Benefits of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening can transform dull, discolored, yellow, and stained teeth into the pearly whites you’ve always dreamed of! Patients at Cibolo Family Smiles who undergo teeth whitening experience a drastic change in the appearance of their teeth which transforms their radiant smile and makes them feel confident. For whitening treatments in Cibolo or Schertz, contact a Cibolo dentist today.
Reap the benefits of teeth whitening:
- Remove stains
- Lighten your teeth by up to 10 shades
- Safe ADA-approved whitening agents
- Custom-fit whitening trays that won’t damage your gums
- One of the most cost-effective cosmetic treatments
- Quick Non-invasive
- Professional dentists can limit tooth sensitivity
- Much more effective than over-the-counter whitening products
- Strengthens the teeth for better oral health
- Having whiter teeth makes people more drawn to you
- Increased work and social opportunities
Our Teeth Whitening Options in Cibolo
In-Office Whitening - An in-office whitening treatment is the most effective way to drastically alter the shade of your teeth. We can lighten your teeth by up to 10 shades in a single session! Depending on the severity of your discoloration, you could need just one session or a few.
The process involves applying a whitening agent made of peroxide to your teeth. Your teeth will be cleaned before applying the peroxide. We take precautions to protect the soft tissue of your mouth so the peroxide does not come into contact with your gums or lips with the use of protective gel and a cheek protractor.
We activate the bleaching agent with UV light and repeat this process a few times until we’ve whitened all of the teeth, which takes about one hour. We use a shade guide at the beginning and end of your treatment to determine what shade your teeth are from start to finish.
We recommend getting your teeth whitened in the dental chair if you have a special event coming up and would like an instant drastic change to the appearance of your teeth.
Take-Home Whitening - Similar to in-office whitening, your teeth will be whitened with the use of a peroxide bleaching agent. However, instead of applying this substance to the teeth chair-side and activating it with UV light, we will create custom-fit whitening trays for you to wear at home.
These whitening trays are created to fit perfectly over your teeth by taking impressions of your mouth and sending them to a dental lab for tray construction. By using teeth impressions to create your trays, the whitening agent does not come into contact with your gums, unlike with over-the-counter trays.
After taking your impressions, it will take a couple of weeks for us to receive your trays. You will return to the dental office for a tray fitting and leave with your take-home whitening kit.
Which Teeth Whitening Treatment is right for me?
To choose which whitening treatment is right for you, a few things need to be accounted for, such as time, convenience, why you are opting for the treatment, and how drastic of a result you are looking for.
Our at-home whitening treatment is best for patients who are looking for whitening maintenance or to improve their overall teeth appearance but do not necessarily have a special event coming up and can afford to wait 2 weeks to reap the full benefits. It is also incredibly convenient to be able to whiten your teeth from home so those with little time and who do not want to sit in the dental office for an appointment tend to prefer this option.
If you have an upcoming special event such as a wedding, dance, party, or business opportunity, the in-office whitening treatment is likely a better option for you. This whitening treatment takes just one hour to achieve drastically whiter teeth and you do not have to worry about doing it incorrectly because the dentist will take care of the entire treatment for you.
The best way to determine which whitening treatment is right for you is to come in for a consultation. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Niraj Patel, contact us at Cibolo Family Smiles today.
What Are The Side Effects of Teeth Whitening?
The good news is that getting teeth whitening performed by a professional dentist minimizes your risk of experiencing unwanted side effects like irritation, damage to the gums or teeth, and burning.
While many patients experience no side effects from professional teeth whitening, one common side effect post-whitening is tooth sensitivity. You are more likely to experience sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks if you already have sensitive teeth.
While this is a common experience, there is nothing to worry about. The reason this happens is that the whitening agent exposes the dentinal tubules in your teeth which are connected to nerves responsible for sensation.
This will result in temporary hypersensitivity until the teeth remineralize within 48 hours. You can minimize sensitivity by applying a desensitizing gel, using toothpaste for sensitive teeth, and taking anti-inflammatory pain medication.
Am I A Good Candidate For Teeth Whitening?
Do you want to improve the appearance of your smile, reduce discoloration, and look more youthful? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then teeth whitening is likely a good option for you.
We can help you determine if you’re a good candidate by assessing your oral health during a consultation with Dr. Patel. As long as you don’t have active gum disease or tooth decay, or oral cancer, then this is a great cosmetic treatment to improve the appearance of stained and discolored teeth.
If you have very sensitive teeth, then you may not be the best candidate or we may recommend that you try our take-home whitening treatment, which has a lower peroxide concentration to minimize sensitivity.
How Long Will The Results of Whitening Last?
The results of teeth whitening last for a variable amount of time depending on your oral hygiene, avoidance of stains, and upkeep with your whitened teeth. The lifespan ranges from 6 months to 3 years.
You must brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day to prevent plaque formation. This is a yellow sticky film that can cause tooth discoloration. Other causes of discoloration include staining foods and drinks and smoking.
Limit your consumption of the worst offenders like coffee, tea, red wine, dark sauces, and highly pigmented berries. You can limit contact with staining drinks with your teeth by drinking through a straw. However, the best way to prevent staining is through avoidance.
Avoid smoking altogether, as this is sure to cause tooth discoloration and increase your risk for gum disease. Stains buildup on the teeth over time through our diet and other lifestyle choices.
As long as you keep these to a minimum and get your teeth cleaned every 6 months, your teeth will remain white for a long time.