Many of our patients have been asking about whitening their teeth. Well, here are the facts about getting your teeth their whitest.
Some people have naturally discolored teeth and some people's teeth have become stained over time. These problems can be treated with a whitening agent. Whitening is the most conservative treatment option for the esthetic improvement of discolored or stained teeth.
Tooth whitening gel works best on stains that occur on the surface of the tooth. Smoking and highly colored foods and drinks cause most stains. Some of these stains can be reduced by brushing, but they will be much more effectively removed with whitening agents.
There are many different types of whitening agents on the market, but not all of them work.
Many patients ask me about over-the-counter whitening agents. My patients have tried many of those products and very few of them said they got the results they wanted. Sorry, but that's true.
The best way to whiten is to use the whitening materials that are dispensed and supervised by a dental office. Our take-home procedure is really simple. At your first appointment we will make impressions of your teeth. This is a easy thing for you to have done. Then we will create custom whitening trays that fit perfectly on your teeth. The accurate fit of these professionally made trays is one of the reasons why professional whitening works so much better the over-the-counter products. The professional level whitening gels dentists use is the other reason.
On your second appointment we will show you how to place the whitening gel in the trays and how to use the trays and the gel at home. Whitening at home is simple and doesn't take much time.
The average whitening time is a couple of weeks, but this varies according the individual teeth and stains. Every two or three months you will use the trays and gel for a day or two to touch up the result and keep it from relapsing, because staining happens if you keep eating.
Tooth whitening has become one of the most popular and most requested esthetic dental procedures. Whitening is safe under professional supervision.
By the way, we have been seeing the opening of whitening kiosks in shopping malls and occasionally in beauty salons. In my state (New York), and an increasing number of other places, these places are absolutely illegal and the New York State Dental Board is issuing warnings about them. There is no professional supervision, no professional control over sterilization and the results are very short lived. Do not use these places. Don't try to save a little money at the expense of the safety of your teeth.
If you have questions about getting a brighter smile, give us a call at 845-297-6206. Or send us e-mail at DrSteveRoss@aol.com. We'll be glad to help you understand the best way for you to have the smile you want.
After all, a bright smile is the most convincing form of communication!
