teeth whitening

Having a beautiful smile may be even easier than you think. Many people achieve the look they’ve been dreaming of with our simple “whitening” procedure.

What are the details of teeth whitening?

It’s safe, quick, and inexpensive. Just let us know at any appointment if you would like to whiten your teeth. You can lighten only your upper teeth or both the upper and lower, depending on how much you show when you talk and smile.

In only a day or two your custom bleach splints will be ready for you to pick up. We provide you with a special bleaching agent that you put into the clear splints. With only a few hours of wear per day, our special bleaching agent bubbles stains right out of your enamel in a very short time without altering tooth structure or existing dental work in any way. When your teeth reach the desired brightness, only occasional treatment is needed to maintain your new smile. We’ll want to take “after” photos at your next appointment.

Dental whitening can be used to correct tooth discoloration. Discolorations can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Using the latest in whitening technology, we can offer a safe method for creating a beautiful “brilliant” smile. In cases of extreme tooth discoloration, crowns or veneers may be the only choice, but because of the low cost of whitening treatments, teeth whitening is nearly always worth a solid try.

How is teeth whitening done?

An impression is taken to make a specialized “mouthguard” or “stent” to hold the bleach against the teeth. The material is used each night for about 3-4 hours for a week or two, and at the end of this time, significant whitening will occur. In some cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in appearance, bleaching technology allows us to promise improvements in yellowing, aging or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, crowns or dental veneers may be more appropriate.

Teeth Whitening Options

There are three major teeth whitening options are available to you today. All three rely on varying concentrations of peroxide and varying application techniques over a period of time. Application time and costs are other factors to consider.

In-Office Whitening with Philips Zoom

With Philips Zoom, you can leave the dentist’s office with a noticeably brighter smile, often up to 6-8 shades whiter. This treatment is supervised by our experienced dentists and highly trained assistants to give you the optimal smile you wanted safely, and effectively. As part of our zoom whitening process, all patients take home a custom-fit whitening trays  and whitening kit to maintain their results longer.

Opalescence Take-Home Whitening Kits
This type of treatment take-home whitening kits can produce the excellent results over the long haul. Take-home kits incorporate an easy-to-use lower-concentration peroxide gel that remains on the teeth for an hour or longer. The gel is applied to the teeth using custom-made bleaching trays that resemble mouth guards. The downside is finding the time to apply the treatment and the longer, more frequent application.

This is a take-home whitening technology available only through dentists. It uses fast and powerful whitening agents that whiten teeth in a short amount of time. You can take this kit home to get professional results when you have the time. Talk to your dentist to find the right level of Opalescence

Selecting the Best Treatment For You
Which treatment should you choose? The answer really depends on the condition of your teeth and the quality of results that you want to achieve. Over-the-counter whitening may not give you the brightness that you desire as fast as you want. A good place to start is to come in for a  whitening consultation where we can discuss the merits of your options.

Considerations for Teeth Whitening

Over-the-counter bleaching agents are available for purchase at drug stores and pharmacies. However, since these products can cause harm to the gums and teeth, it’s better to use products that our practice recommends. Over-the-counter teeth whitening systems simply do not provide the same results as a professional teeth whitening system used under the supervision of a dentist. The results vary and the store bought systems often cause more sensitivity and discomfort because they fit loosely, slip off, and allow the whitening gel to leak.