Teeth Whitening
We’re all familiar with the basics of maintaining bright and white teeth: brushing twice daily, flossing at least once a day, and scheduling regular cleaning appointments with your dentist every six months. However, despite our best efforts, our teeth may not always stay as pearly white as we’d like them to be.
If you’re seeking to restore that “pearly white” appearance to your teeth, your dentist can provide guidance on teeth whitening options. While over-the-counter whitening kits may yield disappointing results, both in-office and take-home teeth whitening treatments offer more effective solutions. If you’ve been unsatisfied with previous attempts at whitening, discussing professional options with your dentist is your best course of action.
Although age and genetics play a role in the color of your teeth, your health choices also have a substantial impact. Typically, your diet and oral hygiene habits are the primary factors determining tooth color. Beverages such as tea, coffee, and red wine are notorious for staining teeth. Additionally, tobacco use, aside from its other health consequences, is a major contributor to stained teeth, causing them to appear yellow, brown, or even gray.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Enhancing your smile’s appearance is easily achievable with teeth whitening, one of the simplest and most effective methods. Over the years, teeth may lose their brightness due to aging, genetics, dietary habits, or smoking. Fortunately, teeth whitening can reverse this discoloration by penetrating the outer layer of teeth, known as enamel, and breaking down the compounds responsible for stains.
Your dietary choices significantly influence the color of your teeth. Beverages like coffee, tea, cola, and red wine, along with tobacco smoke, are notorious for causing teeth stains.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Although whitening toothpastes and over-the-counter kits can assist in maintaining bright teeth, professional teeth whitening from a dentist delivers the quickest and most noticeable results for your smile. With access to a more potent form of peroxide, dentists can significantly whiten your teeth by several shades in about an hour! If you have an upcoming special event and need immediate results for a brighter smile, our in-office whitening option is an excellent choice.
Am I a Suitable Candidate for In-Office Teeth Whitening?
Not all individuals are eligible for in-office teeth
whitening.If you have gum disease or sensitive teeth,
the potent peroxides utilized in dental offices could
worsen your condition. In such cases, a custom take-home whitening kit may be more suitable, as it’s designed to minimize contact with your gums and contains a lower concentration of peroxide
Some individuals may not find whitening treatments effective. Patients with crowns, veneers, or bonded teeth cannot whiten these restorations. Moreover, teeth stained brown or gray are less responsive to whitening compared to those with yellow staining. In these cases, veneers or crowns can serve as viable alternatives to whitening procedures.
Procedure Overview
- The initial step in a professional teeth whitening session involves recording the color of your teeth before treatment. This serves as a baseline to measure the effectiveness of the whitening process.
- Subsequently, the dentist takes precautions to shield your lips, tongue, and gums from the whitening agent, as the concentrated chemicals may cause irritation or damage upon direct contact. Your gums are covered with either a rubber dam or a hardening liquid for protection, while a cheek retractor is inserted to separate your lips and expose your teeth.
- Once the soft tissues are safeguarded, the peroxide whitening gel is applied to your teeth in several 15- to 30-minute intervals, with progress checks in between. The entire session typically lasts around an hour to an hour and a half.
- Afterward, the dentist assesses the change in tooth color and notes the post-treatment shade. If needed, you may receive take-home whitening trays to maintain your newly whitened smile.
- It’s common to notice a slight decrease in whiteness a couple of days following in-office teeth whitening, which occurs as your teeth rehydrate after the whitening process. Feel free to contact us today to determine if teeth whitening is suitable for you.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
If you’ve been let down by over-the-counter whitening kits, our custom whitening trays offer a superior solution. Crafted from impressions of your teeth, these trays fit comfortably and securely. Their tailored design ensures coverage of all areas that store-bought kits may miss. Unlike over-the-counter products, our trays minimize the risk of whitening gel leakage and gum irritation, providing a more effective and comfortable whitening experience.
Am I Suitable for In-Office Teeth Whitening?
Not everyone is a candidate for our take-home teeth whitening. Certain stains cannot be removed with whitening gel, such as discoloration from a root canal, which originates inside the tooth rather than on the outer enamel. Additionally, stains on crowns, veneers, or bonded teeth do not respond to whitening treatments. For these cases, new crowns and veneers are viable alternatives to achieve a whiter smile.
Obtaining a custom teeth whitening tray is straightforward.
- First, we’ll create a mould of your teeth using a special kind of putty.
- These impressions are sent to a dental lab, which will craft flexible plastic trays designed to fit snugly over your teeth.
- Once your tray is ready, the dentist will select a peroxide whitening gel that suits your needs. Various strengths of whitening gel are available; stronger gels can produce faster results but may also cause side effects such as tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.
- The rest is up to you. You’ll need to apply the gel to the trays and wear them for about two to four hours daily. The dentist will recommend the appropriate duration for your situation.
- Typically, this treatment lasts for two to four weeks, with noticeable results often appearing within the first two weeks. If you experience any side effects, such as tooth sensitivity or gum irritation, discontinue use and contact us immediately.
Please note that before beginning at-home whitening, you must complete any necessary dental procedures, such as cleanings or fillings.