Do you have stained or discolored teeth? Has your tooth enamel yellowed over time? Many common causes of tooth discoloration include foods and beverages, smoking, and dental injuries. Some foods and beverages, including berries, coffee, and tea, contain pigments called chromogens.
These pigments stain the tooth enamel. Patients who smoke or use tobacco products may also experience tooth discoloration. This is because nicotine quickly yellows the natural teeth. Even a dental injury can change the color of the tooth enamel. Patients who break or chip a tooth often notice that their injured tooth seems dulled. Tooth wear and injuries show dentin, the dark underlayer beneath the tooth enamel. This layer can make teeth appear discolored.
No matter the cause of your tooth discoloration, you can receive high-quality care. At Perfect Smiles, we provide professional teeth whitening treatment in Bensalem, PA. For the convenience of our patients, our dental team offers both in-office and take-home treatment for this cosmetic dentistry solution.
Professional teeth whitening treatment removes years of tooth stains, improves the smile’s brightness, and encourages regular at-home hygiene. It provides brilliant results and can help boost patients’ confidence. If you want to eliminate years from the appearance of your smile, request a dental consultation at Perfect Smiles today to explore your treatment options.
Teeth Whitening in Bensalem, PA
Professional whitening has many benefits compared to over-the-counter options. To start, drugstore whitening kits are one size fits all. They rarely fit patients properly, leading to uneven whitening results and often sensitivity in the soft tissues. They also use whitening agents that aren’t as powerful as professional-grade ones. Professional whitening is the way to get the best results for your smile.
At our office, we offer both in-office and take-home whitening treatment options.
In-Office Whitening Treatment
In-office treatment is ideal for patients looking to get a whiter smile fast. We recommend it if you have an event coming up, like a wedding or special trip, and want your smile to look its best. In-office whitening can be done in one appointment and usually takes an hour in our office. When you leave our office, your teeth will be up to eight shades whiter.
At your appointment, we apply a barrier to protect the gums and soft tissue in the mouth. We want to minimize gum sensitivity as much as possible. Then, we evenly apply the bleaching gel to your teeth. It stays on your teeth while whitening agents bleach the enamel. We repeat this process multiple times to ensure the best results.
Take-Home Whitening Treatment
This is a good option for brightening your smile in the comfort of your home. It’s a more gradual process that takes place over several weeks. First, you come into our office for a consultation. We take scans of your teeth to make custom whitening trays that fit your smile. We then give you whitening trays and professional-grade whitening gel to whiten your teeth at home.
You’ll put the gel in the whitening trays. It contains the same professional bleaching ingredients that we use in our office. We’ll give you instructions for how long to wear them each night and how many weeks to get your desired results. The custom trays help avoid getting the bleaching gel on your soft tissue, eliminating gum sensitivity.
Treating Deep Tooth Stains
Some dental stains are intrinsic, which means they exist beneath the outer layer of tooth enamel. We recommend porcelain veneers, tooth bonding, and dental crowns for patients with deeply stained teeth. Each of these treatments can cover the natural teeth and brighten the smile. Veneers are thin shells that are bonded to the front of the enamel. Dental bonding uses a malleable material that is shaped and cured onto the teeth. Dental crowns fully cover teeth like caps and can benefit patients with discolored and damaged teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I avoid after a teeth whitening treatment?
After a teeth whitening treatment, you should avoid consuming dark-colored beverages like coffee, tea, red wine, and cola. You should also avoid foods that stain, like berries, tomato sauce, and soy sauce. You should also avoid smoking or tobacco products. Also, maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly to maintain the whitening effect.
How often should you whiten your teeth?
Teeth whitening frequency depends on the type of treatment and the patient’s oral hygiene and dietary habits. For most professional in-office treatments, most dentists recommend having sessions every six months to a year. You may need to use at-home treatments more frequently, often weekly or monthly. Regular visits to the dentist can also help determine the necessary frequency of whitening treatments.
Do stains come back after teeth whitening?
Yes, stains can return after teeth whitening. The speed at which stains return depends on your diet and oral hygiene habits. Consuming staining substances such as coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco can speed up the return of discoloration. Regular and thorough brushing, flossing, and occasional touch-up treatments can help maintain the whitening results longer.
Does teeth whitening remove plaque?
Teeth whitening treatments focus on lightening the color of your teeth. The treatment does not remove plaque. Regular brushing, flossing, and professional dental cleanings are the best ways to remove plaque. While teeth whitening can give you a brighter smile, it’s not a replacement for good oral hygiene. Keep brushing and flossing daily, and don’t skip your dental check-ups!
Can teeth implants be whitened?
Teeth implants don’t respond to whitening treatments the way natural teeth do. These materials are resistant to stains and whitening. If your teeth implants discolor over time, your dentist can professionally clean or polish them to restore their original color. If discoloration is significant, your dentist may need to replace the implant crown. For dental implants, it’s less about whitening and more about maintenance and professional care.
Does a teeth whitening treatment cause pain?
Most patients don’t find teeth whitening painful. However, some patients can experience sensitivity during or after the treatment. This is due to the whitening agents that temporarily make your teeth or gums more sensitive to temperature changes. Usually, this sensitivity subsides within a day or two. You can use toothpaste made for sensitive teeth and avoid very hot or cold drinks.
Call Our Dental Office
Do you want a brighter, whiter smile? Schedule a dental consultation with the team at Perfect Smiles online or call 215-770-1081. Please let our team know if you have any questions or want to discuss your cosmetic goals. They will review your options for you at your consultation.