Have you tried to whiten your teeth with over the counter products to no avail? This scenario is common among people who try to tackle permanent tooth stains by using store-bought teeth whitening products. Store-bought whitening rinses, strips, and toothpaste lack the clinical ingredients necessary to brighten permanently dull and discolored teeth.
Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry can help. Our dentist offers professional in-office and take-home teeth whitening treatments. Professional treatment can whiten teeth up to ten shades lighter without causing permanent tooth sensitivity.
How Extrinsic Dental Stains Form
There are two types of dental stains: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic stains form deep within teeth because of using certain medications or internal tooth infections.
Extrinsic stains form after teeth have been exposed repeatedly to dark particles found in common foods and drinks like berries and coffee. These types of stains also form as a result of lifestyle choices like tobacco use.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening is a common cosmetic dentistry treatment. This treatment involves placing protective materials like gauze and dental dam over soft oral tissue such as the gums and linings of cheeks. Then a prescription-grade teeth whitening solution is applied to the surfaces of teeth.
This whitening solution may be reapplied every 15 minutes or so to continue the lightening process. Receiving an in-office whitening treatment dramatically lightens the color of teeth in about an hour’s time.
Shade indicators are used before and after treatment to measure their effectiveness. With proper care, the results of professional teeth whitening can last for quite some time.
Take-Home Whitening
Take-home whitening kits are available, too. These kits are great for maintaining the results of an in-office whitening treatment. Some patients prefer to whiten their teeth in the comfort of their homes on a gradual basis. Take-home kits are typically used every day for a prescribed period of time, normally a week or longer.
Like in-office whitening, take-home whitening produces long lasting and noticeable results.
Call us today at Hulen Crossing Family Dental to learn more about enhancing your smile with cosmetic treatments from our dentist.
