Options for Whitening Teeth
The number of whitening options available on the market today are dizzying! You may become fatigued trying to research all of the different options for whitening your teeth. Let Dr. Chellis and your Smile Secrets Team guide you through the maze! Here are some basic guidelines to follow when considering whitening your teeth.
First, consult with us before you whiten. Sometimes disease or decay causes teeth to darken. If you whiten your teeth without first visiting Dr. Chellis, you may mask the disease or decay. This will allow the problem to worsen and may result in the need for more extensive and expensive treatment, or - even worse - the loss of your tooth or teeth.
Dr. Chellis offers several whitening options and will customize a whitening treatment for you based on your individual needs
and desires. These include an in-office procedure: our "Deep Bleaching", which is amazingly effective even for the most
problematic discolorations, the Classic Take-Home Custom Tray system , and professional grade whitening strips:
TresWhite™.
Teeth whitening lightens the color of teeth whether darkened from age, coffee, tea or tobacco. Its brightening effects can last for three to five years after the treatment depending on your personal habits, such as smoking or drinking coffee, tea or red wine. Teeth whitening has a higher than 90% success rate and results vary depending on your skin tone and eye color. Whitening will not lighten fillings or artificial materials used in dental repair as for crowns, porcelain veneers, etc. You may want to wait to whiten if you have sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, or teeth with worn enamel. And whitening is definitely contra-indicated if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
Research over the last fifteen years has proven dentist-supervised tooth whitening to be both safe and effective. The American Dental Association's seal of approval has been given to a wide range of tooth whitening products. Generally, the only side effect from treatment may be some temporary tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods or gum sensitivity especially noticed with the higher concentrations of whitening gels. If this occurs, step down in the concentration of the gel you are using and let us know so that you can add a desensitizer to your whitening process. Sensitivity normally disappears within 48 hours.
Dr. Chellis uses only whitening that is tough on stains but gentle on your teeth! Different variables like beginning shade of your teeth, your level of tooth sensitivity, your overall goals for your smile and your commitment to the whitening process should be discussed before selecting the best whitening system for you.
Dr. Chellis stays in touch with advances in whitening technology and overall dental technology. By the way, technology has made Laser-Whitening nearly obsolete! It still works, of course, but simply is no longer necessary! Split-arch studies were done recently at a whitening symposium at Loma Linda University, comparing laser-assisted and plasma-arc light assisted whitening on one side and the newer gels without light on the other side. The results showed no statistical benefit from the laser or light! When the advances prove to be better for patients, she invests in the technology.
Realize the Power of Your Smile! Call today to reserve a consultation appointment with your Smile Secrets Team 206.935.5522 if a dazzling white smile is just waiting to be unveiled in your mouth!
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