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10 Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening

Whitening your teeth is easy with Nikki GreenWe meet a lot of patients at Fort Worth Cosmetic and Family Dental who have stained or discolored teeth, and would like to make their smile whiter. Patients often ask Dr. Nikki Green her opinion about the best whitening toothpaste or whitening strips at the drugstore, so they can perform the whitening treatment on their own.

Dr. Green tells all of these patients the same thing: There is no substitute for a professional whitening treatment. You may find plenty of products available at the store, and some of them may actually work, but they will not achieve the amazing results Dr. Green can provide with a professional whitening treatment.

To learn more about professional whitening treatments from Dr. Green, or to schedule an appointment, call our Ft. Worth, TX, dental office today.

Advantages of Professional Whitening

Dr. Green believes a professional whitening treatment offers several benefits that you cannot get from an over-the-counter product. These benefits include:

A Thorough Whitening

Whitening treatments bought at the drugstore typically come in one size and strength to fit all types of teeth. Unfortunately, when it comes to dental work, every patient has different needs. The whitening trays and strips found at your local drugstore may provide good results on one patient’s teeth, while providing another with only a partial whitening. This can result in uneven results, with some teeth appearing perfectly white, while others still show stains.

During a professional whitening treatment, Dr. Green will apply a whitening gel evenly to each tooth, activating the gel with a special curing lamp, so your entire smile retains the same level of brightness.

Professional Strength

The whitening products sold in stores contain a small amount of whitening agent, usually around 3 percent peroxide, which may provide results for patients who have light stains on their teeth, but may not do much for those with severe or intrinsic stains. Most over-the-counter products will provide results one to two shades brighter.

The whitening gel Dr. Green uses comes in a professional strength only available to dentists, with up to 35 percent peroxide strength. The gel can penetrate the enamel of your teeth, removing stubborn stains the store-bought kits cannot touch. Our professional treatment can whiten your teeth by up to ten shades in just one visit.

Quick Treatment

The whitening products you buy at your local pharmacy may help you attain brighter teeth, but you may need to use them for weeks, or even months before you see noticeable results. With some products, you may not ever see the results you desire.

Dr. Green uses the Zoom! Whitening system for professional whitening treatments in our office. The treatment time for an in-office whitening usually lasts about an hour, and can produce results up to ten shades brighter in that short time.

Comfortable Treatment

Many patients who have used over-the-counter whitening treatments have reported pain and sensitivity of the teeth while using the products. This can result from hydrogen ions penetrating the surface of the teeth or the whitening agent making contact with the lips or gums due to incorrectly sized trays or strips.

During a whitening treatment in our office, Dr. Green will place a protective covering over your gums to prevent contact with the whitening agent. She will often suggest a fluoride treatment afterwards to help cut down on sensitivity in your teeth. The take-home kits she provides come with a gel thick enough to remain in the trays and not leak out.

Designed Especially for You

Most whitening treatments, especially trays and strips, are sold as one-size-fits-all. In reality, these rarely fit the majority of users, because each person’s smile comes in a different size and shape. Ill-fitting trays and strips are the biggest reason patients experience uneven whitening and sensitivity in the teeth and gums.

For the in-office whitening treatment, Dr. Green paints the gel onto each tooth, providing even coverage of all teeth. When patients choose to use the Zoom! take home whitening treatment for maintenance, or to provide a couple more shades of brightness to their smile, the doctor creates a custom-fit tray for them, based on impressions she takes of their teeth. These custom trays provide uniform application of the whitening treatment, and protect the lips and gums from making contact with the gel.

Pick Your Shade

When you purchase a whitening treatment at the store, you have no control over how much whiter your teeth will become. The treatments typically provide different results for each user.

The Zoom! treatment comes in several strengths, allowing Dr. Green to customize the level of whitening each patient receives. Patients simply need to let the doctor know if they want to go just a shade or two brighter or have the whitest teeth imaginable, and she can adjust the strength of the whitening agent, providing the desired results.

Expert Information

One of the biggest advantages to a professional whitening treatment comes from the knowledge the doctor possesses about teeth staining. Dr. Green will begin your whitening treatment by performing an exam of your teeth to try and determine the cause of the stains.

The doctor mostly sees extrinsic stains, those that appear on the outside of the teeth caused by the food and beverages we consume, as well as lifestyle choices and other environmental factors. Sometimes, however, she finds that a patient has intrinsic stains, which emanate from inside the teeth. These stains prove very hard to remove, and may not even respond to professional treatment.

Occasionally, your discolored teeth may indicate another issue. Teeth that appear darker than normal may signify tooth decay or a problem with a root canal. Dr. Green can identify these issues when you come in for a whitening treatment and repair the tooth, rather than masking the problem with a whitening treatment.

Long-Lasting Results

Unlike store-bought whitening treatments, a professional whitening treatment from Dr. Green typically provides results that last a long time. The doctor can also provide you with a take-home maintenance kit. This kit may include custom-fit trays and whitening gel to use at home, especially if you would like to see your teeth another shade or two brighter. For patients satisfied with their shade after treatment, the doctor may provide a whitening pen to perform small touch-ups when needed.

The Safest Option

While a whitening treatment does not typically present safety concerns for most patients, whether performed in our office or at home, Dr. Green provides treatment in a safe environment, and can help right away if you experience issues with extreme sensitivity or other discomfort.

The doctor can advise you if the discoloration of your teeth results from an underlying factor that will not respond to whitening treatment. This will save you from continuing to try for impossible results and harming your teeth, excessive whitening can cause dental damage.

Smile with Confidence

Patients with yellowed or stained smiles tend to smile with their mouth closed, leading others to perceive them as unfriendly or lacking in self-esteem. Having your teeth professionally whitened will encourage you to present your best smile to the world, resulting in increased confidence. Patients find this increase in confidence helps them become more outgoing, and they generally perform better in job interviews and have better dates after having their teeth whitened.

Call Us Today

People generally perceive those with bright, white teeth as healthier, friendlier, and more successful. Why leave the brightness of your smile to chance, when you can attend a whitening treatment with Dr. Green and walk out with a smile up to ten shades brighter? To find out more about our whitening treatment, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Green, call our Ft. Worth dental office today.

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