Tooth Whitening
Ever notice how some people can practically light up a room with their bright, beautiful smile? A natural-looking, sparkling white smile can be yours with a safe, painless and effective professional tooth whitening procedure.
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| Before Opalescence Whitening | After: Just 1 hour later you can have a whiter, brighter smile |
What is Tooth Whitening?
Tooth whitening is a bleaching process that reverses discolorations of enamel (the outer layer of tooth structure) to create a whiter, brighter appearance. No natural tooth structure is lost and no anesthetic is required.How do I know if tooth whitening is for me?
Before you can be considered a candidate for tooth whitening, a thorough examination is necessary to determine the strength and condition of your teeth. If you have large tooth-colored fillings in your front teeth, tooth whitening may not be your best option. In these instances, you might benefit from porcelain veneers instead.A number of factors can contribute to tooth discoloration:
- Tetracycline (antibiotic) staining
- Excessive fluoride
- Trauma (injury) to the teeth
- Pulp (nerve) degeneration
- Restorative materials (silver, gold)
- Genetic & acquired illnesses
- Aging
- Use of staining substances, such as coffee, tea, red wine or tobacco
- Your teeth are cleaned to remove plaque and calculus
- A protective material is applied to your gums, tongue and lips
- The whitening solution is applied to your teeth in 3 intervals, for 15 minutes each interval
Side Effects
Some patients' teeth exhibit a chalky appearance for a short time due to a slight dehydration caused by the tooth-whitening solution. Occasionally, some patients experience mild sensitivity to cold food and beverages for a day or two following the procedure.< Back to Solutions