Teeth Whitening Teeth whitening treatments are one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures. Many people experience teeth discoloration, which can occur for a variety of reasons. There are numerous whitening treatments that you can do at home. However, for the best results, we recommend professional whitening treatment in our office at New Life Dental. These treatments are both longer-lasting and safer than home treatments.Types of Tooth DiscolorationThere are two different types of tooth discoloration. These are extrinsic and intrinsic. The type of tooth discoloration you have will affect which treatments would be beneficial to you. Extrinsic discoloration is tooth staining that occurs as a result of pigmented food or drinks or substance use, such as tobacco. Extrinsic stains are on the outside of the teeth and can be treated with simple over-the-counter treatments. Intrinsic discoloration occurs because of illness, injury, genetics, medication use, and aging. These stains are on the inside of the teeth and must be treated professionally. Opalescence® Take-Home WhiteningNew Life Dental offers Ultradent’s Opalescence® Take-Home Whitening system to brighten your smile. If you're a good candidate for Opalescence® Take-Home Whitening, Dr. Sang Cho will create custom trays for a perfect fit and even application of the gel. The whitening power comes from carbamide peroxide, which gently breaks down into hydrogen peroxide to remove stains. Opalescence® comes in various strengths (10%, 15%, 20%, 35%) - all achieving fantastic results! Dr. Cho will recommend the ideal concentration based on your desired whitening level and oral health. Home TreatmentYou have access to both over-the-counter products and home treatments that we can provide to you. Over-the-counter whitening products include whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, and activated charcoal. These treatments work mainly through chemical reactions (bleaching). However, whitening toothpastes also have an abrasive texture, which lets them scrub away stained material and polish the teeth. We can give you custom-fit whitening trays as well. You will receive specific instructions on how to use the treatment. This treatment involves a gel that bleaches your teeth. Generally, these treatments take about 30 minutes to one hour each day for a couple of weeks. Professional In-Office TreatmentMost home whitening treatments require several sessions in order for you to notice results. However, professional whitening treatments are often only needed one or two times in order to notice long-lasting results. These treatment sessions typically last between 30 minutes to one hour. To start, we will polish your teeth with a gritty substance to remove any plaque. We will then isolate the soft tissues of your mouth using gauze or retractors. We may also apply a protective coating to the lips and gums to protect them from the bleaching solution. Our dentist will then apply the whitening solution to the front of your teeth. This solution contains a bleaching agent, such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. We can then activate the bleaching agent using a special light or laser. This triggers the chemical reaction, which then whitens your teeth. Following activation, we will need to let it sit on your teeth for a short time. After your teeth have reached the desired shade, or the maximum sitting time has been reached, we will rinse the teeth. We may also apply fluoride to aid with tooth sensitivity following treatment. We will recommend avoiding pigmented foods and drinks for at least 24 hours following your treatment. You should avoid smoking and chewing tobacco at this time as well. In general, we recommend avoiding these types of substances on a regular basis anyway to prevent tooth discoloration. Brushing your teeth after each meal is a good way to prevent future discoloration. For more information on whitening treatments, call New Life Dental at (227) 258-3188. |
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