Everywhere you look from your favorite television personalities to Instagram influencers — you’re surrounded by bright, white beaming smiles. Pearly smiles are a sign of health and youth, and if you’re frustrated by dull or yellow teeth, you can make a change now.
A recent study indicated that over 67% of Americans have tried teeth whitening treatments. While many people use over-the-counter treatments, scheduling professional teeth whitening treatments with experts like Jessica Pandich, DDS delivers better results and is safer for your teeth and dental health.
How did my teeth get so yellow?
In most cases, your teeth are yellow because of your lifestyle. For example, if you start every morning with a cup (or two) of coffee, you increase your tooth discoloration chances. Other delicious products that you might consume regularly can lead to yellow teeth, including tea, wine, soda, berries, and even some starchy foods like potatoes and pasta can stain your teeth.
Additionally, using tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco stains your teeth and causes a wide range of other dental and overall health issues. Forgetting to brush and floss your teeth and skipping your biannual professional dental cleanings allows plaque to build-up on your teeth, which looks yellow.
In some cases, tooth discoloration occurs because of trauma or disease that makes the dentin inside your teeth more visible. Your enamel could become thin, or the inside of your tooth could become darker and more visible through your enamel.
How does teeth whitening work?
Standard teeth whitening uses a solution of ceramide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to remove superficial stains from your tooth enamel. The chemicals penetrate your tooth enamel, and break-up the stains.
What happens during teeth whitening treatments?
We offer in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments. Both are effective teeth whitening options, and Dr. Pandich can help you choose the best method to fit into your lifestyle.
In-office
In-office teeth whitening takes approximately an hour and can lighten your teeth by several shades. Dr. Pandich places a soft rubber guard in your mouth to hold your lips away from your teeth. Then, she carefully applies the whitening solution to your teeth.
You will be given protective goggles to wear and an relax while the teeth whitening gel is activated with a special light.
When your treatment is complete, Dr. Pandich removes the whitening gel and mouthguard, and you can return to your regular activities.
At-home
At-home teeth whitening treatments require more time. You begin with an appointment for Dr. Pandich to take molds of your teeth to create custom-fitting dental trays. When your trays are ready, you take them home with whitening gel.
You fill the trays with whitening gel and place them on your teeth. Dr. Pandich gives you personalized instructions, but some patients wear their trays overnight while others wear them for a few hours during the day.
Depending on your needs, you might need to use the trays and whitening gel every day for up to two weeks to achieve your desired results.
How long does teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening doesn’t last forever. The same lifestyle factors that caused your tooth discoloration in the first place can stain your teeth again. Brushing for 2 minutes twice a day can help maintain your results. You can also schedule additional treatments in the future, as needed.
How do I know if teeth whitening is right for me?
Dr. Pandich provides comprehensive exams and consultations to identify the right teeth whitening treatment for you. If you have internal staining, topical brightening treatments might not be appropriate. That doesn’t mean that you have to live with discolored teeth. Dr. Pandich also offers treatments like dental veneers and crowns that can cover internal staining.