If you’ve ever considered a tooth whitening treatment and whether it would really make a difference in your smile, now is the time to find out. The truth is, white teeth are more than just attractive; they can actually boost your confidence and help you both professionally and socially.
Over the years, our office has tried many different professional methods to help our patients whiten their teeth. We have found that the Custom Fit Trays and Whitening Gel System that you use at home achieves the best results. It is the most convenient, causes the least amount of teeth sensitivity, and is the best buy for your money. The process is simple: we take impressions of your teeth, we fabricate custom trays, and then give you instructions on how to use the trays and gel.
Teeth whitening requires a commitment on your part. We usually recommend a regime of 1 hour a day for 14 days to get the best results. You can wear the trays while you get ready for work, watch TV, or even while you sleep. (The active ingredient only lasts for a limited period of time). Maintaining your white smile is easy, too. Once-a-month touch ups with your trays and remaining whitening gel will do the trick.
Additional Thoughts on Teeth Whitening
There has been a lot of research over the last couple of years examining the safety of using teeth whitening techniques. All the whitening products we use at Artistic Dental at the biltmore are approved by the American Dental Association, and we only use products that have been tested and proven safe and effective.
Our assistants will explain any potential side effects, but typically the only thing some patients notice is an increased sensitivity to hot or cold food, which will go away after the whitening treatment is complete. To help prevent potential sensitivity, we recommend our patients use a toothpaste with fluoride at least two weeks prior to whitening and then throughout treatment.
If you are going to have crowns, veneers, or a major dental treatment done and you want to whiten your teeth, always whiten your teeth prior to your procedure. Resin (tooth colored fillings) and porcelain restorations (crowns and veneers) will not whiten, so if you try whitening your teeth after such a procedure, it will result in a mismatched color smile. Whitening first allows our dentists to match the material we use to repair your teeth to your new smile!