Bringing Out Your Very Best Smile
If you'd like to smile more confidently, knowing your teeth are their
whitest and brightest, you might want to consider dentist-supervised tooth
whitening. Teeth whitening is a safe, effective, and lasting way to lighten
most people's smiles, available in a wide variety of methods and concentrations
for various kinds of teeth. Simply talk with Dr. Holland regarding the
criteria for best results, how whitening could impact your particular
situation, and which procedure will best suit your needs. Whitening treatments
are most successful in removing yellow, brown, or orange tinges resulting
from age, coffee, tea, or smoking. However, dark gray tones from fluorosis,
smoking or tetracycline use, often will not whiten as dramatically; artificial
materials such as silicants or porcelains do not whiten at all. Finally,
sensitive teeth, teeth with periodontal disease, and teeth with worn enamel
typically do not respond well to whitening.
There are two primary methods of whitening: high-powered in-office whitening,
and supervised at-home whitening. In-office techniques often make use
of a light-activated gel application, require as little as one to two
hours, and can improve color by up to 8 shades. Less expensive supervised
at-home methods require a couple of appointments for taking an impression,
fitting your customized whitening appliance, and providing detailed instructions.
They produce results via daily sessions over one or more weeks of wear
and may whiten teeth about 4 to 6 shades as seen on the dentist's shade
scale. In any case, you can best preserve your new, brighter smile by
limiting habits such as smoking, drinking coffee, and drinking tea.
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