Teeth Whitening Wellesley
Make Your Teeth Shine Again
Do your teeth look a little dull or yellow? It is normal for enamel to incur stains over time. The good news is that professional teeth whitening treatment from our Wellesley team can help! We offer both in-office and take-home treatment options that have the potential to brighten your smile by several shades. Would you like to learn more about how to make your smile shine again? Continue reading below, or contact us directly to request a consultation.
Why Choose Wellesley Dental Group for Teeth Whitening?
- Top-Quality Philips ZOOM! Teeth Whitening System
- Highly Skilled Cosmetic Dentistry Team
- Take-Home and In-office Treatment Available
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening can be a wonderful option for almost anyone who is bothered by dental stains. It works particularly well on extrinsic stains (those on the surface of the enamel), but it can also help some types of intrinsic stains (those inside the teeth). Before your whitening treatment, our team will verify that your oral tissues are healthy enough for cosmetic services. For example, you should not have untreated cavities or gum disease.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening formulas have special ingredients, such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, that penetrate the tooth enamel and break up pigment molecules. In our office, we use top-quality ZOOM! products from Philips, which are known for their remarkable effectiveness. Depending on your situation, we might recommend that you undergo an in-office whitening session or that you use a take-home professional whitening kit to get your desired results.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
If you opt for take-home teeth whitening, we will provide you with custom dental trays and a powerful bleaching formula. Simply use them together as instructed, keeping the gel on your teeth for a specified period of time each day. You may start to notice a difference in your smile pretty quickly, but your final results should take around two weeks.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office whitening is the fastest way to brighten your smile. We will protect your soft oral tissues and then apply a bleaching gel to your teeth. It will be activated with a special light. We may rinse it off and reapply it a few times. This safe process typically takes less than an hour and can lead to dramatic results.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
After your teeth whitening treatment, your teeth will still be able to develop new stains. These steps can help to minimize new discoloration:
- Keep up with oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. Whitening toothpaste can minimize new surface stains.
- Mind your diet. Try to be moderate in your intake of stain-causing foods and beverages, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and berries.
- Do not use tobacco products. These can quickly stain your teeth.
- Attend regular dental cleanings. Our team can polish your teeth and remove new surface stains.
- Get touch-up whitening treatments. Many patients periodically return to us to maintain the brightness of their smile.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Teeth whitening is non-invasive, so you can expect the process to be comfortable overall. However, keep in mind that some patients notice an increase in dental sensitivity after their whitening treatment. This is a temporary side effect, and it can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and dietary modifications. For example, you may need to avoid very hot, spicy, cold, and acidic foods for a few days. Sensitivity-reducing toothpaste may also be helpful.
What Is the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
Professional and store-bought whitening products use similar active ingredients, such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. However, there are some important differences between these approaches:
- Professional formulas tend to be more highly concentrated, which leads to more dramatic results in a shorter period of time.
- Professional whitening products undergo more scrutiny before they are used on patients; they have a remarkable track record of safety.
- Professional whitening can be customized to your unique needs. In some cases, it can handle even very tough and deep-set stains.
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Enamel?
As long as you apply some simple precautions, there is no need to worry that teeth whitening will damage your enamel. The products we use in our office are consistently safe, and when they are used properly, they do not pose a risk to your oral health.
Here are a few things you can do to keep your enamel in good shape while you brighten your smile:
- Do not overuse whitening products. (Do not use them more often than recommended or keep them on your teeth for longer than advised.)
- Avoid highly abrasive whitening methods, such as activated charcoal or other trendy “hacks.”
- Make sure your teeth are healthy before you whiten them.
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
No, teeth whitening formulas do not work on dental crowns. That is because crowns and natural enamel are made of very different materials; crowns do not have the tiny pores that allow teeth to absorb whitening formulas.
If you are unhappy with the color of one of your crowns, we may be able to polish it to remove surface stains, or you might have to get it replaced altogether.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Teeth whitening is not permanent. The products we use can remove pigment molecules from your enamel, but they will not prevent new stains from forming.
To keep your teeth bright and beautiful, you will need to minimize your intake of highly pigmented foods and beverages, avoid the use of tobacco, and keep up with thorough oral hygiene. You may also choose to get professional whitening treatments once a year or so.