About Teeth Whitening
Have you ever wondered how people get beautiful white teeth? For those with dark or stained teeth, there are several alternatives to help you achieve that perfect smile that you've always dreamed of!
1. Veneers: These are porcelain overlays that are placed over the front of the teeth to achieve maximum esthetic results. They are excellent in correcting minor rotations, minor spacing issues, tooth shape and size discrepancies, and discoloration. They are long-lasting and the procedure is somewhat lengthy (about 2 1/2 hours for the top front 6 veneer preparations and temporaries, plus a 1 1/2 hour appointment 2 weeks later to cement them). The results are astounding. See section on Veneers for examples. /veneers.aspx
2. Bonding: White fillings made of resin, or composite, which can be placed on the teeth to change the color. Composite fillings can also be used to close gaps and correct discrepancies and discoloration. The drawback is that composite fillings are not permanent and will have to be replaced, usually in a few years but sometimes sooner depending on the person's habits. They are not extremely durable, and stain to varying degrees depending on a person's habits (smoking, coffee, cola, red-wine, etc). However, they can be a good low-cost temporary option for some patients. If they are done in conjunction with bleaching, note that composites will not bleach whereas natural teeth will, so they will often appear darker than the natural teeth after bleaching, necessitating replacement.
3. Whitening: There are several ways of bleaching, or whitening, teeth. Over-the-counter regimens (Rembrandt, Crest Whitestrips, paint on gel) have had some successful results, but they are often messy and require long treatment times due to the low concentration of peroxide available over-the-counter. Better results can be achieved through the in-office and home whitening systems available at our office. There are 2 ways to achieve a brighter smile through bleaching:
a. In-office whitening: Very nice immediate results in 1 office visit of an approximately 2 hour duration. We do three consecutive 20-minute sessions of the Zoom4 whitening system (www.zoomnow.com), which is safe, comfortable, and effective. Results are impressive and patients are quite happy with the average 4-6 shade difference at the end of the sessions. Fadeback, which is when the teeth rebound toward the original darker shade, is common after the first couple of days, after which the home whitening system is recommended to further whiten and maintain the brightness of your smile.
b. Take home bleaching trays: This involves wearing custom-made bleaching trays at home for a specific amount of time (30 minutes to overnight, depending on the concentration of bleach given). The results can be dramatic, especially when used in conjunction with the Zoom in-office whitening system. The average whitening is 6 shades lighter than the original shade, usually in a period of 7-14 days. Monthly touchups can be done to maintain the optimal shade of white, more often if daily habits contribute to darkening and staining.
With any whitening system, sensitivity of the teeth can be a concern. There are various ways to address this sensitivity issue, utilizing different gels, rinses, and toothpastes. We will discuss these options with you should sensitivity be an issue after whitening.
Make an appointment for whitening and be on your way to a whiter and brighter future!