Stains, yellowing, dullness, and other discoloration in your teeth can make you less confident in your smile’s overall look. This can serve as a blow to your self-esteem. But your dentist offers teeth whitening treatment that can brighten your tooth color and make you proud of your smile once again.
However, this cosmetic dental solution will not remove all types of tooth stains. You will need to talk to your dentist to discover if this treatment will suit your specific smile aesthetic goals. Read on to learn more about what professional teeth whitening can do for your unique smile.
How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?
A dentist begins the in-office teeth whitening process by cleaning your teeth. They scrape away plaque, tartar, and other build-ups to have improved access to the surface of the teeth.
Then they apply a whitening gel to the teeth using a safe method that prevents gum irritation and other side effects. They use a special light then to activate bleaching agents. These lift stains from the enamel which can then easily be scrubbed away.
The dentist repeats this process about four times within a one-hour appointment. You can see immediate results, and the teeth will look several shades whiter. Follow your dentist’s aftercare guidelines to maximize the cosmetic benefits of this treatment.
Which Stains Can Teeth Whitening Remove?
Your usual oral hygiene routine, brushing your teeth and flossing, will remove some surface stains on your smile. But discoloration can form deeper in the enamel, the outer layer of your tooth. Professional teeth whitening will lift and eradicate extrinsic dental stains.
This refers to a type of discoloration that usually comes from the consumption of items containing staining agents. Examples include coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco products. These occur deep enough in the tooth that a toothbrush cannot reach.
However, you might also form intrinsic stains in your smile. These come from medication side effects or aging, and in-office teeth whitening cannot reach these forms of discoloration that exist even deeper in your teeth. A dentist can help determine which type of stains you have on your smile when you attend a dental consultation.
How Else Can My Dentist Eliminate Stubborn Dental Stains?
If you have intrinsic stains on your teeth and professional whitening is not the ideal treatment, you can still find ways to brighten your smile. A dentist can offer several treatment options that will give you a whiter smile.
Tooth bonding, for instance, involves applying tooth-colored composite resin to the teeth to cover stains. The dentist cures the resin to harden it into place for lasting results.
This allows you to see a whiter and more even finish in your smile. Make sure you adhere to your dentist’s aftercare instructions so that you do not stain or otherwise disrupt your new dental work.
Porcelain veneers, custom-made caps that attach to the front of teeth, will shield dental discoloration as well. They seal into place, building a whiter, stain-resistant smile that can last for fifteen years or longer with proper care.