Teeth whitening is a wonderful and economic means to achieve a smile makeover. If your teeth are stained or have become drab over time, teeth whitening may be the perfect solution for you.
A consultation with your cosmetic dentist will address any questions or concerns you may have, and help you determine if you are a candidate for teeth whitening.
The first step is to have teeth cleaned professionally and examined for problem areas. If you anticipate having any additional cosmetic work done such as dental veneers, implants, or crowns, whitening should come first. That way your new dental work will match your biological dentition.
If you have areas where sensitivity might be a problem (like receding gums), your dentist may suggest using a sensitivity toothpaste for a couple of weeks before whitening. This will lessen the sensitivity during whitening. Even if you experience sensitivity while whitening, it generally subsides when treatment is completed (or within a day or two).
So does whitening work for everyone? The results may differ from patient to patient. Some may realize many shades lighter, while some may not achieve that level of success. Teeth whitening reacts differently. If a patient’s natural tooth shade is not a bright white, they should not expect that result.
There are many different types of at home teeth whitening. The products available from your cosmetic dentist are far superior to anything you can obtain at the local store or online. As your dentist is a licensed provider, the whitening products sold by your cosmetic dentist are known to be safe and effective, and they can provide the most powerful whitening agents available.
Your dentist will fabricate custom-designed whitening trays. They will not be the “one size fits all” you buy with other whitening kits. You will be given specific instructions; but if you have any questions, your dentist is available to address them.
Once you have completed your teeth whitening program, there are things you can do to help keep your smile bright, such as limit or avoid products known to stain like coffee, tea, cola, or red wine. Some foods and sauces (berries/tomato sauce) can stain as well. Tobacco use is a major contributor too.
Your cosmetic dentist is your best resource to determine how well teeth whitening will work for you. Contact our team at Richardson Dentistry today to schedule a consultation with one of our experts!
