Teeth whitening can provide you with a quick and affordable smile makeover. Not only can Dr. Moeckel remove accumulated stains, she can even bleach the natural pigment of your teeth so that they are whiter than they have ever been before.
Convenient Home Whitening
While Zoom whitening is popular, it is more costly than home whitening and is no more effective.
Home whitening involves the daily application of powerful peroxide solution via custom-fit whitening trays. Over the course of several days, stains are gently lifted from enamel. With professional teeth whitening, your teeth will reach a brighter shade than what they were naturally. You can also use the whitening trays for as long as you want, until you have achieved your desired level of whiteness. The longer you go, the whiter your teeth will be.
The Whitening Procedure
We will begin by taking an impression of your teeth and making a plaster model. This will allow us to fabricate clear plastic trays that will fit snugly over your teeth. Then we will give you whitening gel to take home. You’ll apply the whitening gel inside the trays and wear the trays either for a certain period of time each day or overnight. When you remove the trays, rinse your teeth. Repeat this for at least a couple of weeks, or until your teeth are as white as you would like them.
Over-the-Counter Products
Many people try to brighten up their smile with whitening toothpaste. The problem with this is that stains are embedded below the surface. The only way to reach them is through the absorption of a bleaching agent. Whitening toothpaste cannot accomplish this because it isn’t on the teeth long enough to penetrate the enamel. It is formulated to polish enamel and remove surface stains only. Other whitening products, such as strips, tend to be too low in their concentration of bleaching agents to produce dramatic results. Other over-the-counter whitening products actually will etch the surface of the teeth making them more susceptible to staining.
See an Expert Cosmetic Dentist for a Bright, Beautiful Smile
Dr. Moeckel has advanced training in cosmetic dentistry. Her expertise in the various cosmetic dental treatments is beneficial because she has the ability to recognize what whitening can do and what it can’t. Not every instance of staining or discoloration will respond well to teeth whitening. For instance, spotty, uneven staining can’t be solved with whitening, but would require either dental bonding or porcelain veneers.
Your La Jolla cosmetic dentist will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the most appropriate solution to discoloration. To learn more about teeth whitening, call (858) 452-1504.