LASER TEETH WHITENING PROS AND CONS

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM HOME WHITENING KITS/STRIPS?

Most home whitening products are gradual whiteners, which would require you to whiten for several days in row to yield max results. Mint Smilebar is 7x faster than most home whitening kits/strips. 1 session at the smile bar is equivalent to you whitening with strips for 7 days in a row.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE?

Watch this video and check out what the process is like!

WHAT TO DO BEFORE I WHITEN?

1. Teeth whitening is a COSMETIC treatment. Make sure your teeth are healthy before undergoing any teeth whitening treatments. If you suspect you have any underlying dental issues, visit your dentist to get examined.

2. Dental cleanings are recommended as it enhances your results.

3. Do your research! Although teeth whitenining works for most people it has it's limitations. Are your expectations aligned with reality? Do you know what teeth whitening can/cannot do? Unsatisfactory outcome is often a result of unrealistic expectations.

AM I A CANDIDATE?

Teeth whitening is a COSMETIC treatment. Make sure your teeth are healthy before undergoing any teeth whitening treatments. If you suspect you have any underlying dental issues, visit your dentist to get examined. As a rule of thumb this is best for individuals who visit their dentist regularly, and are aware that their teeth are healthy and have no underlying dental issues. We encourage you to get a cleaning, prior to your session as it helps with your results.
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1. Must be 12 yrs of age or older.
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2. Cannot be used by pregnant women. If breastfeeding, consult with your OB GYN.
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3. Must NOT have the following (if you suspect you have the following, please consult with your dentist first and make sure your teeth are healthy):

• Gum Disease

HOW MANY SHADES LIGHTER WILL I GO?

**YOUR TEETH WILL NEVER BE WHITER THAN THE NATURAL COLOUR OF YOUR TEETH the colour of teeth you are born with)**

1. You can expect your teeth to be 2-8 shades lighter, some have even whiten up to 10 shades lighter. The longer the session, the more significant the results.

2. Some teeth will whiten better than others. It really just depends on how your enamel reacts with the gel and the severity of your stains.

2. The natural colour of your teeth is genetically determined, we can only get your teeth as white as your natural genetics will allow. Photos of celebrities you see with "paper white" teeth have veneers or are enhanced by great lighting or photo editing.

3. If you have heavily stained teeth or your teeth are difficult to whiten you would need to follow up with a whitening pen for 5 days after the session to give your results a boost. Or you can come back to the smile bar for another session in a month.

WILL MY TEETH GO PAPER WHITE?

1. The natural color of your teeth is genetically determined, we can only get your teeth as white as your natural genetics will allow. Photos of celebrities you see with "paper white" teeth have veneers or are enhanced by great lighting or photo editing.

2. Check your expectations. Unsatisfactory outcome is often a result of unrealistic expectations as well as failure to educate yourself on the contingencies of teeth whitening (it has its limitations).

WILL I GET SENSITIVITY?

1. The session is typically painless and relaxing (most people fall asleep). Session must be stopped if you experience sharp unmanageable pains during the whitening session, this is a sign of an open cavity, you must contact your dentist and consult with them immediately.

2. After the session most people experience zero to minimal teeth sensitivity. If you do experience sensitivity it will typically only last the first 24 hours. If you are prone to existing sensitivity, have a recently cracked teeth, micro cracks, open cavities, leaking fillings, exposed roots or other dental conditions that cause sensitivity then you are more likely to experience it. Prolonged sensitivity after treatment is also a possibility.

HOW LONG WILL MY RESULTS LAST?

1. Shade Rebound: Shade Rebound is when your whitening results rebounds back to 1–2 shade(s) darker than the shade initially observed immediately after treatment, within a week. Shade rebound occurs from non-compliance of aftercare recommendations. Teeth become especially vulnerable to stains right after whitening for 24 to 48 hours, we strongly advise you stay away from highly pigmented foods for the first 24-48 hours after whitening. Your teeth are covered by a protective layer called a pellicle, the power-bleaching process removes it, so teeth tend to absorb stains easily until its reformed.

2. Dehydration: After whitening your teeth are dehydrated which gives it a chalky, bright appearance. Once teeth re-hydrates, loss of brilliance may occur. However, your teeth did not regress back to its starting shade, they are still lighter than when you originally started. The chalky “dehydrated look” is temporary and not sustainable, most natural teeth does not look this way 24/7 as you are always re-staining your teeth when you consume colored foods or beverages. Pictures you see of celebrities with this look are enhanced by lighting or photo editing.

3. After Treatment: After the treatment, it is natural for teeth colour to regress somewhat over time. This is normal and should be very gradual, but it can be accelerated by exposing the teeth to various staining agents (see reverse for the White Diet). Do not eat or drink anything except water for the first hour after the treatment because the gel opens the pores of the enamel and makes the teeth very vulnerable to staining agents.

