The color of your enamel has a large impact on your smile. The natural color on the surface of your tooth can change due to the foods that you eat and the lifestyle that you lead. If you are looking for a way to enhance the beauty of your smile, professional tooth whitening is a non-invasive procedure that provides you with a bright, white smile once again.

Whitening at Home or the Dental Office?

Dr. Whipple does not recommend using whitening toothpastes because they are highly abrasive. Whitening toothpastes wear down enamel that you will not get back. If you want a cost effective way to whiten teeth, use the over the counter whitening strips. They will take longer than a professional in-office whitening, but are safer for your teeth compared to teeth whitening toothpastes.

Before you have professional whitening performed, it is important to have an evaluation to determine if your teeth will respond well to the treatment. Some discoloration does not respond to tooth whitening, especially teeth with a gray color. Some other hues, such as severely brown teeth also might not respond. At your evaluation we can tell you the likelihood of success in order to provide you with the best treatment option to enhance your smile. We will also help you discover additional tooth restoration procedures that can help fillings and crowns that may be discolored, but will not be affected by the bleaching process.

Why Choose Teeth Whitening?

There are many reasons that patients suddenly become unhappy with the color of their enamel. Some patients experience normal wear and tear simply from eating and drinking. Certain foods, such as those with an acidic nature, tea, coffee and red wine are known to discolor teeth and can speed along the process of discoloration. In addition, medication, smoking and not consuming a healthy diet can also diminish the healthy enamel on your teeth. In some cases, excessive fluoridation occurs, which is not within your control, it occurs during normal tooth development. Regardless of the reason, our staff can evaluate your circumstances and help you find the proper solution.

The Teeth Whitening Process

Teeth whitening in the office is non-invasive and has no recovery period. It does require you to come in for two appointments; one to create the impressions in order to create the plastic trays that fit perfectly to your teeth. The second appointment is for you to try the trays in your mouth. Dr. Richard A. Whipple will make any adjustments to the trays before you take them home to ensure a tight fit. Once you are properly fitted, you will wear the trays either twice a day for 30 minutes at a time or overnight, depending on the degree of whitening that needs to be performed. The process can last for up to 2 weeks. We will provide you with the instructions that are specific to your case in order to provide you with the desired level of whitening.

We will give you detailed instructions on how to wear the plastic trays as well as how to clean them to ensure proper oral health during this process. You might feel a little sensitivity in your teeth during and after the process, which is normal. After your teeth are whitened, we encourage you to maintain a healthy diet and keep your regular appointments with us to ensure that your whitening lasts for as long as possible. Teeth whitening is not permanent; it may need to be touched up once a year or more frequently if you smoke or drink excessively. We will help you discover how to maintain your new white, smile to allow it to last as long as possible.

Please contact us if you have any questions about our teeth whitening services.