SPARKS Tooth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening by our cosmetic dentist can help you achieve the smile of your dreams in a safe, comfortable, and effective manner. ZOOM Whitening is an in-office method for whitening that shortens a process that takes 2-3 weeks at home to a 90 minute appointment. 

If you have never tried whitening, you can certainly try over-the-counter whitening strips to see if you get the results you desire. Professional whitening options are far more likely to yield brighter teeth because the bleaching gels are more potent than what’s available over-the-counter. 

1. Red wine

2. Coffee

3. Tea

4. Dark berries

5. Turmeric

In addition, smoking and Peridex and Chlorhexidine mouth rinses also cause significant tooth staining.

No. Whitening toothpastes have absolutely no whitening capabilities, typically only removing surface stains by means of abrasive particles that strip away the surface of your enamel. In the long term, these toothpastes will likely only darken your teeth by thinning your enamel and allowing the more yellow dentin portion of your tooth to show through. 

Professional whitening has its limitations and that is patient dependent, which is why it is best to consult with a cosmetic dentist before spending money on an ineffective solution. Here are some situations where whitening may not be the best treatment to brighten your smile:

• Thin enamel and aging: Enamel is partly transparent, so when thin, the dark underlying tooth structure, known as dentin, shows through and whitening is less effective. The older we are, the darker our dentin gets, so dark teeth and discolored teeth are often a natural part of aging. Veneers and crowns are a prosthetic form of enamel that can cover your existing teeth and change the color and shade more effectively than whitening.

• Short and worn teeth: These teeth are often darker from the trauma of grinding and the loss of enamel, so the dark color comes from deep within the tooth, not at the surface.

• Existing crowns and fillings: Whitening only works on natural tooth structure, so any fillings or porcelain crowns and veneers will not change color.

• Teeth with a history of trauma or root canal therapy: these conditions often lead to a single dark tooth or a section of dark teeth not matching their neighbors and cannot be changed by conventional whitening. Alternative solutions may include internal tooth bleaching or veneers.

• Tetracycline staining: This antibiotic can permanently darken teeth when taken at a young age, while adult teeth are still developing. In limited situations, professional whitening can lead to some improvement, but typically resurfacing the teeth with veneers or crowns will be the more predictable method of improving appearance.