4. Teeth Porosity: If you have naturally porous enamel, your teeth will be more vulnerable to staining agents and your teeth will get stained again sooner than the average person. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing ahead of time how porous your teeth are. Generally speaking, if you have porous enamel and you expose your teeth to staining agents on a regular basis, your results may last for only 6 months. If you have non-porous enamel and you don’t expose your teeth to staining beverages on a regular basis, the results may last for up to 2 years.

5. Your Habits: If you expose your teeth to staining agents such as tobacco, coffee, red wine, tea, colas, etc. on a regular basis, your whitening results will not last as long. Make it a habit to rinse with water/brush your teeth after eating, drinking, smoking, etc.

DOES IT HURT?

Most customers feel nothing during the session. If you experience sharp pains (zingers) during the whitening session, this is a sign of an open cavity, the session must be stopped and you would need to consult with your dentist.

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

1. Gum/Lip Irritation: Gum and lip irritation may occur when the whitening gel comes in contact with your gums or lips. When irritation occurs, the area may become white (blanching), sore or inflamed. The tissue will return to normal within 24 hours. On a rare occasion gum irritation may cause light bleeding. Bleeding is typically a sign of gum disease. We highly recommend you stop using all teeth whitening products and contact your dentist. We minimize the chances of irritation by applying vitamin E oil on the gums and lip. If irritation does occur, applying vitamin E oil to the affected area does alleviate it quite significantly.

2. Teeth Sensitivity: Although uncommon, some individuals may experience tooth sensitivity during the first 24 hours. If you are prone to existing sensitivity, have a recently cracked teeth, micro cracks, open cavities, leaking fillings, exposed roots or other dental conditions that cause sensitivity then you are more likely to experience it. Prolonged sensitivity after treatment is also a possibility. If you believe you may be more susceptible to sensitivity, you can brush your teeth with sensitivity toothpaste for up to 3 days before your session or you can purchase our desensitizing gel to reduce sensitivity.

3. Spots or Streaking: Post whitening session, some individuals may develop spots or streaks in their teeth that are whiter than the rest. This is due to calcium deposits that naturally occur in your teeth. These spots are not caused by the whitening gel. Calcium deposits are already on your teeth, the gel just makes them visible again, these spots will eventually diminish in a few days.

4. Allergic Reaction: Some people are allergic to peroxide but are not aware of it. If you had the treatment done and a few hours or a day later you have a blister on your lips, you are probably having an allergic reaction to the gel. Buy liquid vitamin E in any drugstore and apply it to the blister until it goes away. It generally goes away within a couple of days by itself anyway.

WHAT IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT?

Peroxide

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN THE DENTIST?

There's no difference between the quality of the gel and active ingredient. Like the dentist we use a peroxide based gel. However the dentist CAN use a higher percentage of peroxide (it doesn't necessarily mean that they do, so you should ask). Please note: with a higher peroxide percentage it COULD be more painful and most people don't need such a high peroxide percentage to yield significant results.

Our whitening gel also contains a desensitizing agent, which alleviates sensitivity.

You can expect to pay more at a dental office because they are Dentists! Their chair time is more valuable. This is essentially what your paying for (their time).

With Mint Smilebar, you get your teeth whitened in a relaxing spa like setting.

WHAT SYSTEM DO YOU USE? DO YOU USE ZOOM?

The whitening system we use is our own brand: Mint Smilebar. Mint Smilebar whitening gel is a high quality whitening gel that is formulated by a Dentist and manufactured in North America. Similar to Zoom, we use a peroxide based whitening gel.

IS THIS A DENTAL OFFICE?

A "Smile Bar" is a beauty service establishment similar to a salon or spa.

WHO PERFORMS THE SERVICE?

Teeth whitening technicians

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN ZOOM?

Similar to Zoom, peroxide is the active ingredient, however our gel contains a desensitizing agent that greatly alleviates sensitivity. The application process is similar. Mint Smilebar whitening gel is formulated by a dentist and manufactured in North America. We use a high quality whitening gel that is tough on stains yet gentle on your teeth. Our gel is vegan, cruelty free, non GMO and gluten free.

HOW DO I ALLEVIATE SENSITIVITY?

1. In the event that you do get sensitivity, you can alleviate it by taking Ibuprofen (Advil), sensitivity toothpaste (Rapid Relief Sensodyne works great), or purchase a Desensitizing Gel online or in-store. 2. Remember that sensitivity is transient and will typically only last a day. Next time you whiten, you would need to reduce the treatment time. For example, if you whitened for an hour try reducing it to 40-20 mins instead (People that get sensitivity need to whiten for shorter durations). 3. It's also important to get checked by your dental provider prior to whitening to make sure you don't have any underlying dental conditions, as this can cause discomfort (ie: People with cracks in their teeth can experience prolonged sensitivity).

SHOULD I GET A DENTAL CLEANING PRIOR TO WHITENING?

Whitening works best with a recent dental cleaning (within 1 year). If it's been more than 1 year since your last cleaning, you will still see some results but the gel will whiten more efficiently if your cleaning is recent.

