Teeth Whitening
Brighten Your Smile up to Ten Shades
A brighter smile is on almost every patient’s wish list, and if you want to see brilliant white teeth, we can help you achieve your desired results. If you’ve used every whitening product on the oral healthcare aisle at the local pharmacy, it’s time to try professional solutions. To get started, call Charlottesville or Crozet Blue Ridge Dental to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation. We’ll examine your teeth and help you create a treatment plan to deliver the flawless white smile you desire.
Causes of Dental Discoloration
As part of your teeth whitening treatment plan, we’ll begin by trying to determine the underlying causes of your dental discoloration during your cosmetic dentistry consultation. Some of the main causes of dental staining include:
- Consuming dark colored foods and drinks
- Using tobacco products
- Dental wear that causes diminished enamel density revealing the yellow dentin layer
- Genetic predisposition to have darker tooth enamel
- Use of certain medications during dental development
- Overconsumption of fluoride during dental development
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening delivers teeth up to ten shades brighter. We can usually complete this treatment in just an hour. We protect soft tissue using shields. Then, the whitening gel is applied to teeth. After about 20 minutes, we’ll remove the whitening gel and check your progress. In most cases, patients need two to three applications of whitening gel to deliver the desired results.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
We can also provide customized take-home whitening kits to deliver the same results gradually over the course of about two weeks of short, daily applications. Your at-home teeth whitening kit will include a customized application tray that fits snuggly against teeth keeping whitening gel in place. We also offer the same professional grade whitening gel utilized during in-office teeth whitening. These kits are great for gradual teeth whitening, delivering results for patients with dental sensitivity, and touching up the results of your in-office teeth whitening.
Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
There are many benefits to professional teeth whitening, including:
- Safety and comfort – your dentist will guide you through every step of the process to ensure your comfort and protect your smile from potential damage
- Predictable results – because we customize the whitening plan to address your unique needs, you know you’ll see the brighter white smile you desire
- Improved oral health – those who are proud of their smiles are more likely to work hard to keep them looking great, so this may lead to improve oral health
Maintaining Your Results
To keep your smile looking great, you should limit consumption of dark foods and beverages, and stop using tobacco products. You should also take care to brush teeth twice a day and visit our office every six months to maintain the optimal level oral health and your white smile. Over time, teeth may still begin to discolor, and we’ll be happy to provide a take-home teeth whitening kit for touch ups.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Teeth whitening in Charlottesville is an excellent way to brighten your smile up to ten shades. However, it’s natural to have some questions before you’re ready to commit to improving your pearly whites. Don’t worry—we’ll take the time to explain the entire process to you and address your concerns during your initial consultation. In the meantime, here are a few common questions we get about this popular treatment so you can learn more.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
During the teeth whitening process, the bleaching agents will temporarily weaken your enamel in order to lift deep-seated stains in your teeth. However, this won’t last forever. After just a few days, your enamel will regain its original strength. When applied by an experienced Charlottesville cosmetic dentist, whitening treatments are completely safe and won’t damage your enamel.
Do Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments Cause Tooth Sensitivity?
Store-bought whitening kids are notorious for causing painful tooth sensitivity and gum irritation while only achieving subpar results. However, professional teeth whitening treatments provide a much more comfortable and reliable whitening experience. The high-quality whitening gels we use are specially formulated to minimize dental sensitivity. We’ll also use protective rubber dams or custom-made whitening trays to ensure your gums are safe throughout your treatment.
How Long Will My Teeth Whitening Results Last?
Your teeth whitening results have the potential to last for many years to come if you take care of them. Thankfully, a few simple healthy habits can help keep your pearly whites sparkling for a long time, like:
- Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day.
- Flossing daily and rinsing with fluoridated mouthwash regularly.
- Limiting your consumption of staining foods and drinks.
- Refraining from smoking or chewing tobacco.
- Visiting your dentist twice a year for routine checkups.
Am I a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Almost everyone can benefit from a professional teeth whitening treatment. However, restorations like fillings, crowns, and veneers won’t be affected by your whitening treatment. If they look out of place after your treatment, you can have them replaced to match the new color of your smile. Additionally, stains that are caused by overexposure to fluoride in childhood, certain antibiotics, and injury to the inside of a tooth typically don’t respond well to teeth whitening treatments. Instead, we may recommend cosmetic dental bonding or porcelain veneers to help you achieve the results you’re looking for.
How Much Does Professional Teeth Whitening Cost?
Since every patients’ needs are slightly different, there isn’t a set price for teeth whitening treatments. During your initial consultation, we’ll be able to provide you with a personal estimate and review your payment options. Alongside traditional methods, we offer third-party financing options through CareCredit. This will let you break up the cost of your treatment into smaller payments that fit into your monthly budget.
It’s never been easier to get a beautiful, dazzling smile. Give us a call today to schedule your consultation and discover if teeth whitening is right for you!