Professional teeth whitening uses powerful peroxide bleaching agents to brighten your teeth. The bleaching agents penetrate the enamel and oxidize the darker stains within the tooth structure.
What Makes Teeth Yellow or Stained?
Yellowing teeth is a natural side effect of aging. As a person ages, their tooth enamel thins, showing more of the yellow material underneath. Smoking is another major cause of tooth yellowing.
Consuming darkly pigmented food and drink can be a problem. Cola, coffee, red wine, tea, and certain fruit juices can stain the teeth making them appear yellow or darker than usual.
Medications can produce teeth staining as well. Tetracycline is the most common medication that causes stained teeth. This medication can cause staining that is generally difficult to remove from teeth without the help of a dental professional.
Finally, teeth that have suffered traumatic injuries or undergone root canals may sometimes stain.
Fortunately, stained and yellowed teeth respond well to whitening, enabling anyone to have a beautiful, bright smile.
Advantages of Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is significantly more effective than over-the-counter whitening products like strips and toothpaste. Professional whitening takes less time, and since it happens under a dentist’s supervision, it results in less sensitivity.
The Teeth Whitening Process
In our office, we use two types of teeth whitening: Zoom! and KöR. Zoom! is an in-office technique that provides excellent results, often in just one visit. KöR combines at-home and in-office treatments for a smile transformation.
The in-office teeth whitening process starts with protecting your gums using a rubber dam. The dentist paints the bleaching gel onto your teeth. A specialized laser shines on your teeth to activate the bleaching gel and speed up the process.
You may see results after just one session, but two or three sessions frequently work best. The whitening process typically takes about three to four weeks.
The KöR system includes an at-home component. It works very well for patients with severe staining, such as that produced by tetracycline.
Am I A Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Most patients can safely receive teeth whitening. However, if you have any of these conditions, you may want to speak with your dentist first before proceeding:
Pregnancy or Nursing
It is unknown whether teeth-whitening chemicals are safe for pregnant or nursing women and their babies.
Dental Crowns and Bridges
If you have crowns or bridges visible when you smile, you should know that bleaching cannot whiten them. The results may look worse than before.
Extremely Sensitive Teeth
If your teeth are already susceptible to heat or cold, you may not be able to receive in-office whitening.
Keeping Your Teeth White
Cut back on staining foods and drinks. If you have them, brush your teeth afterward, or rinse your mouth with water if brushing is impossible.
Be sure to keep up with your oral care routine and continue visiting the dentist every six months as recommended.
Embrace Orthodontics offers teeth whitening, braces, and clear aligners to patients in Delmar, NY. They are committed to providing their patience with a comforting dental experience.