Teeth Whitening Options

Perhaps you have a special occasion coming up…. a wedding, a big sales presentation, or a job interview. Or perhaps you’ve simply become unhappy with the smile you see in the mirror every morning. Whatever the reason, tooth whitening is one of the fastest ways to brighten your smile. In fact, teeth whitening is the number one cosmetic dental treatment in the country today.

Teeth whitening can be safe and effective – lasting up to several years – provided it is done properly. While there are numerous teeth whitening products that can be purchased at your local pharmacy or grocery store, the safest and most effective method is dentist-supervised.

Is Whitening for You?
Generally, whitening is successful in at least 90 percent of patients, though it may not be an option for everyone. Here are some factors to consider:

Teeth whitening is most effective for teeth that are darkened from age, coffee, tea or smoking.
Teeth darkened with the color of yellow, brown or orange respond better to lightening.
Other types of gray stains caused by fluorosis, smoking or tetracycline are lightened, but results are not as dramatic.
If you have very sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, or teeth with worn enamel, your dentist may discourage whitening.
Williamsburg Dental offers a complimentary consultation to determine whether you are a candidate for tooth whitening and what type of whitening system would provide the best results.

zoom One-Hour Teeth Whitening System (Zoom!)
Williamsburg Dental is proud to offer ZOOM!®, an in-office, one-hour teeth whitening system. ZOOM! is fast, highly effective and very safe. In fact, it has been clinically proven to whiten teeth an average of 8 or more shades (sometimes as much as 12 shades).

Here’s How Zoom! Works:

We first determine the shade of your teeth currently, using a special shade guide which shows 20 or more shades of tooth color.
A guard is put in your mouth to protect your lips, cheeks and tongue, allowing full exposure of your teeth.
A clear gel is painted on your teeth and a special light which activates the whitening ingredient in the gel is placed close to your mouth for 15 minutes. During this process, you can relax and watch television or listen to music.
This process is repeated two or three times until the desired shade is achieved.
One hour later you will leave our office with a brilliant white smile!

Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
Take home teeth whitening kits are an excellent alternative to the one-hour teeth whitening systems for patients who are looking for a more economical alternative and have the time and discipline required for optimal results.

Here’s how the process works: Your dentist or hygienist will make impressions of your teeth to fabricate a mouthguard appliance (sometimes called “trays”) for you. The trays are custom made for your mouth and are lightweight so that it can be worn comfortably while you are awake or sleeping. The trays are so thin that you should even be able to talk and work while wearing it. In addition, you'll receive the whitening gel that will be applied on the trays. You'll be given instructions on how and when to wear the trays.
In most cases, you will be able to wear your trays 30 minutes a day for 8 – 10 days. But since each patient is different, your WD dentist or hygienist will monitor your progress and customize your instructions according.

How Long do the Results Last?
Lightness can last from one to five years, depending on your personal habits such as smoking and drinking coffee and tea. If you feel as though your teeth are losing their brightness, you may choose to do a touch up. This procedure may not be as costly because you can probably still use the same trays. The retreatment time also is much shorter than the original treatment time.

Is it Safe? Are There any Side Effects?
Several studies, during the past five years, have proven whitening to be safe and effective. The American Dental Association has granted its seal of approval to several tooth whitening products that are offered by dentists. Some patients may experience slight gum irritation or tooth sensitivity, which will resolve when the treatment ends.

What are Realistic Expectations?
No one can really predict how much lighter your teeth will become. Every case is different. Typically, there is a two-shade improvement as seen on a dentist's shade guide. The success rate depends upon the type of stain involved and your compliance. Whitening can only provide a shift in color from gray to a lighter shade of gray, for example. And please keep in mind that whitening does not lighten artificial materials such as resins, silicants, or porcelains.

To Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation, please call our office at 610-353-2700.