How to Get White Teeth: Treatment Options
Pearly white teeth give you the confidence to show off your best smile. Unfortunately, eating and drinking stain the outer layer of your teeth (enamel) over time. Professional teeth whitening is the most popular treatment to return your teeth to their natural white color.
Teeth whitening options are available at Hinsdale Dental with in-office Philips Zoom! Whitening or at-home NiteWhite ACP treatments. These treatment options are fast, safe, and result in long-term whitening for a brighter smile.
What Causes Tooth Stains?
Tooth color is determined by how light reflects off your tooth’s dentin and enamel. Pigments from foods and beverages absorb light, reducing the amount of light reflection, giving teeth a discolored appearance. The higher the concentration of the pigment compounds, the more discolored your teeth appear.
In-Office Treatment with Philips Zoom! Whitening
Philips Zoom! Whitening is a highly effective in-office teeth whitening system. It uses up to three applications of hydrogen peroxide gel with LED light acceleration to brighten teeth up to eight shades in a single session.
Hydrogen peroxide is a light acid with strong oxidation. Oxidation strips atoms of electrons, breaking down pigment compounds and dispersing them. This allows more light to reflect off your teeth and brightens your smile.
Before your in-office whitening treatment, your dentist removes built-up plaque and tartar with a deep cleaning. Then, they apply a protective barrier to your gums and paint the hydrogen peroxide gel onto your teeth. The gel is activated using an LED light and left for 15 minutes.
After rinsing away the gel, your dentist compares your tooth shade to a chart to determine whether your desired shade has been achieved. The process can be repeated up to three times to get the results you want, and the entire procedure takes less than an hour.
At-Home Treatment With NiteWhite ACP Whitening
At Hinsdale Dental, we also offer professional-grade at-home teeth whitening kits. At-home whitening treatments are a perfect supplement to in-office whitening procedures and can be used to touch up your smile between dental visits or before a big event. They allow you to consume foods and drinks that would normally stain your teeth without worrying about losing your white smile.
NiteWhite ACP Whitening by Philips whitens teeth while you sleep. To get your at-home kit, your dentist takes a mold of your mouth to create personalized mouth trays. At home, you will apply a solution containing 10%, 16%, or 22% carbamide peroxide to the tray and wear it for 2-4 hours. Carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and removes all stains from your enamel over two weeks.
Safety and Side-Effects
Dentist-supervised teeth whitening treatments are completely safe. They do not degrade enamel or dentin. As long as you go to your dentist for treatment and advice for at-home treatment, there are no risks to your oral health.
There can be short-term side effects. The hydrogen peroxide can irritate gums and lead to short-term tooth sensitivity. Your dentist takes steps to avoid discomfort during whitening treatments. They cover your gums and lips to stop whitening gel from causing irritation. Plus, Philips Zoom! Whitening comes with post-treatment Relief ACP that reduces tooth sensitivity.
Get a Whiter Smile Today!
Whiter teeth are an appointment away with Philips Zoom! Whitening and personalized at-home NiteWhite ACP treatments. The in-office treatment only takes one hour, and at-home treatment is a short two-week commitment. These science-backed treatments are available to you at Hinsdale Dental.
Contact us with any questions about teeth whitening treatments or any other dental services. And visit our blog page to learn more about oral health.
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