One of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways to dramatically improve your appearance is with professional teeth whitening. Also known as “bleaching,” this is a common procedure in dentistry. Many people consider white teeth to be the most important feature of a person’s appearance. This is especially true for people who interact with the public on a daily basis, such as those in sales or any direct customer service position. Simply put, white teeth are associated with youth and beauty and our society places a premium on these qualities.

As time passes, teeth naturally darken due to changes in the mineral structure as well as the accumulation of stain. Many factors contribute to the discoloration of your teeth, such as age and genetics, not to mention smoking, coffee, tea and soft drinks.  Fortunately, there are ways to whiten your smile safely without harming or weakening the teeth.  

Whitening kits may be purchased over-the-counter in pharmacies or grocery stores. These products usually come in the form of a clear strip that is placed on the teeth and has a mild bleaching agent in the adhesive. While inexpensive, they are much less effective than what is available from a dentist, as the strips do not completely conform to the shape of the teeth. This usually results in areas that do not whiten at all. Also, the strength of the whitening agent is relatively weak and people usually see a very subtle, if any, change.  

Professional whitening by a dentist can offer rapid and dramatic results. Tooth whitening can be done in a couple of ways. One method is with custom fitted trays and material provided by a dentist. With this method, the dentist fabricates whitening trays and you fill the trays with the bleaching gel and place the trays on your teeth for about two hours. This is done daily for 2-3 weeks. The trays are soft, comfortable and can be used repeatedly. This allows a person to touch-up or whiten their teeth as often as they like.

For people that want an immediate change, a second method is available. An in-office, one visit whitening option can provide the same results as the home trays. The advantage of this is instead of 2-3 weeks for changes with the trays, the person leaves the office with a new smile in one hour. For those patients that are looking for the best possible result, a combination of the in-office and tray methods is best.  This is called “power bleaching.” It is common to see teeth lighten 10-12 shades.

A typical course of bleaching can produce dramatic improvements in the cosmetic appearance of even the most stained teeth; however, some stains do not respond to bleaching. Stains caused by antibiotics are difficult to treat and may require care beyond the ability of bleaching. It is also important to know that tooth colored fillings and porcelain crowns do not whiten. For the best possible smile, whitening should be done before any dental work is done to ensure a perfect match. The most common side effects of the procedure are temperature sensitivity of the teeth or gum irritation. These effects are temporary and last no more than 24-48 hours.  

Thanks to advancements in material science, virtually every person can have a beautiful and natural smile quickly and safely. Yours may be only a phone call away.