Teeth whitening is, by far, the most popular cosmetic dental procedure. Dental Whitening procedures fit within almost any budget and the results are quick. Technically, there is a difference between teeth whitening and teeth bleaching. Whitening means to brighten your teeth by removing stain caused from staining foods and beverages (berries, coffee, wine, tea, etc). This stain removal whitens teeth back to their naturally white stage. Bleaching refers to lightening a tooth from the inside-out. Bleaching brightens the inside (dentin) of the tooth, thereby making the whole natural tooth whiter.

 

Who is a good candidate for teeth whitening?

 

Almost everyone is a candidate for teeth whitening or teeth bleaching. However, some dark teeth are much more resistant to the dental whitening procedures. Teeth that are discolored with dark gray or reddish shades are the most resistant to teeth whitening; an example of this type of dark shade appears in teeth affected by tetracycline. Still, even these dark teeth will whiten to some degree with long-term compliance. Depending on the results you desire, whitening may be an option for dark (gray/red) teeth. Otherwise porcelain veneers are an excellent option and allow you to choose how white you want your smile to be.

 

Whitening removes stains, via polishing of the surface of the tooth (this is why some over-the-counter toothpastes can claim “whitening”, while bleaching sends peroxide into the tooth to whiten the organic material inside.

 

What is the material used for teeth whitening?

 

Peroxide (either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) is the agent used in professional dental whitening procedures. The peroxide enters the teeth and whitens the inside layers (dentin) of the teeth.

 

What types of professional whitening systems are the best? Which ones are offered by Woodbine Family Dental?

 

We offer in-office whitening called Spa-dent Whitening.

 

How Spa-dent Works

 

The Spa-dent whitening process provides the maximum whitening benefit, in the least amount of time with virtually no sensitivity, all under the supervision of your Dental Professional. The revolutionary gel formulation is placed in our dual arch mouth trays with the precise dosage of whitening material. The  unique blue and red LED light activates the gel, providing powerful whitening with cellular stimulation. Hydroxyl radicals penetrate the tooth enamel to break down stains into progressively smaller particles. This process will penetrate but not harm or damage the tooth enamel, including caps, crowns and veneers. The effect whitens the whole “smile” area of a patient’s teeth.

 

How long do whitening results last?

 

The best answer to this question is…It depends. Some people smoke. Some people drink coffee, tea and red wine every single day. Some people drink only an occasional coffee drink. We refer to these staining foods, beverages and habits because they stain your teeth. A good rule of thumb is that if it will stain a white shirt, it will stain your teeth. So, if you never do things that stain your teeth, then your whitening results will last a long time. And, if you do, the results will more quickly fade over time. The bright side (no pun intended) is that after a teeth whitening (bleaching) procedure, the insides of your teeth will not likely ever return to the dark shade where they began. And, we have touch-ups and whitening polishes (all quite inexpensive) that will quickly and easily zap your teeth right back to their whitest state.

 

How white will my teeth get?

 

On average, with Woodbine Family Dental professional whitening system, you can expect your teeth to get approximately 5 shades whiter. If your teeth are already very bright to start with, they may only get a couple of shades lighter (there is a limit to how white natural teeth can get). Up to this maximum whiteness (or plateau), the more you whiten, the whiter your teeth will get. For people who want their teeth whiter than nature will allow (or people who want the really results right now, conservative porcelain veneers (even no-prep veneers) are an excellent treatment option. Porcelain veneers are not limited to natures “plateaus”, and they give you the freedom to choose any shade you desire for your smile.