Home – Services – Cosmetic Dentistry – Teeth Whitening
We all notice people who have a brilliant white smile – it’s simply more attractive. With teeth whitening from Dr. Gary Imm and the team at All Smiles Care in Westminster, you can get the brighter smile you have always dreamed of.
When it comes to improving the overall appearance of your smile, the most popular and prevalent cosmetic dentistry procedure – by far and away – is teeth whitening. The procedure is safe, fast, effective and affordable, allowing thousands of clients an instant boost in their appearance and their self-confidence.
This is one of the most commonly asked questions and the answer varies. Often, it’s a combination of things that lead to the discoloration of your teeth. Trauma, old fillings, lifestyle choices and certain substances (coffee, tea, tobacco, cola, red wine, etc) can all contribute to the discoloration of your teeth.
The porcelain-like enamel surface of our teeth is comprised of microscopic crystalline rods that efficiently and effectively protect our teeth from trauma, chewing and sugar-related acid attacks. So while most of us began life with white teeth, over time our tooth enamel wears down and our teeth become more transparent. Dentin, the yellow-color core material of our teeth, then begins to show through, generating an ever-yellowing appearance. As millions of tiny cracks occur in our teeth during chewing, the cracks become filled with stains and debris that eventually cause a dull appearance.
When you whiten your teeth, the process removes debris and stains which in turn, restores the brightness and whiteness to even the dullest and muted of teeth.
If you’re electing to do a teeth whitening procedure, Dr. Gary Imm and his staff offer the best options when it comes to your teeth whitening requirements. The results from a professional teeth whitening treatment, either at home or in the office, are far superior compared to the results from an at-home over-the-counter kit.
At-home bleaching kits or whitening strips purchased over-the-counter aren’t a sure thing. Because some products include bleach and other chemicals, there are many “natural” at-home teeth whitening kits, procedures, or tricks such as oil pulling and brushing your teeth with baking soda. However, you can’t quite predict the results because not all teeth are the same – especially among different people.
This option is great for instant, immediate results and ideal for patients that are time-crunched. With in-house power bleaching you will spend an hour at All Smiles Care and leave with teeth seven to twelve shades brighter than when you arrived.
A bleaching agent, consisting of hydrogen peroxide, is applied to your teeth and activated with a powerful, monochromatic light. This agent seeps into the tiny holes in the enamel of your teeth, bleaching your teeth instantly. This procedure must be done at our office to ensure the gel is properly placed on your teeth, avoiding any potential damage to your gums and oral tissue surrounding your teeth.
Personalized and custom-made take-home trays should not be confused with over-the-counter bleaching products available at most drug stores. These professionally-supervised at-home kits contain tailored and customized bleaching trays, created to fit your unique smile.
Available only through Dr. Gary Imm, these take-home trays use a material that must be purchased with a prescription and can only be applied with a tray created by a dental assistant.
These particular trays are filled with a high-concentration peroxide gel that you place on your teeth in varying intervals at home. The solution will permeate your tooth enamel – down into your dentin. This successfully bleaches your teeth in anywhere from several hours to several weeks after you begin the applications.
The length of time that teeth whitening treatments will last, depends on the type of treatment received, and the habits of the person undergoing the treatment.
For most people, having good dental care habits including regularly brushing teeth and flossing is enough to preserve your newly whitened teeth. For those who regularly drink coffee and soda and want to minimize discoloration of their teeth, using a straw when possible can help protect your teeth from exposure to substances that might damage or discolor them.
If done correctly, teeth whitening treatments merely alter the color of your teeth and do not do any damage to the tooth. One of the primary benefits of undergoing teeth whitening through a trained cosmetic dentist is the mitigation of some of the risks involved in whitening your teeth at home.
Teeth whitening treatments will range in cost widely, depending on the type of procedure used and the number of treatments necessary. Those who have deeply discolored teeth may require more treatments than someone who begins the process with whiter teeth. At-home treatment options can also reduce the price, but are less convenient and take more time to see results. If you have questions about the costs involved with teeth whitening, contact our office today!
The biggest difference between the two techniques is the potency of the whitening solution in addition to the time it takes to see results. In-office power bleaching takes just a couple of dentist visits, while at-home bleaching can take a couple weeks to notice a difference.
The results from professional teeth whitening, either in-office or at-home systems, are superior compared to those from over-the-counter kits. Even with the difference in teeth whitening cost, Dr. Imm’s Westminster MD patients will find that the results are worth the premium.
Contact our dentists in Westminster, MD to find out more and see what option best suits your needs.