Contents: What is Teeth Whitening? | Types of Whitening | Procedure | How much it costs? | Appointment | FAQ
People of all ages have always valued their teeth as it not only improves their confidence, but it can also benefit how they can properly digest food and be able to speak properly. When you talk or smile, the first thing people notice is your teeth. When you talk or smile and your teeth are yellowish or stained, you won’t be that confident particularly when people start noticing it. It can also affect your professional life since having stained or discolored teeth is often frowned upon in a professional setting.
Our cosmetic treatments can make that smile bright and shining again with the help of professional teeth whitening.
What is Teeth Whitening?
When your teeth come out, they can be affected by several problems – either due to an accident or naturally occurring problems such as calculus and plaque deposits. The result is your teeth will go pale, become stained, or be discolored. If you or someone you love is losing confidence because of their stained teeth, set up an appointment with us and our dental staff will provide professional-grade cleaning. All our process involves a completely safe hydrogen peroxide or carbamide solution to whiten your teeth.
What are types of teeth whitening solutions?
Advances in modern dentistry give you a number of options for the procedure.
Over-the-Counter Methods
Over-the-counter are the cheapest methods of restoring the shine of your teeth. These work, but are not that effective compared to professional-grade solutions. There are various types of over-the-counter solutions and these are:
Pre-made Whitening Trays
These types of tooth whitening kits contain carbamide peroxide and are available off the shelf. The material will be put into the trays then applied directly to the teeth. These one-size-fits-all trays often do not feel right and the chemical often leaks which can damage other parts of your mouth – especially the gums.
Toothpastes
These types of toothpaste contain no bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide. Instead, it used a mild abrasive to clean the enamel surface. These types of toothpaste also contain fluoride to protect your teeth from damage.
Gels
The strength of the gel depends on how often you have to use it and its individual strength.
Strips
Strips are thin plastic strips coated with light carbamide peroxide. You stick these onto the teeth that need to be cleaned. The results typically last around four months.
Rinses
These are thin plastic strips coated with light carbamide peroxide. All you have to do is stick it onto the teeth that need to be cleaned. The results last for around four months.
At-Home Kits
Professional at-home kit is the best alternative to the above methods. These at-home bleaching solutions have an ADA Seal of Acceptance which means they are tested and are completely safe to be used at home to have whiter teeth. Your dentist will provide you with custom-made trays that fit your teeth comfortably. All you have to do is fill the trays with the whitening gel and wear it. You’ll need to wear the trays for half an hour to several hours depending on the shade you want to achieve. The gels contain carbamide peroxide, a weaker and slower substitute compared to in-office treatments that contain hydrogen peroxide. At-home whitening solutions cannot match the speed and effectiveness of in-office whitening solutions
It is important to note that whitening treatments can create temporary tooth sensitivity.
In-Office Whitening Procedure
In-office whitening offers the best results and this is the type of whitening solution we highly recommend to our patients. Other than cleaning our patient’s teeth, one of our dentists or staff will provide sound advice on how to keep your teeth clean and prevent them from getting stained. Our staff will use a strong gel that works effectively in splitting the bonding between all of the stained molecules in the teeth. We’ll use specialized lasers that increase in strength with the peroxide gel. Zoom whitening treatments are effective at whitening up to eight different shades of color in just an hour of the whitening session. The LED device will activate the gel, spread the oxygen within the hydrogen peroxide then totally penetrate the tooth surface. In most situations, in-office and take-home methods are combined to achieve better and lasting results.
Zoom Whitening @ Highland Oak Dental Frisco, TX
Zoom is a teeth whitening process widely used around the world to lighten the discoloration of teeth. This procedure can take from 30 minutes to an hour, but regular teeth cleaning is needed first before the actual Zoom teeth whitening procedure will be performed. The procedure starts by covering the lips and gums to protect it and leaving only the teeth exposed.
The dentist or dental assistant will apply Zoom hydrogen peroxide whitening gel to your teeth. The gel works together with Zoom light to penetrate the teeth and break up the discoloration.
The gel will remain on the teeth and the light will activate it for 15 minutes. During this time you are free to watch TV, listen to music, or simply relax as the whitening process is taking place.
The gel will be reapplied every three 15 minute sessions of light activation. The total treatment time will be 45 minutes. Patients with strong gag reflex may have a hard time undergoing the procedure immediately afterward. Sensitivity-reducing fluoride paste-gel is then applied to the teeth.
How long will my laser whitened teeth last?
How long teeth whitening lasts will depend on the patient’s habits, lifestyle, type of teeth whitening used, and the effectiveness of the treatment. If you use at-home treatments, we recommend getting a booster treatment every six months. In a non-invasive professional treatment such as Kor whitening system, you don’t need another treatment for a year or more.
Cost of Teeth Whitening
The cost depends on the type of treatment, the amount of stain or discoloration, your insurance, and the expertise of the dentist. The cost of over-the-counter treatments is typically around $50, but in-office treatments may cost more. However, in-office whitening gets the job done faster and more effectively than at-home treatments.
Can I Whiten my Teeth with Dentures, Crowns, Braces & During Pregnancy?
- With Dentures and Crowns – We suggest you get teeth whitening treatment before getting dentures or crowns to match with the actual color of your teeth. It is safe to get this procedure even if you have implants.
- With Braces – It is better to get teeth whitening treatment before getting braces since different methods of whitening have different effects on the braces. Toothpaste and Invisalign® clear aligners won’t present any problems for example, but other types of braces will. Home whitening trays made by our dentists comfortably work with braces. But if you use DIY chemicals or those found in stores, it may leave dark patches on your teeth.
- With Pregnancy– Most teeth whitening solutions use hydrogen peroxide which may get inhaled as pregnant women are getting treated. There is no formal study of the possible effects of this chemical on pregnancy, but we still advise to not have the treatment while pregnant.
Aftercare
You may be wondering how to take care of your teeth after a successful teeth whitening procedure. Don’t worry because taking care of it is easy. Here’s what you need to know.
No Tobacco
Tobacco will stain your teeth in any form – smoking or chewing.
Lipstick
Only use lipstick that doesn’t have properties that will color any tooth.
What Foods to Eat?
After a few days with this procedure, your enamel pores are open and it can easily get stained. Avoid consuming food and drinks that can stain it such as coffee, soda, alcohol, and spicy food. You can get back to your typical diet in just a few days, but we highly advise not to consume foods and drinks that can easily stain your teeth.
Proper Oral Hygiene
Take care to learn what stains your teeth in the first place, and adjust accordingly.
Teeth whitening service near Frisco, TX
Let us give you a new brighter smile and an excellent experience at Highland Oak Dental in Frisco, TX. We are just ten minutes from Little Elm, and nearby Hackberry. Schedule an appointment with us today.
Specialist with Advanced Technology and Affordable Tooth Bleaching
FAQs to fix tooth discoloration
Is teeth whitening bad for your teeth?
No, when done correctly by a dental professional it is safe. The most common concerns are irritated gums and tooth sensitivity. If these occur, they will generally ease quickly. Meet Shiney George DDS for teeth whitening.
Do teeth whiteners work?
When done right, this type of dental procedure is safe. The most common problems patients will face are irritated gums and tooth sensitivity. If this occurs it will go away in a few days.
Is teeth whitening permanent?
Yes. The whitening solutions in the office and those at-home kits prescribed by your dentists work well and can effectively remove stubborn stains. Over-the-counter works too but it's not that fast compared to in-office solutions.
Book an appointment for an exceptional smile & experience
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