Important Things to Know About Teeth Whitening

Not so long ago, teeth whitening was a fairly expensive procedure that often involved causing a bit of damage to the enamel on your teeth. While many dentists still make use of chemical teeth whitening agents, there are also laser options available. Regardless of the method that you choose, you can look forward to a whiter, brighter smile for special events or other times when you need to look your best.  Today, the vast majority of people make use of tooth whitening services in order to look good during job interviews, or at any other time when smile and appearance are important.

Interestingly enough, people have been whitening their teeth by one means or another for thousands of years. In the 1800's, barbers actually filed teeth own, and then applied nitric oxide to create a bleaching effect. Over the last few decades, a number of chemical whitening systems that rely on peroxide have emerged both in dental office and over the counter. That said, the best and most recent developments revolve around laster whitening, veneers, and Lumineers.

Advantages of Tooth Whitening

• Look your best for any occasion
• Get rid of coffee, smoking, and other unsightly stains
• Look younger when your teeth are brighter
• Temporary teeth whitening is an ideal part of a total makeover
• Have peace of mind knowing that your smile is as perfect as it can be
• Some methods can be done right at home

Overall, the main advantages associated with teeth whitening are cosmetic in nature. That said, if you often work with a lot of people each day, or appearance is important, then these services will be essential. Fortunately, there are many methods for you to choose from, both in terms of procedure and cost.

Problems that Can Occur with Teeth Whitening

Even though teeth whitening procedures are relatively safe, a number of problems can occur if you are dealing with a careless dentist, or one that does not supervise support staff adequately. Among other things, the enamel on your teeth can be ruined permanently, which will lead to all kinds of pain and other problems. Some other issues that can occur include:

• Excessive thinning of enamel can lead to increased sensitivity to heat and cold
• Increased risk of cavities and plaque buildup
• Veneers or other covers may be required to keep teeth healthy
• Weakening or damage to adjacent teeth caused by chemical spills
• Increased risk of infection if chemical agents touch gums or other sensitive tissue

When you need to flash a white, beautiful smile, chances are you will think about temporary teeth whitening methods.  Aside from being inexpensive, they are usually fairly safe if you go to a reputable dentist. For the most part, if you want to have good experience with teeth whitening, you will work only with a dentist that has a good bit of experience in this area, and who has a number of patients that are satisfied with the services provided.

Our Teeth Whitening Services

Teeth Whitening

Tooth whitening or teeth whitening is an effective way to make teeth whiter and brighter. Bleaching can be used to whiten stained and discolored teeth, or simply to enhance a dull smile.  Our office offers in-office teeth whitening, a procedure that can quickly brighten your smile. The entire procedure takes place in our office and only takes about an hour, and you can enjoy listening to music or relaxing by watching TV or DVDs while your smile takes shape.

As we begin the teeth whitening process, a protective gel is applied to your gums to help protect the soft tissue.  A special gel is then applied to your teeth every ten to fifteen minutes to maximize its effectiveness. Because we use the product rated as “most effective”, the result can be dramatically whiter teeth in about an hour.  

We also offer products that can be used at home.  Most at-home bleaching systems consist of applying a whitening gel inside custom-made dental trays worn over your teeth for 30 minutes daily for about a week.  These at-home systems are considerably less expensive, and you may purchase additional gel to boost your bleaching every few months or so.

Combining both methods – the “in-office bleaching” (for fast results) and the “at-home whitening” (for persistent maintenance) – is the best of both worlds and is our sure bet recommendation for those who want longer lasting whiter teeth. See the videos below for demonstrations of both techniques, or if you prefer just schedule a teeth whitening session by clicking here.

In-office bleaching		At-home whitening