Teeth whitening has become an increasingly popular cosmetic solution. If you’ve ever watched TV or opened a magazine, you’ve likely heard about whitening and may even know a little bit about how it works. But sometimes those ads can seem too good to be true. Does it really work that well? And is it only appropriate for a small group of people?
Actually, teeth whitening is as effective as most of the ads make it seem, and it can lighten teeth by several shades. As for candidacy, the treatment is appropriate for the majority of patients, with a few exceptions. At Miracle Dental in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Ann Pham and Dr. Halan Tran are proud to offer effective teeth whitening. They can assess your candidacy at a cosmetic consultation, and if whitening is not appropriate, they can recommend an alternative treatment.
Contact Miracle Dental today to set up your consultation.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Professional teeth whitening uses peroxide-based gel to remove dental stains. The gel can be applied in one of two ways. During in-office treatment, your dentist will place the gel directly on your teeth after covering up your gums to protect the soft tissues. A special light will activate the gel so that it breaks down stains in an hour or less.
During take-home whitening, you will place the gel in a custom-made tray, which will fit over your teeth. At-home treatment is not as fast as in-office care. But after wearing the trays for about an hour a day, usually for around two weeks, you can enjoy comparable results.
What type of stains do you have?
To determine whether whitening is right for you, Dr. Pham or Dr. Tran will first need to assess the type of discoloration on your teeth. Treatment is very effective for typical extrinsic dental stains, found on the surface of teeth. This type of discoloration is usually due to foods, beverages, smoking, aging, and environmental factors.
On the other hand, teeth whitening cannot remove intrinsic stains, found inside teeth. Intrinsic discoloration is usually the result of infection, dental trauma, old fillings, or certain medications. Rest assured, however, that if you do have internal staining, dental bonding and porcelain veneers can conceal these stains.
Teeth Whitening and Your Dental Health
If you have any active decay, Dr. Pham or Dr. Tran will need to treat that first. Gum disease could also disqualify you from whitening, since the treatment can inflame the already tender soft tissues. Fortunately, unless you have very advanced periodontitis, you will likely still be a candidate for whitening once your gum disease is under control.
If you already have crowns on your front teeth, whitening may not be the best option. Your whiter teeth may no longer match the color of your restorations.
What about tooth sensitivity?
Dental sensitivity is the most common side effect of teeth whitening affecting more than 64% of all at-home whitening patients. For most people, sensitivity is mild to moderate, and they find that the slight discomfort is well worth the dramatic improvement in their smiles. However, if you already suffer from sensitivity, you should discuss this with your dentist.
Contact Miracle Dental to Schedule a Consultation
Find out whether you are a candidate for teeth whitening!
Request an appointment online or give us a call at (702) 456-0056.
