At Coastal Dental Care, we offer advanced teeth whitening in Nederland, TX. We offer cosmetic dentistry services to patients who want a brighter and whiter smile including tooth whitening. With the trend of wanting a brighter smile growing increasingly popular, the demand for professional teeth whitening has increased.
There are many options available to whiten your teeth however store-bought products do not offer the same effects. Professional teeth whitening is more effective, longer lasting, and safer.
Professional Teeth Whitening vs. Store-Bought Whitening Products
Whitening products are readily available in a store but do not deliver the same results. Additionally, they may even harm your gums. Professional teeth whitening offers several advantages over store-bought products:
- Strength and Effectiveness: Store-bought products are less effective at whitening teeth. They contain a lower concentration of the main ingredient in the whitening agent. Professional whitening products have higher concentrations and are more effective at bleaching and whitening teeth.
- Customization: Your dentist will customize your professional teeth whitening treatment to meet your needs. This will ensure that your concerns are addressed. Store-bought products are one-size-fits-all and may not provide the desired results you want.
- Safety: Your dentist will monitor the whitening process, ensuring that your gums and oral tissues are protected. They can adjust the strength of the whitening agent according to your needs, ensuring optimal results without causing harm. If you use a store-bought product incorrectly, you risk uneven results, gum sensitivity, or other side effects.
- Treatment Time: Over-the-counter products usually have a longer treatment time. It will require a lot of time and possibly buying the product multiple times to achieve comparable results. This makes professional whitening a quicker and more convenient treatment option.
Why Are My Teeth Stained?
The most common complaint people have about their teeth is their color. Many things can affect the color of your teeth, including plaque and dirt. However, there are more.
Teeth can and will stain for many reasons. They will naturally begin to yellow or darken as we age due to years of wear and tear. Many lifestyle habits will contribute to dark and dull teeth. The food and drinks you consume can affect the color of your teeth. Consuming dark things such as coffee, red wine, soy sauce, or tea will cause them to turn yellow. People who use tobacco have stained teeth. Poor oral hygiene is also a primary cause of stained teeth. These types of stains are called extrinsic stains and are on the outer layer of the tooth.
There are other causes of stains that are not related to lifestyle habits. Genetics, certain diseases, injuries, and medications can change the color of your teeth. These types of stains are deeper within the tooth and are harder to address. Some may respond to a bleaching treatment but most will not. You will likely need to whiten your teeth with other types of cosmetic dentistry treatments. Your options include porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
Teeth Whitening in Nederland, TX
Most teeth whitening products use bleach. This breaks the stains into smaller pieces, making them harder to see so your teeth look brighter. However, bleaches do not work on all teeth, so talking to us before you bleach your teeth is important. Bleach doesn’t work on caps, veneers, crowns, or fillings originally made to match your teeth’s natural color.
Coastal Dental Care offers professional in-office teeth whitening in our Nederland, TX dental office. Using high quality bleaching agents for reduced sensitivity, we can address most tooth stains for a whiter smile in about an hour. Our whitening treatments are delivered in a consistent and safe way to guarantee the best possible results.
Our in-office teeth whitening system will give you a brighter, whiter smile without the wait. In a short office visit, you can get instant teeth whitening gratification. If you have a major event coming up, this is the ideal treatment to help you achieve a better looking smile. Your results can last up to a year or more with proper oral hygiene. Avoid common lifestyle habits that will stain or darken your teeth such as smoking. Limit beverages are known to stain teeth such as coffee, tea, and red wine.
Other Teeth Whitening Options
For some patients, teeth whitening treatments do not work. If you have tough stains or simply desire a permanent solution for teeth whitening, we offer several cosmetic treatments to choose from. Dental bonding and porcelain veneers are cosmetic dentistry treatments that can whiten your teeth by covering them up. Continue reading to learn more about these procedures.
Teeth Bonding
Dental bonding is a tooth-colored, composite resin that will cover the entire tooth. Your Coastal Dental Care can instantly whiten your teeth with this affordable treatment. Your dentist will apply the material directly to the tooth’s surface, completely covering the entire surface. This treatment is fast and your dentist can complete it in a single dental appointment.
Porcelain Veneers
A porcelain veneer is a thin shell that covers the front and sides of a tooth. They are made of porcelain, a durable and long-lasting material that can instantly whiten your smile. The process will require two to three visits to our Nederland, TX dentist office. The teeth veneers are custom-made in a dental lab from impressions of your teeth for a precise fit. This treatment is more expensive than dental bonding.
Professional Teeth Whitening FAQs
Professional teeth whitening is the recommended way to get a whiter smile. Read the answers to these frequently asked questions to learn more.
How long do the professional teeth whitening results last?
This varies depending on the patient. Some patients’ teeth respond better to the whitening solution than others. If you’re a smoker or frequently consume staining foods and beverages, your whitening results will fade faster than those who don’t have these habits. You can see results that last anywhere from a few weeks to multiple months.
How long do I have to wait to eat after teeth whitening?
You can eat and drink immediately following the treatment. However, we recommend avoiding staining foods and beverages for 48 hours. Whitening works by opening the pores on your teeth so the whitening solution can dig deep. These pores don’t immediately close after treatment. Drinking things like coffee during this time will make them impact your teeth more.
Can I get my teeth whitened too much?
Yes, this is a possibility. We recommend waiting at least six months before your next whitening treatment. Even professional products designed to minimize sensitivity can still cause it if you use the solution too much. When your teeth get bright enough, they can also look unnatural compared to the rest of your face.
Should I get my teeth cleaned before whitening treatment?
Yes, you should ensure your teeth are as clean as possible. We recommend scheduling whitening treatment right after a dental cleaning in our office. If your teeth aren’t clean, the results can be splotchy because of areas where there’s some buildup on them.
Can I whiten a tooth that has a cavity?
No, the discoloration caused by a cavity won’t respond to whitening treatment. The whitening agent can also contact that area, causing discomfort. Since a cavity is a hole in your tooth, nerves and sensitive tissue are often exposed.
Am I a good candidate for teeth whitening?
Before performing teeth whitening, we’ll need to treat any oral health problems. We also schedule a consultation to examine the type of staining you have to ensure it’ll respond to whitening treatment. Dental bonding or porcelain veneers may be the better choice for deep, intrinsic stains.
There are many options for teeth whitening, including toothpaste, at-home bleaching, and bleaching in our office. Since each one works differently (and has different results), you should talk to us before you whiten your teeth.
If you have any questions about teeth whitening, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Our Nederland dentist office welcomes new patients. Schedule an appointment by calling our office at 409-215-2035 or request one online.