Teeth Whitening Many things can cause teeth to appear dark, including genetics, aging, and consumption of things that contain staining substances; for example, tea, smoking, colas, wine, and coffee. When your teeth do not look as bright as they used to be, you can whiten them in our office. Our team at Jerome Riddle DDS can perform in-office whitening or provide customized trays that you use at home to whiten teeth. We will discuss our whitening option with you to see which one fits you most and offers the results you desire. How In-Office Teeth Whitening WorksOnce our dentist applies a whitening solution, the active ingredient in the solution is able to penetrate through the enamel. The whitening gel may contain hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient or it may have carbamide peroxide instead. Both are good bleaching agents for teeth whitening procedures. Once the hydrogen peroxide gets to the enamel, it begins the oxidation process. During oxidation, molecules are changed to reflect less or to reflect no light. As a result, it makes the molecules appear colorless and your teeth appear white. The process is very effective at eliminating stains and can be done frequently. If your teeth stains are too strong such that the bleaching procedure does not deliver results, we can suggest an alternative treatment. In this case, we can place dental veneers on the teeth to cover the stains. Take-Home Whitening TraysIf you prefer whitening at home without risking the damage that may arise when you use the store-bought whitening kits, you can try our take-home whitening trays. These trays provide an effective whitening method and put you under control of how white you want your teeth to look. You also have control over how frequently you have to whiten your teeth. We capture an impression of your teeth and create custom trays that fit around the teeth. Since these trays fit securely, they are unable to leak the bleaching agent into the mouth, which could harm your gums, lips, and other tissues. We provide a whitening agent or gel that you use when at home. You need to wear the trays for a couple of hours daily for a week or so. Once you reach the desired shade of teeth whitening, you can stop wearing your whitening trays. The good thing with these trays is that they offer a portable solution, so you can take them anywhere, be it on a business trip or when on a vacation. How Long Do Teeth Whitening Results Last?Professional teeth whitening in our office can deliver results that last about six months, up to two years. You will need to avoid coffee, red wine, and smoking because they all cause staining. Stopping them helps preserve the results, meaning your whitening results last longer. You do not have to live with stained or discolored teeth. Visit our team at Jerome Riddle DDS to discuss the options we have. We can provide professional whitening in our office or get you trays that you take home to whiten your teeth. Call us at 480-991-4410 to set up an appointment. |
