Staining or discoloration of the teeth can be caused by any number of sources – food, beverages, medications and aging – but fortunately, they can also be eliminated with the help of cosmetic dentistry. Professional grade teeth whitening treatments provided by your dentist are highly effective at making your teeth as white as possible.
Cosmetic Treatment Options
Our practice offers different treatment options for different circumstances. Your dentist will advise you on which treatment will be most effective in your case.
Boost! teeth whitening is able to brighten the teeth by several shades in a single office visit. You may be familiar with whitening systems that use a light to activate the bleaching gel so that it can take its full effect in an hour, but the unique Boost! treatment uses a chemically activated gel to eliminate the need for the light, which can be uncomfortable for patients to tolerate for an hour. This system is administered in two 20-minute treatment cycles, and it also includes potassium nitrate and fluoride to reduce sensitivity and strengthen your teeth.
Boost! may not be effective for patients with deep stains. We may recommend that such patients consider the KoR system, which consists of several at-home treatments and in-office sessions for deep bleaching. The trays used in KoR are specially designed to seal out saliva, which can break down the active ingredient in the bleaching gel. This allows the gel to have a more complete effect and permeate the tooth’s inner layers to release stains.
Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment Vs. Over-the-counter
Patients who want to brighten their smiles may consider the many over-the-counter products available at drug stores and other retail outlets. However, for the best outcomes, we encourage you to work with a dentist to whiten your teeth. The bleaching agents used in our cosmetic dentistry treatments are stronger than those in over-the-counter products. Consequently, the results of our treatment are more noticeable, consistent and predictable. And in the case of Boost! treatment, they are achieved much more quickly.
Maintaining Your Results Over Time
The results of teeth whitening treatments are not permanent, so patients should plan to complete periodic touchup treatments in order to keep their smile looking as bright and white as possible. These maintenance treatments can be completed at home for your comfort and convenience. Keep in mind that the same habits that may have stained your teeth initially will continue to do so. You may want to cut back on your consumption of coffee, tea or red wine. If you continue to partake of those drinks, you can do your touchup treatments more frequently to stay on top of the stains.
To learn more about the services we offer, schedule a consultation with our team at Cowdin Cosmetic Dentistry today.