Tooth whitening is a cosmetic dental service that may be the answer to your smile problem. Having a white, bright smile can take years off of your appearance. Design Dental offers professional tooth whitening for patients wanting a whiter, brighter smile. If you want tooth whitening in North Liberty IA, visit Dr. S. Jeremy Tu. We can customize a take-home kit or offer other cosmetic dental treatments to address tooth stains.
Teeth Whitening in North Liberty, IA
Dr. Tu works with patients individually to build a smile makeover plan to meet their needs. Professional tooth whitening can brighten your smile up to eight shades. Our team will assess the condition of your smile and determine if tooth whitening is right for you. Patients with extrinsic or surface stains can benefit from professional teeth whitening.
Patients with stained, discolored, or dull teeth can look forward to these key benefits:
- Improve your self-confidence
- Allows you to smile confidently
- Achieve a whiter, brighter smile
- Takes years off of your smile
Is Teeth Whitening Right for You?
Patients often want to achieve a whiter smile for cosmetic reasons. Anyone who wishes to enhance the color of their smile is an ideal candidate for tooth whitening. However, the patient should possess these key qualities:
- Healthy teeth structure
- Achievable cosmetic goals and expectations
- Seeking a quick solution to improve the appearance of your smile
During your cosmetic consultation, Dr. Tu will assess your teeth and gums to determine if you can receive professional teeth whitening.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
Patients can whiten their smiles in the comfort of their own homes with a take-home teeth whitening kit. It comes with custom bleaching trays and gel. If you are interested in whitening treatment, Dr. Tu will evaluate the source of your teeth to ensure this option will meet your needs and cosmetic goals. To receive your custom whitening kit, it will require at least two visits to our office.
During the first visit, Dr. Tu will take impressions of your teeth to create your whitening tray. During the second visit, you will receive your whitening kit with instructions. Patients often notice a brighter smile after a few days of consistently using their whitening kits.
Professional Vs. Over-The-Counter Teeth Whitening
With so many drugstore whitening options, why should you use professional teeth whitening? Professional products are more expensive than over-the-counter but have various benefits that drugstore options can’t match.
Professional whitening products are much stronger than over-the-counter alternatives. You can only get these solutions from a licensed dentist. With a higher bleach concentration than drugstore solutions, it penetrates deeper, and the results last longer. We can also provide solutions for a quick touchup when you feel the effects are fading. You’d have to buy multiple sets of over-the-counter whitening solutions to get the same effect.
When you’re using professional teeth whitening, you also benefit from the expertise of a dentist. We’ll examine your teeth and gums before treatment to ensure it’s safe. We can monitor your treatment and ensure that you’re getting the results you want, adjusting treatment if possible.
Professional products are less likely to have side effects like tooth sensitivity. Over-the-counter solutions often cause this, especially if you have to do multiple sessions to get the results you want. Drugstore solutions are one-size-fits-all, meaning it’s rare that they fit properly. If they’re too small, you may get splotchy or uneven results. If they’re too big, you risk sensitivity in the soft tissues of your gums.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
Everyone will experience some sort of tooth discoloration in their lifetime. It’s something that happens to all of us. One of the ways our teeth discolor is just age. The teeth’s bright white enamel outer layer wears down over the years, exposing more of the off-white dentin layer underneath. Genetics can make you predisposed to have thicker dentin or teeth that are naturally darker or yellower
Poor oral hygiene is among the most common things that lead to discoloration. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly, bacteria and food debris build up, creating plaque and tartar. The substances themselves lead to your teeth looking discolored. If plaque and tartar stay on your teeth long enough, they’ll leave yellow and brown stains even when removed.
Smoking and tobacco use do the same. The nicotine and tar leave yellow and brown deposits on your teeth that can even darken to black. Not only that, but tobacco increases your likelihood of developing gum disease. Your gums discolor and recede, making your teeth look worse.
The things we eat and drink have an impact on our teeth. Things like red wine, coffee, dark soda, and strawberries contain staining agents. The more of these things you consume, the more your teeth stain. When you’re drinking staining beverages, try to use a straw. This prevents them from coming into contact with your teeth as often.
Other things cause deeper discoloration. Certain antibiotics and other medications during permanent teeth development can discolor the teeth. If you experience trauma and the blood flow to your tooth is disrupted, it can turn gray or black. Trauma can also cause your tooth to overproduce dentin, contributing to more discoloration.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Teeth whitening is an easy way to transform your smile. Read the answers to these commonly asked questions to learn more.
How long does teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening treatments are not a permanent solution for achieving white teeth. Professional teeth whitening results can last six months to several years, depending on your habits.
For example, if you regularly drink coffee or smoke cigarettes, your smile will likely dull more quickly than others. To keep your teeth white for as long as possible, practice excellent dental hygiene, refrain from smoking and drinking coffee daily, and schedule routine teeth whitening treatments.
If you want to explore treatment options that can permanently address tooth stains, we offer tooth bonding, dental veneers, and dental crowns. Dr. Tu will work with you to determine the best solution.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Yes. All of our teeth whitening options are safe for patients. All the materials we use are in small doses and do not cause harm to your mouth. You may experience some teeth sensitivity or gum irritation from the bleaching solution. These symptoms will go away after your treatment. Your dentist may recommend some products to treat tooth sensitivity if this continues to occur while whitening your teeth.
Can you whiten a dental restoration like a denture or veneer?
No. Dental restorations do not respond well to traditional teeth whitening at the dentist. The main reason is that they are made of highly stain-resistant materials. Teeth whitening targets only tooth enamel. To whiten a dental restoration, visit our dentists for a deep cleaning and more recommendations.
Is teeth whitening safe for my teeth?
Yes, when done correctly, teeth whitening is generally safe. Professional treatments at the dentist use controlled concentrations of bleaching agents, which are safe for your enamel. Over-the-counter products are also safe when used according to instructions, but overuse can lead to tooth sensitivity or gum irritation. It’s always best to consult your dentist before starting any whitening treatment.
What are the side effects of teeth whitening?
The most common side effect of teeth whitening is temporary tooth sensitivity. This happens because the bleaching agents can make your teeth more porous, exposing the nerves. Some people may also experience mild gum irritation. These effects usually go away within a few days of stopping treatment or after the procedure is complete.
Can teeth whitening damage my enamel?
When done properly, teeth whitening does not damage enamel. Professional treatments are carefully controlled to protect your teeth; even over-the-counter products are safe when used as directed. However, overuse or improper use of whitening products can lead to enamel wear or sensitivity, so it is important to follow instructions carefully.
Achieve a Whiter Smile with Professional Tooth Whitening
To learn more about professional teeth whitening in North Liberty, IA, visit our team at Design Dental. Dr. Tu offers personalized, quality cosmetic dentistry for those who want to achieve a beautiful smile. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Tu, contact our dentist office today.