If you’ve been considering how nice a bright white smile would complement your summery wardrobe while on vacation, you might have wondered: is teeth whitening right for me? Let’s take a look at who are good candidates for teeth whitening and the types of teeth whitening options available at our Madison, Wisconsin offices and other home use products.
- Types of Discoloration
- Veneers, Crowns, and Caps
- Whitening Options
- Consultation
Types of Discoloration
If you’re experiencing yellow teeth, you could be a great candidate for teeth whitening. Yellow stains tend to bleach well. Brown spots, however, are harder to whiten. Teeth with grayish hues might not lighten at all.
Discoloration that is extrinsic, or on the outside of the tooth, responds very well to teeth whitening. This is because the cleaning agent is able to break up the discoloration on the outside of the tooth. Extrinsic staining is commonly caused by food and drink and sometimes by inadequate oral hygiene.
Intrinsic, or internal, discoloration is harder to improve by teeth whitening. This discoloration occurs under the enamel of the tooth. It’s often caused by decay, injury, or medication. However, if you choose to come in for professional help for teeth whitening, your dentist will be able to tell you at your initial consultation how your particular stains might respond to whitening.
During your initial consultation, your dentist will examine your teeth. Depending on the types of stains that need to be removed, he or she will advise on the best course of teeth whitening options.
Veneers, Crown, and Caps
Unfortunately, dental devices such as veneers, crowns, caps, or fillings do not respond to whitening methods. Teeth whitening could lighten the teeth next to the dental devices, resulting in unevenly shaded teeth. You may even need to replace the veneers or caps to match the other teeth’s new look. If you have veneers or caps at the front of your smile, you might not be a good candidate for tooth whitening.
Teeth Whitening Options
There are several options available for teeth whitening. Over-the-counter products such as white strips and whitening pastes are available at pharmacies and grocery stores.
For a bigger impact, professional whitening can be done in the office or at home. Because of the stronger products used, professional whitening delivers brighter results in a shorter amount of time.
At Affiliated Dentists, we offer an at-home whitening option. A custom tray is provided to the patient along with whitening gel. The patient wears the tray during the day or overnight depending on the chosen treatment option.
We also offer Zoom, an in-office whitening process that can lighten your teeth up to eight shades whiter in under an hour.
Madison Teeth Whitening Consultation
Before you begin a whitening process with Affiliated, we’ll arrange for a consultation with our dentist. Your dentist will address any questions you have about your teeth and will let you know if you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. You can then discuss which option would best suit your dental needs.
To schedule your teeth whitening consultation, call our office today.
Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me? brought to you by Dr. Mark Gustavson
