Over time, our teeth can begin to look yellow or develop stains. If a person drinks red wine or coffee or if they smoke cigarettes the stains can be even worse. If you have stains on your teeth that you cannot remove with a simple brushing or with a cleaning at the dentist, you should consider professional teeth whitening treatment.
How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?
The teeth whitening process is relatively simple. The dentist applies the whitening solution to the teeth and then uses a special ultra-violet UV light to activate the whitening agent. When the patient leaves the office, they are given a whitening tray and a gel so they can continue the treatment at home. Unfortunately, everyone is not a candidate for teeth whitening treatments. There are certain dental conditions that would make a person a poor candidate for the treatment.
Receding Gums
When a person has receding gums, professional teeth whitening may not be advisable. A teeth whitening treatment can exacerbate the condition.
Exposed or Highly Sensitive Root Surfaces
If a person has very sensitive teeth, the whitening process can be very painful. Also, a professional teeth whitening treatment could increase the level of sensitivity. While the treatment can make the teeth look better, it can make the patient feel worse.
Crowns, Partial Bridges, or Veneers
If a person suffered from tooth decay, tooth loss, or they have crowns, partial bridges, or veneers, teeth whitening won’t improve the appearance of their smile. The individual’s natural teeth will respond to the whitening; however, the false teeth won’t. This can leave the individual with different colored teeth, which would only make their smile look worse.
Cavities
A person with cavities shouldn’t have their teeth whitened. The cavities can become worse and the professional teeth whitening process can be painful. Most dentists won’t do a tooth whitening treatment until the patient has had a comprehensive exam and any problems have been treated or corrected.
Deep Set Stains
For a person with deeply set stains on their teeth, the teeth whitening treatment may not work. If this is the case, the dentist can go over other potential treatments, such as porcelain veneers.
There are many people who are excellent candidates for professional teeth whitening treatments and there are others who aren’t. If you want to find out if you are a candidate for the treatment, you should visit Pearland Family Dentist Office. Their dental staff will examine the options for you and recommend a treatment plan with the correct process. Pearland Family Dentistry has an experienced and knowledgeable staff who will help you set up a schedule to get back your smile, sooner rather than later. Call (832) 649-7344 and schedule an appointment or use the convenient online schedule form.