Have you ever consider getting your teeth whitened by your dentist to improve your smile and your overall confidence? In-office teeth whitening has been gaining popularity the past couple of years and the reason is simply that it is so effective and the results are immediately visible. At Green Dental Care, teeth whitening has never been easier. We offer in-house teeth whitening and in-office teeth whitening. Either way, you’ll get the results you want. At Green Dental Care in Parker, CO, we are qualified professionals who always prioritize customer satisfaction before anything else.    

Advantages of In-Office Teeth Whitening

1. Gives instant results.
2. Provides the safest form of bleaching.
3. Controls tooth and gum sensitivity more because of the introduction of peroxide gels, and desensitizers like nitrate, potassium, and fluoride.

Disadvantages of In-Office Teeth Whitening

1. Alternative options are cheaper than in-office whitening; in-office bleaching costs around $600 whereas the alternative take-home option costs $400 and over-the-counter strips are sold for less than $100.
2. Factors such as age, heredity and the type of staining all contribute to the unpredictability of this process.
3. This process is also not a permanent solution as the teeth again start to collect stains shortly after the procedure; however, this can be prevented or delayed as dentists usually suggest lower concentration bleaching follow-ups

Stains that are Best Removed by a Pro

In-office whitening removes organic stains or discolorations primarily caused by:

• Excessive use of certain consumables like red wine, coffee, sodas, and dark-colored fruits and vegetables
• The use of Tobacco 
• Aging contributes to discoloration the most. With time the teeth start to darken to a yellow or green color mainly because of heredity or bad eating and drinking habits.

Stains Resistant to In-Office Whitening 

Some stains cannot be removed by in-office teeth whitening. These are mostly artificial teeth because these teeth can look even darker than before the whitening procedure. Situations, where this may occur, are the following: 

• Trauma, which causes the dentin to darken
• Tetracycline antibiotics ingested during tooth formation. These drugs chemically bind the crystalline structure of both the tooth’s enamel and the underlining dentin.
• Tooth discoloration can also be caused by fluorosis which is the overexposure of fluoride.                                                                     

Are you a Candidate?

It is best if you avoid teeth whitening if you have the following conditions: 

• Teeth have become transparent due to age. This is mostly the case with the front teeth.
• Gum and tooth hypersensitivity. Your dentist will probably recommend take-home bleaching trays to avoid a hypersensitive reaction.
• Teeth have deep and interactive staining. In this case, the dentist might recommend a supervised regimen of intensive take-home bleaching. 

Preparing Your Teeth 

Our friend, Dr. Ben Kacos, says that the trick to keeping a bright and beautiful smile is to clear the plaque and debris collected on the surface of the teeth. To do this right, you’ll need professional teeth cleaning before your teeth whitening. A dental exam will also be conducted to check for potential problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, and cracks. Your Parker dentist will most likely delay the procedure until the problem has been taken care of because bleaching can lead to several degrees of irritation if this problem is present. A series of photographs may also be taken to monitor your progress.

The In-Office Whitening Procedure

Although some details may vary, a standard procedure is followed. In general, this procedure is painless to such an extent that some patients even watch TV during this procedure.

1. A cheek retractor is inserted into the mouth, exposing all the “esthetic zone” teeth, which are the ones that are visible when you smile.
2. To protect against any irritation caused by the bleaching gel, a hardening resin or liquid rubber dam is painted onto the gum tissue.
3. A bleaching gel containing hydrogen peroxide is applied for 15 to 30 minutes to the esthetic zone teeth. This process may be repeated several times and will be checked in between to monitor the process.
4. Sometimes an intense light is applied onto the teeth, which enhances the bleaching process.
5. After the final gel is applied, the cheek retractors are removed, the patient rinses and a shade change reading is taken to measure the immediate color change. At first, the teeth may look a lot whiter but the real color will emerge after a couple of days.

If a satisfactory level of whitening hasn’t been achieved then the dentist may recommend a follow up bleaching appointment or maybe even recommend take-home bleaching trays. For more information on our teeth whitening services in Parker, Colorado, contact Green Dental Care today!