Tooth Whitening at Tall Grass Dental
Whitened teeth have become so common today that it is more of a statement to not whiten your teeth than to whiten them. Having yellowish teeth is comparable to having severely crooked teeth when orthodontic treatment for those who need it is relatively standard and available.
If you are not happy with the esthetics of your smile then whitening is the first and most conservative step to improving your appearance. Many people are not willing to go through what it would take to get their teeth to 100% esthetic. To go from 30% to 55% with a simple whitening may be all the improvement you desire. Some people choose to add to the whitening by opting for veneers, orthodontic care, or invisalign to get that model smile they always wanted. At Tallgrass Dental we want you to understand your options and then give you the autonomy to dictate your level of treatment.
Every person's teeth respond differently to whitening treatment, not all teeth can achieve a glowing white result post whitening. The more grey existing in the teeth the harder they are to whiten. Teeth with horizontal striations will still have those markings. The whole tooth will whiten at the same time. Light areas become really white and grey areas become lighter grey. The different striated areas remain distinct.
Two types of whitening are on the market today. The main catagories are at-home whitening and in-office whitening. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the two systems:
In-Office Whitening
- One treatment only.
- No compliance required of two week period.
- Best for people with compromised dexterity for age or injury.
- Greater likelihood of post treatment pain.
- Expensive ($490 to $600).
- May not get your highest level of whitening from the treatment. At-home kit may be required to finish the process.
- Studies suspect that immediate result is partially due to dehydration. Dry teeth are whiter then hydrated teeth.
- Only foods and beverages that would not stain a white shirt can be consumed in the first 48 hours after treatment.
At-Home Whitening
- Best long term whitening results seen.
- Free to new patients with exams and recommended x-rays and recommended cleanings.
- Autonomy to whiten until your satified that your teeth are as white as they can get.
- Easy to use for single over-night bi-annual booster treatments to keep teeth their whitest.
- Difficult to load trays. Overloading trays with excess material leads to gum irritation.
- Best results take 9 to 14 over-night treatments.
Both systems work the same way to lighten tooth shade. Peroxides in the gels oxidize colorful molecules trapped in tooth enamel. These molecules are impurities and represent about 2% of the enamel. The bulk of enamel is totally unaffected by the peroxides. Teeth are not weakened in any way by whitening. No tooth structure is removed from the whitening process. Dental pulps can be irritated from the whitening peroxides. Ibuprofen taken at 800mg per 8 hour (4 over the counter tablets of Advil or Motrine) usually clears that up.
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