Questions about teeth whitening answered by our team
The majority of dental patients wish that their teeth were whiter.
Not necessarily blindingly so, but as the majority of natural teeth have an off-white colour, more and more people want to have a brighter, whiter smile.
You may have tried in your own ventures to use whitening toothpaste, mouthwashes and even home-based whitening kits. These will only work on cases of minor staining, so the majority of people do not really notice a radical change after they have used them. So, professional intervention is needed!
When you come to see our team at The Dental Retreat, we will always be happy to discuss the options we can provide for teeth whitening Macleod. Unfortunately, not everyone is suitable for traditional whitening, and, in this instance, we will aim to offer you other methods to brighten your smile, such as veneers or composite bonding.
But before you call our team to book yourself in for teeth whitening Macleod, you are likely to have a few questions and here, our team aims to answer common queries that we have received about this cosmetic option.
How do you whiten teeth?
Our team uses 2 options to whiten teeth, depending on the kind of staining that you have.
The first and most common option for teeth whitening Macleod uses beaches and gels to remove surface stains caused by food and cigarette smoke. The next option is abrasion whitening, which is only used if your teeth have changed colour at a deeper level, usually due to medications or genetic conditions.
Who is not suitable for having their teeth professionally whitened?
If you have active decay or gum disease, then you will need to have these treated before you have your teeth professionally whitened. Also, if you have had a root canal in the last 3 months, you should wait a bit longer to reduce any associated discomfort, because the tooth with the root canal is still healing.
If you are unsure if you are suitable to have your teeth professionally whitened, call our team today.
Is it uncomfortable?
In the past, having your teeth whitened was uncomfortable.
But now, thanks to agents that are in the gels that we use, uncomfortable sensations that you may feel should be minimal. The oxidising gels that we use to remove stains have anti-sensitivity agents built in, so there should not be any long-term cases of sensitivity when you have your teeth professionally whitened.
How long do the results last?
This will vary based on your lifestyle, your level of hygiene and your diet.
If you drink coffee every day, for example, or you are a fan of red wine, you are going to be exposing your teeth to a higher concentration of tannins, which can cause your teeth to stain faster than if you did not consume these products. Also, if you smoke, you may notice that the whitening effects that you gain do not last as long.
Generally speaking, though, most whitening treatments can continue to show results for up to 18 months, provided you adhere to a strict tannin-free diet and maintain the whitening with our top-up gels at home.
How often can you have your teeth professionally whitened?
Our team recommends a maximum of 2 whitening sessions per year, and that is a stretch! Even the most advanced whitening gels and bleaches can cause the teeth to become dehydrated, which can lead to sensitivity and discomfort.
If you have recently had your teeth whitened and are noticing that they are reverting back to their previous colour, you may need to up your dental hygiene regime or see our team for more information.
DISCLAIMER
All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.