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Tooth Whitening
 Everyone wants a brighter, whiter, smile! Over time, age, dark beverages, and food can discolor your teeth, leaving you with a dull, yellow smile. Today there are options that can help you achieve a megawatt smile in almost no time!
- Over-the-counter bleaching products have some of the same ingredients as the products your dentist offers. However, these products are not allowed by the Food and Drug Administration to contain the same levels of active ingredient as those administered by licensed professionals. Also, the methods of applying these solutions to your teeth (strips, make-at-home molds, trays) usually don’t fit or adhere properly to the teeth, causing uneven or insignificant bleaching to occur.
- At-home products offered by your dentist offer amazing results and are easy to use. These products typically require you to have impressions made at the dentist’s office, and return custom fitted trays made from these impressions. At home or work, you can wear these trays filled with a peroxide gel, as they are nearly invisible when they are in place. Optimal results are usually achieved in 1-2 weeks. The benefit of this kind of system is that you can purchase refill gel whenever you need, allowing you to keep your smile fresh and bright.
- In-office bleaching treatment offered by your dentist is incredibly fast and allows you to achieve a dazzling smile, usually in one office visit! This system uses the same active ingredient as the at-home treatment, but at much stronger levels. Also, this approach typically uses a laser light to activate the bleaching solution and speed treatment time. The benefit of this system is that it is done directly under the supervision of the dentist and takes a fraction of the time of other whitening systems.
People often want to know if tooth whitening can harm them in any way. We tell them that with proper use, whitening treatments have shown no adverse effects on teeth, gums, or dental work (like crowns or fillings.)
However, you may experience some increased sensitivity to heat or cold following treatment. This sensitivity usually lasts no more than a few days after treatment and can be easily alleviated. Ask your dentist for options if the sensitivity hasn’t disappeared quickly, or is bothersome to you.
If you experience irritation of the gums near the treated teeth check:
- Over filled trays cause gel to be pushed out and sit on your gum tissue. Try using the least amount possible to make the trays adhere to teeth.
- Excessive wear of the trays can cause irritation. Ask your dentist what the recommended wear schedule is.
- Ill-fitting trays can cause gel to be deposited on the gums, causing irritation. Make sure your trays fit snugly, and ask your dentist to check the fit if irritation continues.
Even if you experience a little sensitivity, don’t worry, tooth-whitening gels have no adverse effect and often improve the health of your gums.
Veneers
Veneers are thin, semi-translucent “shells” typically attached to your front teeth. Veneers are customized from porcelain material and permanently bonded to your teeth. Veneers are a great alternative to otherwise painful dental procedures to improve the appearance of your smile.
Common problems that veneers are used for:
- Spaces between the teeth
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Unsightly, stained or discolored teeth
- Permanently stained or discolored teeth
- Crooked or misshapen teeth
Veneers are a great aesthetic solution to your smile that may even help you avoid orthodontic treatment. Subtle changes to your smile can be achieved with veneers, and in most cases, veneer application is completed in only two office visits.
Please contact our office if you have any further questions on veneers.
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