Teeth Whitening
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a procedure that lightens teeth and helps to remove stains and discoloration. Whitening is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedures because it can significantly improve the appearance of your teeth at a lower cost and higher level of convenience than other techniques.
Every day, a thin coating forms on your teeth and picks up stains. Also, the outer layer of each tooth, called the enamel, contains pores that can hold stains. Whitening is not a one-time solution. It will need to be repeated periodically if you want to maintain the brighter color.
Why do Teeth Whitening?
The most common reasons for yellowing or stained teeth are aging, tobacco, tea, cola, and coffee, which can stain the surface of the teeth. It is also possible to have stains that are inside the tooth. These are called intrinsic stains. For example, intrinsic stains can be caused by exposure to too much fluoride as a child while teeth are developing. Other causes include tetracycline antibiotics taken during the second half of pregnancy or given to children 8 years old or younger when the teeth are still developing. Tooth whitening is most effective on surface stains caused by age, foods, or drinks.
Preparations Before Teeth Whitening
Cavities need to be treated before teeth are whitened because the whitening solution can penetrate decay and reach inner areas of the tooth, which can cause sensitivity. Also, whitening will not work on exposed tooth roots, because roots do not have an enamel layer. Receding gums can cause roots to become exposed. Whitening also does not work on crowns or veneers.
Vital Whitening
The most common type of vital tooth whitening involves placing a gel-like whitening solution, which usually contains hydrogen peroxide, in a tray that resembles a night guard or mouth guard. The tray is then placed over the teeth for an hour a day for about 2 weeks. Then touch ups can be done as necessary.
Zoom
Our in office teeth whitening procedure is called Zoom. The Zoom in office whitening system will make your teeth dramatically whiter in less than an hour. On average, Zoom can whiten teeth up to 8 shades! The procedure is simple. It begins with a short preparation to cover your lips and gums leaving only your teeth exposed. The zoom whitening gel is then placed and designed to be used with a special light. The light and gel work together to gently penetrate your teeth breaking up stains and discoloration.
Contact Our Office For Your Teeth Whitening
If you feel your teeth would benefit from whitening, contact our dental office to discuss the procedure.