WHAT IS THE AFTERCARE LIKE?

1. After your session, you can't eat or drink anything (except water) for 1 hour. Make sure to eat before your session.

2. Post whitening, your teeth are dehydrated and extremely porous, becoming like a sponge that absorbs colour quite easily. It is highly recommended that you stay away from "foods that can stain your white shirt" within 24-48 hours (The White Diet).

3. You are always re-staining your teeth whenever you consume coloured foods or beverages, somaintenance is recommended for long lasting results. We have an aftercare & maintenance bundle thatconsists of a: whitening pen, whitening foam & remineralizing/desensitizing gel for $49 ($60 value).

2. After the session it is completely normal to expect some shade regression over time, especially if you smoke and regularly consume stain-causing foods. Purchase a Maintenance Package and come back to the Smile Bar for touch up sessions.

IS THERE MAINTENANCE?

Teeth whitening is not permanent. It's similar to sun tanning, once you get to your desired shade you have to whiten periodically remain within that shade range. After the session it is completely normal to expect some shade regression over time. To help your results last longer, here are your options: 1. Purchase an Aftercare Bundle (whitening pen, whitening foam & remineralizing gel) for $49 ($60 value). 2. Purchase a Maintenace Package: Series of 4 x whitening sessions (30 min, 45 min or 60 min)

I DID 1 SESSION AND EXPECTED IT TO GO LIGHTER, WHAT DO I DO?

So you had your session, and you expected to go lighter, now what? Everyone's teeth whitens differently, some teeth are more difficult to whiten than others. If you didn't get to your desired shade from one session your options are: 1. Book a follow up session after a week. Our clients get the best results when they book 2 x in-office whitening sessions spaced a week apart. 2. Purchase a whitening pen and whiten at home for 30-20 min a day for the next 5 days. DO NOT EXCEED 5 DAYS. 3. Check your expectations. Unsatisfactory outcome is often a result of unrealistic expectations as well as failure to educate yourself on the contingencies of teeth whitening. There's a limit to how white your teeth can get and that's determined by your genetics.

WHAT CAN I HAVE ON THE WHITE DIET?

The White Diet is very important to any teeth whitening procedure. You must keep to this for 24-48 hours and avoid any food or staining agent that will cause discoloration. Remember that after the teeth whitening treatment the pores of your enamel are open and this makes them extremely vulnerable to any staining agents. Once the pores close, which usually occurs 24-48 hours after the procedure, you can resume your normal habits. Below are some suggestions as to what you can have and what you should avoid: 1. LIQUIDS TO AVOID: tea, coffee, orange juice, cola and other fizzy drinks, red wine, beer 2. LIQUIDS YOU CAN HAVE: still or sparkling water, tonic water, skimmed milk, vodka, malibu, gin, white wine 3. SOLIDS TO AVOID: carrots, peas, sweet corn, broccoli, green beans, sprouts, mushrooms, tomatoes, red/green lettuce, beetroot, butter, margarine, bread (NO WHEAT - pita bread is okay), fruit (since most are acidic - bananas are okay), bolognese, curry, chili sauce, chocolates or sweets (chewing gum is okay if unsweetened) 4. SOLIDS YOU CAN HAVE: chicken (dry or boiled - NO fat), turkey, white fish, white rice, white pasta, white sauce, cauliflower, cottage cheese, potatoes (NO skin) Unable to follow the White Diet? Following the white diet is essential for the 24–48 hours or you may experience a rebound in shade. Avoid shade rebound with the following products: 1. Daily Whitening Foam: Brush your teeth with a peroxide-based whitening toothpaste immediately after you consume coloured foods or beverages. We recommend our Daily Whitening Foam as it’s more efficient than most drugstore brands, but any peroxide-based whitening toothpaste would do. 2. Remineralizing Gel: Remineralizing/Desensitizing gel puts a seal on your teeth, protects it from re-staining and alleviates sensitivity. Use it before your meal. 3. Whitening Pen: To lighten any shade rebound, boost and maintain your results. 4. The Aftercare Bundle: Purchase all 3 maintenance products: Whitening Foam, Remineralizing Gel & Whitening Pen for $49 ($60 value).

HOW DO I ALLEVIATE SENSITIVITY?

1. In the event that you do get sensitivity, you can alleviate it by taking Ibuprofen (Advil), sensitivity toothpaste (Rapid Relief Sensodyne works great), or purchase a Desensitizing Gel. 2. Remember that sensitivity is transient and will typically only last a day. Next time you whiten, you would need to reduce the treatment time. For example, if you whitened for an hour try reducing it to 40-20 mins instead (People that get sensitivity need to whiten for shorter durations). 3. It's also important to get checked by your dental provider prior to whitening to make sure you don't have any underlying dental conditions, as this can cause discomfort (ie: People with cracks in their teeth can experience prolonged sensitivity).