If you have stains on the surface of your teeth, then you may feel uncomfortable about the appearance of your smile. To correct this, your Garland, TX, dentist may suggest teeth whitening. As part of our approach to cosmetic treatments, we can remove stains in-office or with an at-home treatment option. We can also mask permanent teeth stains that may not respond to whitening treatments.
Two Teeth Whitening Options
If you would like to get 2020 started with a brighter smile, then give us a call so we can set up your next January appointment. We will examine your smile to assess the cause and severity of your discoloration. From there, we can choose the best treatment option. For many cases, we can often brighten smiles in one to two hours with our office treatment. We apply a bleaching gel to the teeth and use a special light to activate it, breaking up stains. We repeat the process until your smile is much whiter.
We also have a home-based option, one that can often address more severe cases without promoting tooth sensitivity. We begin with an office treatment, where our team creates custom trays using detailed impressions taken of your smile. We send you home with these plastic trays and a powerful bleaching gel. You fill the trays with the gel and wear them, the trays spreading the gel evenly across your smile. Each session should take 30 to 45 minutes, and optimal results will be noticeable after a week to ten days.
Masking Permanent Ones
While most form on the surface, known as extrinsic stains, more permanent discoloration could occur beneath the enamel. Known as intrinsic stains, these are difficult to remove with teeth whitening, so we may instead mask them. Dental bonding can use the same composite resin employed in our fillings to mask discoloration in one visit. With porcelain veneers, we place lifelike restorations that instantly transform the tooth’s shape and color, and offer a natural appearance.
Habits for a Brighter Smile
To help preserve your newly brightened smile, we suggest avoiding habits that promote discoloration, such as consuming drinks with dark pigments (think coffee, red wine, tea, and soda) or foods with sugar and starch, which promote plaque buildup and discoloration. Make time to brush and floss daily, and also see us every six months for an exam and a thorough dental cleaning.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT TEETH WHITENING?
If you have stains on your teeth, then you may need to seek treatment to remove or mask discoloration. To learn more about our approach to cosmetic dental care, then schedule a consultation by calling Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX, today at 972-530-0552. For our patients who don’t speak English, our office is fluent in both Spanish and Vietnamese.
