Teeth WhiteningYour smile is the first thing that others notice about you. A bright, confident smile can leave a powerful, lasting impression. When your teeth are discolored, however, the quality of your smile is dulled. You may even feel self-conscious about your smile and try to take actions to hide it. If you are looking to improve the brightness of your smile, Sunnyside Dentistry can help with cosmetic teeth whitening. What is Teeth Whitening?There are many factors that can contribute to tooth discoloration. These factors include certain types of food and drinks, lifestyle habits like smoking, and certain types of medications. All of these factors dull the whiteness of your teeth and deteriorate the appearance of your smile. Discoloration can also impact your confidence. Teeth whitening is a procedure designed to eliminate discoloration, restoring the bright white color to your teeth and enhancing the beauty of your smile.How is Teeth Whitening Done?To help you achieve a beautiful white smile, we provide you with whitening trays. These trays allow you to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home on your own time. It takes two appointments to create your trays. During the first appointment, we take digital impressions of your mouth. These impressions are used to create custom trays just for you. At your second appointment, you are supplied with your trays along with the bleaching agent and instructions for use.The trays are made to be worn twice a day for several hours each time or once a day, overnight while you sleep. The trays hold the bleaching agent against the surfaces of your teeth. The bleaching agent breaks down, forming tiny oxygen bubbles that enter into the enamel layer of your teeth. These bubbles stick to stains and bleach them away. The length of your treatment varies based on your needs and goals and can take one to two weeks or longer. Results typically begin to show in just under a week. In-Office WhiteningDuring your appointment, we first place a rubber sheet over your gums to protect them during the whitening process. Next, we apply a high-concentration bleaching gel directly to the surfaces of your teeth. The gel is usually left on the teeth for about 20 to 30 minutes. In some cases, we may aim a LED light at the teeth to activate the gel and improve your results. Once your time is up, we may reapply a new coat of bleaching gel. This process is repeated until we achieve the desired results. In-office treatment may also take several appointments.Before we begin treatment, we may take photographs of your teeth to establish a baseline and monitor your progress. By the end of your treatment, your teeth could be up to eight shades whiter than your baseline! Whitening treatment may lead to tooth sensitivity. For this reason, we may ask that your brush with a desensitizing toothpaste in the days or weeks following your appointment Can I Just Use OTC Products?There are various types of over the counter whiteners in the oral care aisle, including toothpaste, strips, gels, pens, and more. These products promise incredible whitening results in a short period. However, these products only contain low levels of bleaching agents. While these products may be effective for minor surface stains, they often cannot provide the results that most people are looking for.How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?While effective, teeth whitening is not permanent. The same factors that caused your discoloration in the first place can lead to discoloration again. It is important to take steps to maintain the whiteness of your teeth. These steps include:
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?Teeth whitening is incredibly effective and very safe. The biggest issue you might face is tooth sensitivity. A sensitivity toothpaste can help you to manage symptoms while you are undergoing treatment. Once your whitening treatment is complete, the sensitivity should disappear.Teeth whitening is an effective way to restore the brightness to your teeth, enhancing the quality of your smile and giving you the confidence to show it off. Call Sunnyside Dentistry today at (503) 451-5104 to learn more about this and other cosmetic dentistry services like dental bonding and porcelain veneers and to schedule your appointment. |
