A bright, white smile can make you look younger, healthier and more attractive. But if your teeth aren’t as white as you would like due to consuming dark colored foods/beverages, using tobacco, taking certain prescription medications or simply getting older, you could benefit from professional teeth whitening at Dr. Dave’s Healthy Smiles. Dentist-supervised whitening with our team is designed to break up stubborn stains and lighten your teeth several shades very quickly.
How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?
Professional teeth whitening uses powerful bleaching agents to break up deep-set stains and brighten the color of the teeth. During an in-office whitening treatment, a proprietary whitening gel is applied to the teeth for a certain amount of time (normally 20 minutes or so). Depending on the specific whitening system used, a special light may be used to activate the bleaching gel. The gel is removed and the process is repeated one or two more times. Throughout the duration of treatment, the gum tissue is protected by a special barrier so the whitening gel does not come in contact with it and irritate it.
Some patients may elect to follow up in-office whitening treatment with the use of take-home whitening trays. If that is something that interests you, we can fit you for custom trays that are contoured specifically to your mouth. Well-fitting trays prevent the whitening gel from leaking and provide more even whitening results. We also provide the whitening gel and in some cases, a desensitizing agent to help prevent any discomfort. We will advise you as to how long to use the trays to see the results you want.
Keep in mind that the bleaching gel won’t lighten any existing dental restorations, such as fillings, crowns or veneers. We may recommend replacing restorations or postponing planned restorations until after you have whitened your teeth, so we can match their lighter color.
At-Home Versus Professional Whitening
Professional whitening offers numerous advantages over drugstore products like Crest white strips or whitening toothpastes. The process is significantly faster and will save you time and effort. The results are much more dramatic than what you can achieve with drugstore products. We can use stronger whitening gels than what are sold over the counter. Also, we can take measures to reduce sensitivity and make the process a more pleasant experience.
What If Teeth Whitening Doesn’t Work?
Sometimes we see patients whose tooth stains or discoloration do not respond to professional whitening. In these cases, we may recommend covering the stain with composite bonding material, or placing a veneer over the tooth to improve its allover color. If you do not see the whitening results you desire, or if you are not a candidate for teeth whitening treatment, we are happy to discuss other options with you.
Schedule An Appointment At Dr. Dave’s Healthy Smiles
To learn more about professional teeth whitening treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team and request additional information. You can reach our Dickson office at 615-813-4303.