preparing for a special occasion or simply want to look your best, professional teeth whitening at BluSky Dental Holland Cross delivers safe, effective results that store-bought products can't match. Our Westboro dental team offers professional take-home whitening with custom trays tailored to your goals.
Serving Westboro, Hintonburg, Wellington West, Little Italy, and Downtown Ottawa.
While pharmacy shelves overflow with whitening strips, toothpastes, and trays, professional whitening remains the gold standard for safe, predictable results. There's a reason patients throughout Ottawa choose dental office whitening over DIY approaches.
Professional-Strength Results
Professional whitening uses higher concentrations of active ingredients than over-the-counter products. Our take-home whitening with custom trays delivers noticeably whiter teeth, while store-bought options may take much longer to achieve modest improvement—if they work at all.
Custom-Fitted Application
Take-home professional whitening includes custom trays made from impressions of your teeth. These trays ensure even gel distribution across all surfaces and prevent gel from contacting your gums—problems common with one-size-fits-all strips and trays.
Supervised Safety
Before whitening, we examine your teeth and gums to ensure you're a good candidate. We can address cavities or sensitivity issues first, preventing complications. During treatment, we protect your gums and monitor your comfort.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
Understanding why teeth become discolored helps us recommend the most effective treatment and set realistic expectations.
Extrinsic Stains (Surface Stains)
These stains affect the outer enamel and respond best to whitening. Common causes include coffee, tea, and red wine; tobacco use; dark-colored foods like berries and tomato sauce; and poor oral hygiene allowing stain buildup. Professional whitening effectively removes these stains.
Intrinsic Stains (Internal Stains)
These stains originate within the tooth structure and may be more challenging to treat. Causes include certain medications (particularly tetracycline antibiotics during childhood), excessive fluoride during tooth development, tooth trauma, and natural aging as enamel thins. Whitening can improve intrinsic stains, though veneers may be recommended for severe cases.
Age-Related Discoloration
As we age, enamel naturally thins and becomes more translucent, revealing the yellowish dentin underneath. Combined with decades of staining exposure, this causes gradual yellowing. Whitening can reverse years of discoloration, and many patients are surprised by how much younger a whiter smile makes them look.
Our Professional Take-Home Whitening
At BluSky Dental Holland Cross, we offer professional take-home whitening with custom trays—the most effective way to whiten your teeth safely at home. Our Westboro team guides you through the process for optimal results.
How It Works
- We take impressions of your teeth to create custom-fitted trays
- You receive professional-strength whitening gel and instructions
- Wear trays with gel for specified time daily (usually 30-60 minutes)
- Gradual whitening occurs over 1-2 weeks
- Results are long-lasting with proper care
Benefits of Custom Tray Whitening
- Whiten at your convenience, at home
- Custom-fitted trays ensure even application
- Professional-grade gel for superior results
- Trays last for years of touch-up treatments
- Ideal for patients with sensitive teeth (can adjust concentration)
- More affordable than many cosmetic treatments
The Whitening Process at BluSky Dental
Here's what to expect when you choose professional whitening at our Holland Cross location.
Step 1: Consultation and Examination
Before any whitening treatment, we conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and gums. We assess the cause of discoloration, check for cavities or sensitivity issues that need addressing first, and discuss your whitening goals. This ensures you're a good candidate and helps us recommend the best approach.
Learn more about Dental Exams →
Step 2: Professional Cleaning
For optimal whitening results, we recommend starting with a professional cleaning. Removing plaque, tartar, and surface stains allows the whitening gel to work directly on the enamel. Patients often notice significant improvement from cleaning alone.
Step 3: Shade Documentation
We document your current tooth shade using a professional shade guide. This provides a baseline to measure your results and helps set realistic expectations. Many patients are surprised by how dramatically their shade improves.
Step 4: Custom Tray Creation and Whitening
We take impressions of your teeth to create custom-fitted trays. Within a few days, your trays are ready. You receive the trays along with professional-strength whitening gel and detailed instructions for home use. Most patients wear their trays for 30-60 minutes daily and see results within 1-2 weeks.
Step 5: Ongoing Results
We provide tips for maintaining your brighter smile, including which foods and beverages to limit. Your custom trays last for years, so you can do touch-up treatments whenever needed with additional whitening gel.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Most adults with healthy teeth and gums are good candidates for professional whitening. Our Hintonburg, Wellington West, and Downtown Ottawa patients often ask about candidacy.
