A professional teeth whitening treatment in Bowmanville is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures available today. It refers to a process that whitens a person’s natural teeth, so they appear brighter than before.
Various factors can cause teeth to change colour, most often food and beverage choices and other lifestyle habits like smoking. As you age, teeth naturally darken in colour, which is why we tend to associate brighter and whiter teeth with a more youthful appearance.
Why See a Dentist for Professional Teeth Whitening?
For teeth whitening to be successful, it’s important to choose a treatment that addresses the type of tooth stains affecting the colour of your teeth. This is why it’s so important to visit a dentist before considering any whitening treatment, particularly if you have any dental problems like tooth sensitivity or irritated gums. When you see our West Bowmanville Family Dental dentist, we can assess your oral health in Newcastle and determine why your teeth have discoloured and the best and safest way to brighten their appearance without damaging dental health. There are two main types of tooth stains, as they can be intrinsic or extrinsic.
Intrinsic Tooth Stains
Intrinsic stains are inside the tooth, underneath your tooth enamel. They can be due to exposure to high fluoride levels while your teeth are developing or because of antibiotic use. Sometimes intrinsic stains are due to genetics. Because intrinsic stains are inside the tooth, they require a different treatment approach. It may be necessary to cover these teeth to mask the stains underneath, for example, using dental crowns or veneers.
Extrinsic Tooth Stains
Extrinsic tooth stains affect your tooth enamel and are where it has become exposed to elements that discolour it, such as coffee, tea, highly coloured foods and smoking. Extrinsic tooth stains respond well to teeth whitening products like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, especially those used in a dental office and which are professional strength.
Whitening Your Teeth Professionally
Our dental office uses Zoom whitening products in Clarington to quickly and effectively lift the overall colour of teeth, removing unsightly extrinsic tooth stains. Options include in-office treatments and custom home whitening kits. If you opt for an in-office treatment, your lips and gums are protected before we paint your teeth with professional strength whitening gel in the form of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is activated with light that helps it penetrate your tooth enamel more easily so even deep-seated stains can be lifted. It may be necessary to remove and reapply the gel during your treatment. At the end of your treatment, your teeth should look visibly brighter and whiter.
Another option is having a custom whitening kit containing mouth trays that fit exactly over your teeth. These are filled with a prescribed carbamide peroxide whitening gel that is safe and stable for home use. We will show you exactly how to fill the trays, insert and remove them, and discuss how long to use them daily. Some people may feel comfortable using them for just one or two hours, while others might want to wear them overnight. A custom home whitening kit offers a controllable way to whiten your teeth over a couple of weeks, and you can always reuse the whitening trays when the results need topping up.
After whitening your teeth in Courtice, we can provide useful advice on caring for them immediately afterwards. It’s preferable to avoid highly coloured foods for the first few days after a tooth whitening treatment until the tooth enamel settles down again.