Teeth Whitening
for Albany, Colonie, Latham, NY & Beyond
Teeth whitening procedures can help restore the smile of people who may have stained, dull, or discolored teeth. The enamel or outer layer of the tooth is porous and products such as coffee, tea, berries/fruit and red wine are some of foods and drinks that are notorious for staining your teeth. As time passes, your teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to this type of staining from food, drinks and other substances.
It seems that more and more people today are electing to have tooth whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging, abuse and staining from food and tobacco use. Though there are many commercially available “whitening toothpastes” and other whitening products, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth’s enamel. They may be somewhat effective at removing slight stains and making teeth a few shades brighter, but the process is only short-lived, and can leave your teeth susceptible to damage after using these products.
Professional whitening procedures, performed in our office, are considered to be the most effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years. At our dental office we offer dentist-supervised teeth whitening procedures. This involves a controlled use of carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, which we will tailor to each individual patient’s needs.
Before the whitening treatment process can begin, we will first need to clean your teeth and make sure your gums are in good health. We will also need to treat and restore all active decay on any of your teeth or gums. Once we have determined that you have good oral health we will take impressions, or molds, of your teeth. We then fabricate soft custom bleaching trays, tailored to fit your mouth. To administer the treatment, you apply thin ribbon of the gel into the tray and wear it for a certain set period of time. The amount of time you will need to spend will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Most whitening occurs within one to two weeks. In difficult cases, however, trays may need to be worn for up to six weeks. An at-home whitening system can achieve up to several shades lighter in most patients, and this method is considered safe and effective when being monitored by a dentist.
Whitening systems supervised by dentists have a number of advantages when compared to over-the-counter whitening products. The main advantage of a dentist-supervised system is that the dentist can determine if tooth whitening should be performed and if it will be an effective system for the patient. Patients that have decayed teeth, infected gums, white spots on their teeth, multiple tooth colored fillings, crowns or caps on the front teeth may not be the best candidates for a tooth whitening system.
Contact Our Dental Office Today
to Learn About this Cosmetic Dentistry Procedure
At The Smile Zone, our team of dentists can also help decide the concentration of the whitening gel that is needed. We can then monitor and treat patients who may experience sensitivity to the whitening agents and can then modify the procedure for those who are having difficulty getting the results they are looking for. Finally, we can help explore other cosmetic dentistry treatments such as porcelain veneers, crowns or tooth colored fillings without teeth whitening to help improve your smile. Our dental office is proud to serve patients throughout the greater Albany, Colonie, and Latham, NY area. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment!
