Do you have tooth stains? Have your teeth become discolored over time? There are a variety of causes of tooth discoloration, including foods and beverages, nicotine, and dental injuries. Foods and drinks like coffee, tea, wine, berries, and tomatoes can stain the tooth enamel over time.
The same can be said for tobacco products. These products contain nicotine, which turns the teeth yellow. Patients who have sustained a dental injury may notice that their tooth has become discolored. This is due to intrinsic staining, which comes from within the tooth. Chips and cracks can also expose dentin, the dark underlayer beneath the tooth enamel.
The dental team at Brookwood Dental Associates provides patients with teeth whitening in Lansdale, PA. Whitening treatment is a cosmetic dentistry solution that brightens the smile. Teeth whitening treatment overseen by a professional can erase years of stains from the tooth enamel.
Teeth Whitening Options
At our office, we provide both in-office and take-home whitening options. In-office solutions are ideal when you need a quick solution for whitening. If you have an event like a wedding or something important coming up, in-office whitening can provide you with a smile up to eight times whiter.
Professional teeth whitening carries many benefits over the store-bought variety. You can only get professional-grade whitening gel from a dentist. Store-bought whitening treatments often cause tooth sensitivity. They’re also one size fits all, which can lead to patchy and inconsistent results.
We provide in-office whitening treatment with EPIC Laser Whitening. To prepare for this treatment, we isolate the gums to minimize sensitivity. Then, we apply a bleaching gel to cover each tooth. Heat and light activate the hydrogen peroxide in the whitening gel. We use a laser pen to whiten the teeth in quadrants for a total treatment time of eight minutes.
For patients who want to whiten their teeth in the comfort of their homes, we offer take-home whitening. We’ll take impressions of your teeth to custom-make bleaching trays to fit your mouth. They seal off saliva and prevent it from interfering with your whitening treatment. The customized fit also helps prevent the bleaching agent from getting on the gums and other soft tissues, causing sensitivity.
We’ll send you home with your whitening kit when the trays have been made. You’ll wear them for a certain amount each night for a select amount of days. It’s a more gradual process of whitening your teeth. But it’s also more customizable. We’ll come up with the perfect amount of time for treatment to get you the results you’re looking for.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Read the answers to common questions patients have about whitening treatment to learn more about this cosmetic option:
Does teeth whitening cause sensitivity?
At Brookwood Dental Associates, we help minimize tooth and gum sensitivity. During your first consultation with one of our dentists, please let us know if you have a history of tooth sensitivity. We can minimize gum sensitivity with in-office treatment by using a gum barrier. This barrier helps us deliver the whitening solution to the teeth. If you choose take-home whitening, we will review your bleaching gel options.
Are there other cosmetic dental options to whiten teeth?
Patients with intrinsic stains will not respond to professional whitening treatments. This is because their teeth are discolored due to dentin, the layer beneath the tooth enamel. We recommend porcelain veneers, tooth bonding, or dental crowns for deep stains. These treatments may be used to brighten the smile and protect injured teeth.
How does professional teeth whitening compare to store-bought options?
Over-the-counter or store-bought whitening toothpaste, pens, gels, and strips often do not deliver results. Alternatively, some patients may develop sensitivity due to using store-bought whitening treatments. When provided by a dental professional, teeth whitening treatment delivers brilliant results with minimal sensitivity.
How long do I wait to eat or drink after teeth whitening?
You can technically eat or drink right after the process. However, wait 48 hours before you consume anything likely to stain. Whitening opens up the pores of your teeth, and they stay open for a while afterward. If you need to drink coffee or other staining beverages during this time, drink through a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.
How long do teeth whitening results last?
The results can last anywhere from six months to two years. Various factors make it different for everyone. Genetics may predispose you to yellower teeth. Your lifestyle habits come into play as well. If you smoke or frequently drink things like coffee and black tea, your teeth will discolor faster than those who don’t do those things.
Am I a good candidate for teeth whitening?
Most patients are eligible for teeth whitening. However, we don’t recommend teeth whitening for patients under 16, as their teeth are still growing and developing. Determining the root cause of stains when we treat them is also important. If you have staining from things like medication or trauma, it won’t respond to traditional whitening techniques. We’ll recommend other options, like porcelain veneers instead.
Brighten Your Smile Today
Do you want a younger-looking, whiter smile? Schedule a dental appointment on our website or call 267-651-7247 for whitening treatment today.