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With recent advances in dental care, you can
have an attractive smile. You don't have to settle
for stained, unsightly teeth. Rather, you have
choices that can help you smile with confidence.
A subtle change in your smile can make a big
difference in the way you look and feel about
yourself. Talk to your dentist about the options
most suitable for you, what your expectations
are and the dental fees involved.
LEARN MORE:
Tooth Whitening
Treatments
Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there
are a variety of products and procedures available
to help you improve the look of yours.
Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they
get from brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing
toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once
a day and the regular cleanings at the dentist's
office. However, if you decide you would like
to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter,
you should investigate all of your options.
You can whiten your smile in one appointment
with your dentist or you can use an at home bleaching
system (store-bought or from your dental office)
or whitening toothpaste.
What should you ask your dentist?
You may want to start by speaking with your dentist.
He or she can tell you whether whitening procedures
would be effective for you. Whiteners may not
correct all types of discoloration. For example,
yellow-ish hued teeth will probably bleach well,
brownish-colored teeth may bleach less well, and
grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all.
Likewise, bleaching may not enhance your smile
if you have had tooth-colored fillings placed
in your front teeth. The whitener will not affect
the color of these materials, and they will stand
out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases,
you may want to investigate other options, like
porcelain veneers.
What is in-office bleaching?
If you are a candidate for bleaching, your dentist
may suggest a procedure that can be done in our
office. This procedure is called chair-side bleaching
and may require more than one office visit. Each
visit may take from sixty to ninety minutes.
During chair-side bleaching, the dentist will
apply either a protective gel to your gums or
a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues.
A bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth,
and a special light may be used to enhance the
action of the agent.
A number of in-office bleaching agents have the
ADA Seal of Acceptance, your assurance that they
have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
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What are at-home procedures and products?
There are several types of products available
for use at home, which can either be dispensed
by your dentist or purchased over the counter.
Bleaching solutions
These products
contain peroxide(s), which actually bleach the
tooth enamel. These products typically rely
on carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agent;
carbamide peroxide comes in several different
concentrations (10%, 16%, 22%).
Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come
in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard. Usage
regimens vary. Some products are used twice
a day for 2 weeks, and others are intended for
overnight use for 1-2 weeks. If you obtain the
bleaching solution from your dentist, he or she
can make a custom-fitted mouthguard for you
that will fit your teeth precisely. Currently,
only dentist-dispensed home-use 10% carbamide
peroxide tray-applied gels carry the ADA Seal.
You also may want to speak with your dentist
should any side effects become bothersome. For
example, teeth can become sensitive during the
period when you are using the bleaching solution.
In most cases, this sensitivity is temporary
and should lessen once the treatment is finished.
Some people also experience soft tissue irritation,
either from a tray that doesn't fit properly
or from solution that may come in contact with
the tissues. If you have concerns about such
side effects, you should discuss them with your dentist.
 Toothpastes
All toothpastes
help remove surface stain through the action
of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in
the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special
chemical or polishing agents that provide additional
stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches,
these ADA Accepted products do not alter the
intrinsic color of teeth.
How should I choose a whitening product?
When selecting a whitener or any dental product,
be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance
— your assurance that they have met ADA
standards of safety and effectiveness.
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Porcelain Veneers
and Porcelain Crowns
There's no reason to put up with gaps in your
teeth or with teeth that are stained, badly shaped
or crooked. Today a veneer placed on top of your
teeth can correct nature's mistake or the results
of an injury and help you have a beautiful smile.
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted
of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the
front side of teeth. Typically a dental technician
makes them in a dental lab, working from a model
provided by your dentist.
This is usually an irreversible process, because
it's necessary to remove a small amount of enamel
from your teeth to accommodate the shell.
your dentist may recommend that you avoid some
foods and beverages that may stain or discolor
your veneers such as coffee, tea or red wine.
Sometimes a veneer might chip or fracture. But
for many people the results are more than worth
it.
If you have any questions about veneers, feel
free to discuss them with your dentist.
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