WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE GETTING LASER TEETH WHITENING?
What your smile looks like can leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re leaving a positive or negative impression may be based on how white your smile is. A brilliant smile is associated with strength, health, confidence, youth, and beauty. An increasing number of people in Columbus, OH are starting to be concerned about how bright their smile is. Now that every actress and actor on television and movies has a stunning smile and whitening products are so common they can be seen at the store, a white smile has come to be an important marker of beauty. If you’ve compared your teeth to a tissue and found your smile isn’t as white as you would like, you may start looking into teeth whitening options. At DentalWorks – Easton, we offer laser teeth whitening as well as other cosmetic treatments if you want a total smile makeover. Learn more about laser teeth whitening, the benefits, the process, and how to get started by reading our laser teeth whitening blog:
WHY CHOOSE LASER WHITENING?
When you have so many teeth whitening products (gels, strips, toothpastes, and more) you can get at the store, why should you get professional laser teeth whitening? For one, it’s more effective. All the over-the-counter teeth whitening products have limited power, so it can take a long time to see results. When you choose laser teeth whitening, your enamel will be several shades brighter in just one visit. This can be helpful when you have an important event (like a wedding or reunion) and you want your smile to be better fast. Second, store-bought whitening products are not customized, and therefore they don’t adjust to fit your precise needs and goals. You may pick something that’s too harsh for you, which may lead to sensitivity and damage to your enamel. Your Columbus, OH dentist knows your teeth and what level of whitening is safe for you. Your dentist can also make sure your teeth look natural and white instead of unnatural or even fluorescent, which happens to some people when they over-whiten at home. Laser teeth whitening is also your best choice if you have dental restorations (crowns or bridges). Store-bought whitening products will not work on artificial surfaces, so your results will likely be uneven. Finally, laser teeth whitening is better at correcting internal stains when compared with over-the-counter home whitening products. When you have severe discoloration, laser teeth whitening is going to be your best option to get back a brilliant smile.
WHY DOES MY SMILE GET DULL?
Every time you eat or drink, extrinsic stains can develop on the surface of your enamel. Eventually, the stains get darker and make your enamel dull and discolored. Some of the biggest culprits of staining are berries, coffee, tea, and tobacco products. While food and beverages, as well as plaque and tartar buildup can stain the external enamel, you can also have intrinsic stains affecting the interior of your teeth. Intrinsic stains are often the result of using tetracycline antibiotics or a trauma to a tooth. Natural aging can cause both intrinsic and extrinsic stains. Internal dental stains cannot be corrected with generic whitening products. If you have intrinsic stains and you want a brighter smile, you should talk to your dentist in Columbus, OH about professional whitening treatments.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR TREATMENT
After a thorough consultation, your dentist will develop your customized laser whitening treatment plan. Your laser treatment will often be completed after your twice-yearly cleaning. This helps to remove built up plaque and tartar so the treatment can evenly whiten your enamel. Once your teeth are cleaned and dried, a protective barrier will be put over your gums. Next, the whitening agent will be carefully brushed onto your enamel. Once your eyes are protected, the light will be aimed at each tooth to activate the whitening gel. This process could be repeated several more times until your goal results are achieved. To finish the procedure, the gum barrier will be removed, and any leftover whitening gel will be cleaned off your enamel.
MAKING SURE YOUR TEETH STAY BRIGHT
After your laser whitening treatment, it’s important to keep your smile looking bright. At DentalWorks – Easton, we advise our patients to develop a good home oral health routine with twice daily brushing to eliminate stains. Besides routine brushing, you should brush, use mouthwash, chew sugarless gum, or all three after you eat or drink something that may stain your teeth. For dark-colored beverages, you can use a straw, so the staining liquid doesn’t get on your teeth. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, quitting will keep your enamel from getting yellow quickly. Professional cleanings by your dentist twice a year will give your dental team the opportunity to remove plaque and tartar buildup, which can dull your enamel, as well as polishing away stains from your enamel with special tools. For patients who want to touch-up or boost their results without getting another full laser treatment, DentalWorks – Easton makes personalized home whitening kits. Your team will make custom trays for a more comfortable treatment than store-bought kits. Based on your needs and goals, your dentist will select the right amount of gel for your kit. Before you leave with your personalized whitening kit, our team will give you detailed instructions on how often to perform the treatment and how long to leave it on your teeth for safe, effective results.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION TODAY
DentalWorks – Easton is a premier practice with state-of-the-art cosmetic treatments. Our team is experienced in laser teeth whitening as well as other advanced dental procedures. If you believe your smile could be improved by laser teeth whitening, contact our office in Columbus, OH to schedule your consultation. Our team will be happy to listen to your concerns and goals before talking about your whitening options then developing your custom treatment plan.