Ideal Candidates
- Adults with healthy teeth and gums
- Those with extrinsic (surface) stains from food, drink, or tobacco
- Patients with age-related yellowing
- People with realistic expectations about results
- Those committed to aftercare for lasting results
May Need Evaluation
- Patients with sensitive teeth (we can adjust approach)
- Those with cavities or gum disease (treat first, then whiten)
- People with exposed roots or worn enamel
- Patients with many dental restorations (crowns and fillings don't whiten)
Not Ideal Candidates
- Children under 16 (tooth development ongoing)
- Pregnant or nursing women (precautionary)
- Those with severe intrinsic staining (veneers may be better option)
- Patients with unrealistic expectations
Teeth Whitening vs. Other Cosmetic Options
Sometimes whitening isn't the best solution for your cosmetic goals. Our team helps you choose the right treatment.
Whitening vs. Veneers
Whitening works on natural tooth enamel but cannot change tooth shape, size, or position. Veneers cover the front surface of teeth, addressing color, shape, and minor alignment issues simultaneously. For severe discoloration or multiple cosmetic concerns, veneers may provide better results.
Whitening vs. Bonding
Dental bonding can mask stains on individual teeth and is more affordable than veneers. However, bonding material can stain over time and may not match if you whiten adjacent natural teeth later.
Whitening and Existing Dental Work
Crowns, veneers, fillings, and bonding don't respond to whitening. If you have visible dental work, we recommend whitening first, then matching new restorations to your whiter teeth. If you whiten after getting dental work, the natural teeth will become lighter while the restorations stay the same shade.
Maintaining Your Whitening Results
Professional whitening results can last 6 months to 2 years or longer with proper care. Our Westboro team provides these maintenance tips.
Avoid Staining Substances
For the first 48 hours after whitening, your teeth are more susceptible to staining. Avoid coffee, tea, red wine, dark sodas, berries, tomato sauce, and tobacco. After this period, consume staining substances in moderation and rinse with water afterward.
Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene
Regular brushing (twice daily) and flossing remove surface stains before they set. Consider using a whitening toothpaste for maintenance—while not as strong as professional treatment, it helps prevent stain buildup.
Learn more about Oral Hygiene →
Use a Straw
When drinking coffee, tea, or dark beverages, using a straw reduces contact between the liquid and your front teeth.
Touch-Up Treatments
Periodic touch-ups can maintain your brighter smile indefinitely. With your custom take-home trays, you can do occasional treatments yourself whenever you notice your smile needs a refresh. Simply contact us for additional whitening gel.
Regular Dental Cleanings
Professional cleanings remove stains that home brushing can't eliminate. Regular visits (every 9 months) keep your smile looking its best between whitening treatments.
Why Choose BluSky Dental for Teeth Whitening
Personalized Approach
We don't offer one-size-fits-all whitening. Our Holland Cross team evaluates your specific situation, goals, and concerns to recommend the best treatment approach for you.
Safe, Professional Results
Your safety is our priority. We examine your oral health before providing whitening to ensure you're a good candidate. Our professional-grade whitening gel is stronger than store-bought options but designed to minimize sensitivity. Custom-fitted trays protect your gums and ensure even results.
Comprehensive Cosmetic Options
If whitening alone won't achieve your goals, we offer a full range of cosmetic services including veneers, bonding, and complete smile makeovers. We help you explore all options to get the smile you want.
Convenient Westboro Location
Our Holland Cross office is easily accessible from Westboro, Hintonburg, Wellington West, and Downtown Ottawa. Flexible scheduling makes it easy to fit whitening into your busy life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients experience little to no discomfort during professional whitening. Some experience temporary sensitivity to cold during and after treatment, which typically resolves within a few days. We can adjust treatment protocols for sensitive teeth and recommend desensitizing products if needed.
Results vary based on the cause and severity of discoloration, but most patients achieve noticeably whiter teeth with professional take-home whitening. Age-related yellowing and surface stains typically respond well. We assess your teeth and discuss expected results during your consultation.
Crowns, veneers, fillings, and bonding don't respond to whitening—only natural tooth enamel whitens. If you're planning dental work, whiten first so new restorations match your whiter teeth. If you already have visible restorations, we discuss options for achieving a uniform appearance.
We recommend completing a full treatment cycle, then maintaining with periodic touch-ups as needed—typically once or twice yearly. Excessive whitening doesn't improve results and may increase sensitivity. We'll recommend an appropriate schedule based on your goals.
Professional take-home whitening offers more effective, more even results with minimized sensitivity compared to store-bought products. Custom trays last for years of touch-up treatments, making the long-term value excellent. Many patients find the superior results and convenience worth the investment.
Brighten Your Smile Today
A whiter smile is more achievable than you think. Our professional take-home whitening with custom trays delivers effective results on your schedule. Our experienced team at BluSky Dental Holland Cross creates a treatment plan tailored to your goals. Schedule your whitening consultation and discover the difference professional treatment makes.
Call: (613) 728-1511
Address: 20 – 1620 Scott Street, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4S7
Email: hollandcrossreception@blusky.dental
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
At BluSky we BEElieve in bringing life to your smile. 🐝