Professional Teeth Whitening
If you’re like the majority of our patients, you probably want a brighter smile. Lucky for you, at the Allentown dental office of Eric J. Marsh and Michele A. Pisano-Marsh, we offer effective, professional teeth whitening solutions. Unlike store bought teeth whitening products you’ve likely seen at your local pharmacy, a professional at-home teeth whitening kit will deliver predictable results in just a few weeks of daily care. If you’re ready to brighten your smile, contact our Allentown dentistry team to schedule your cosmetic dentistry consultation today.
What Causes Tooth Staining?
There are numerous causes of dental staining, and understanding what lead to the dental discoloration is key to providing effective teeth whitening services that deliver the results you’re looking for. Some of the most common reasons patients experience tooth staining include:
- Poor oral hygiene leading to plaque and tartar buildup
- Consuming dark foods or drinks – if they stain white clothes they will stain your teeth
- Thinning tooth enamel revealing the yellow dentin layer of teeth
- Over consumption of fluoride leads to a condition known as fluorosis that causes bright white spots on teeth
- Taking tetracycline medications before the age of three leads to dark stains on permanent and primary teeth that are still developing
How Do Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits Work?
Store bought teeth whitening products fill shelf after shelf at your local pharmacy, but they do not provide the fabulous results they promise. In fact, most patients who try these teeth whitening strips, gels, pastes, and mouth rinses, don’t see any improvement at all after weeks of treatment. Professional take-home teeth whitening kits offer superior results because they are created specifically for you. After examining your smile and determining the main causes of your dental discoloration, we will make a personalized recommendation for your teeth whitening plan. Each take-home whitening kit includes a custom set of application trays. These applicators fit snuggly against teeth. That means the whitening gel is sealed onto teeth where it belongs, and saliva can’t access and neutralize the active teeth whitening agent. Over the counter whiteners use a very low dosage of active whiteners in order to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use without prescription. Custom take-home kits from our Allentown cosmetic dentist use professional grade, customized doses of whitening gel to ensure you achieve the desired teeth whitening results, typically about ten shades brighter after two weeks of applications.
How Long will my Results Last?
Your teeth whitening results will last longer if you avoid staining foods and drinks and take good care of your smile at home and by keeping regular dental appointments. With proper care, your smile should stay pearly white for a year or longer. You can also use your custom application trays to apply teeth whitening gel once or twice a year to touch up your teeth whitening results. Consider a “whitening weekend.” Apply touchup whitening applications for two or three days a few times each year. If you are a coffee or red wine drinker, you may need to touchup your teeth whitening results more often.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
Patients often assume that the only difference between the teeth whitening kits sold at the store and the treatments we offer at our office is the price. That’s not the case! Our Allentown dental team takes the time to examine the condition of your teeth, pinpoint the cause of your discoloration, and learn about your smile goals. Plus, our whitening gels are safe, effective, and reliable, and the trays are customized for each patient. So, you get the same convenience with considerably better results!
Am I a Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
There’s a good chance the answer is “yes!” In fact, even if you aren’t a candidate initially because your teeth are decayed or your gums are infected, that doesn’t mean your dream smile is out of reach. If that’s the case, then we will provide the necessary restorative care and, once your oral health is pristine again, we will revisit the cosmetic treatments we offer, including professional teeth whitening.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
Typically, it takes two weeks of consistent use to achieve the full results of your take-home teeth whitening treatment. If you have a big event coming up, like a wedding, we recommend getting in touch with us more than two weeks out, however. This ensures that we have time to provide any preliminary care that is needed or for multiple treatments (which is sometimes necessary when the stains are more pigmented).
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Sadly, the results of your teeth whitening treatment won’t last forever. The best way to ensure that your teeth stay nice and bright is by adopting healthy habits, like brushing consistently, getting a dental checkup and teeth cleaning twice a year, and using a straw when drinking dark-colored beverages. You can also schedule touch-up whitening treatments as needed throughout the years to ensure you don’t lose the beautiful, vibrant look you love.
Can I Drink Coffee After Whitening My Teeth?
We do not recommend drinking coffee immediately following your teeth whitening treatment. In fact, we recommend avoiding all dark-colored foods and beverages, like tomato soup, blackberries, and BBQ sauce. Of course, this is a short-term measure. You will be able to drink coffee after a few days, but make sure you use a straw and rinse your mouth with water afterwards to prevent stubborn stains from surfacing again.