One of the most common complaints in our office is discolored teeth. Tooth discoloration is a problem that almost everyone will experience at some point. This makes professional teeth whitening in Denton, TX, a popular cosmetic dental treatment in our office. The teeth whitening services we offer at Stone Creek Dental are safe and provide consistent, lasting results.
Teeth Whitening Treatment in Denton, TX
Before any cosmetic procedure, we’ll have you come into the office for a consultation. We perform a thorough dental examination and talk to you about your cosmetic goals, medical history, and any dental problems you’re currently experiencing. It’s essential we treat any dental problems before moving forward with teeth whitening. Cosmetic treatment requires you to have a smile with a solid foundation. We offer two forms of teeth whitening.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office whitening is ideal when you need a whiter smile quickly, like if you have an event coming up. It gives you a smile up to eight shades whiter after one visit to our dentist office. Before whitening, we recommend you schedule a dental cleaning on the same day, right before whitening. Whitening treatment goes better when your teeth are clean, providing an even, fresh surface for the whitening gel.
We use a protective substance that we put on the soft tissue to prevent sensitivity in your gums from the whitening materials. We’ll also provide eye coverings to protect your eyes from the special light we use. The dentist paints a specific type of gel onto your teeth evenly. A special light activates the bleaching materials in the gel. You sit for a specific interval of time as the whitening agent bleaches your teeth.
When this period is complete, we rinse off the gel and check your progress. You may require additional whitening treatment to get the results you desire. After you leave our office, the whitening results continue for a few days before the complete effect of the whitening sets in.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Whitening your teeth at home is a more gradual process. We meet with you to determine the perfect shade of white for you. This is how we’ll set the correct amount of time for your whitening treatment. Typically, you wear the whitening trays for a few hours each night over a set number of days, until you’re satisfied with the results.
We take impressions to make custom whitening trays that fir your smile perfectly. This allows for perfectly even displacement of whitening solution to your smile, as well as sealing off saliva so that it doesn’t interrupt the whitening progress. It ensures the bleaching gel doesn’t come into contact with your gum tissue, either. These things are all what make professional an ideal choice over drugstore and over-the-counter options.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration
There are many different things that can make you have discolored teeth. Age and genetic predispositions are things that everyone faces. As we age, the bright white enamel layer on the outside of your teeth wears down, exposing more of the off-white dentin layer underneath. Some people are also more likely to have thinner enamel or a more off-white shade of teeth.
Certain foods and drinks have staining agents that discolor your teeth over time. Things like coffee, tea, red wine all contain staining agents that easily adhere to your enamel, causing staining. The more you consume these things, the more staining will occur. Also, foods or drinks high in acid wear down your tooth enamel over time, exposing that dentin layer more quickly than it occurs with just age.
Tobacco products also stain your teeth, causing yellow and brown staining on your teeth. Nictotine and tar easily penetrate the enamel layer and give you that staining. They’re very prominent and can become difficult to remove if they build up more. The same is true with oral hygiene discoloration. Poor oral hygiene causes bacteria buildup that eats through tooth enamel and causes plaque and tartar buildup on teeth. Often they lead to yellowish discoloration.
Certain medications and medical conditions have side effects on your smile. Things like antihistamines and high blood pressure medicines have tooth discoloration as one of their side effects. Some liver diseases cause yellowing on the teeth, while things like chemotherapy can weaken the tooth enamel and cause discoloration in that way.
Schedule a Consultation With Stone Creek Dental
Do you want a whiter smile that you’re more confident in? Call us or schedule an appointment online for a consultation.