Before you make an appointment at your local dentist and sit down in the patient chair, you need to have a few questions answered before immediately deciding you need to brighten your smile. Although you may have discolorations and poor oral hygiene, every patient needs to be educated about the process of brightening their smile before booking an appointment and paying thousands of dollars. 

When you are trying to brighten your smile, there are various ways in which you can do so according to your budget - at-home kits, professional at-home kits, and in-office dentist brightening and cleaning. Although the at-home kits are the cheapest and the easiest in terms of moving parts, going to a dentist often has the quickest results.

Let's see what you absolutely need to know as a patient before you book your cosmetic dental appointment at your local dentist's office!

You should always speak with your dentist before having any procedure done. Although teeth whitening is minimally invasive, it still involves having instruments and chemicals around your mouth, so you need to speak with the professional to ensure you are confident and ready for this procedure.

Tooth bleaching, also known as teeth whitening, can make your teeth temporarily sensitive. If you already have sensitive teeth, like drinking icy things that hurt your mouth, then speak with your dentist to ask how long this unwanted side effect will last. 

If your dentist gives you a home kit with a specialized tray and whitening gel, make sure the gel does not hurt your sensitive teeth. If you misuse the home kit, it can lead to temporarily bleached gums. Speak with your dentist to see the proper steps of how to use the at-home teeth whitening kit before leaving his office.

In addition, before booking an appointment, it is best to know that teeth whitening works best for clients who have stained and yellow teeth and has less effective and less-visible results for people who have brown teeth. If your teeth are severely discolored due to lack of oral hygiene or poor diet, teeth whitening may not work at all. 

For those who have mildly discolored teeth, in-office teeth whitening procedures at your dentist's office can help brighten your smile, along with flossing and brushing. Some daily activities that harm your teeth and oral health include black teas, black coffees, white wine, red wine, sports drinks, sodas, berries, strong-colored foods, and sauces. Try and avoid having a heavy diet in these foods before and after getting your teeth whitening treatment.

Make sure you speak with your dentist before the procedure to ensure teeth whitening is worth the price. You don't want to spend thousands of dollars on an unsuccessful operation. Speaking with a professional before an in-office procedure is a brilliant and safe way to ensure you feel confident moving forward with teeth whitening. By answering your questions and concerns before making an appointment, you can ensure you choose the right dentist, the correct procedure, and follow the proper pre-procedure and post-procedure rules.