Significantly Brighten Your Smile with Teeth Whitening
Over time, the hard, porous coating of enamel on our teeth can discolor, making teeth appear dingy and off-white. Age, darkly pigmented foods and beverages, tobacco use, and certain medications can cause tooth enamel to lose its luster, as well. Fortunately, modern dental science has provided us with safe, potent teeth whitening methods that can erase years of built-up stains. For a consultation with Dr. David Ijams or Dr. Clarissa Turner to determine the optimal teeth whitening treatment for your smile, schedule an appointment at Cordova Dental today.
Types of Whitening Treatments
- Over-the-Counter Whitening: Walk into any pharmacy in the country, and you will find more than a few teeth whitening systems. The toothpastes, mouthwashes, strips, and paints available over the counter can lighten some teeth stains, but these options are not as potent or effective as professional whitening.
- Take-Home Whitening Kits: Our dentists can create custom-fitted trays and provide patients with a potent, prescription-strength whitening gel to use at home. Our practice prefers Opalescence® DayWhite and NightWhite.
- Light-Activated Chairside Whitening: Because of the potential for causing tooth sensitivity, as well as the greater cost, Cordova Dental does not offer in-office teeth whitening treatment. We believe that the take-home kits are as effective, less invasive, and more affordable for our patients.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
The main ingredient in chemical whitening is a safe dose of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, and our take-home gels are also formulated with additives that reduce sensitivity and deter cavities. Our doctors have access to various levels of whitening solutions, from daily touch-up kits to deep whitening systems. You will be prescribed the treatment option that best meets your needs, and once your teeth are as white as you like, the doctor will suggest a maintenance system.
To whiten at home, you will simply apply the gel to your customized trays, then wear them for the amount of time your dentist recommends. Make sure your trays are dry before applying the gel since wet trays can reduce efficacy of treatment. Because tooth enamel is porous, the whitening gel will soak in and eliminate stains, while the trays keep saliva from diluting the peroxide. With a few days or weeks of daily treatment, you can benefit from dramatic results.
Why Choose Professional Teeth Whitening
In addition to being stronger than over-the-counter bleaching aids, our whitening systems are convenient, easy to use, and directed by dentists. During your initial cosmetic consultation, your dentist will determine the type of stains your teeth have developed. Extrinsic stains, like those acquired from foods, beverages, aging, and tobacco use, respond well to professional whitening. However, they may not achieve desired results if your teeth have intrinsic stains, such as fluorosis or tetracycline stains. In some cases, intrinsic stains require a permanent cosmetic treatment, like dental bonding or porcelain veneers.
Your Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation
If your teeth are discolored or not as white as you would like, talk with Dr. Ijams or Dr. Turner about how you can revitalize the brightness of your smile. Schedule your appointment today, and a whiter smile will be only a few weeks away.
