Teeth Whitening

Brushing and flossing daily, and visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleanings can help provide an attractive smile. However, you can go beyond that and whiten your smile in one dentist appointment, using a home whitening system or using whitening toothpaste.

Your dentist may recommend a whitening procedure that can be done in the office. Also called chair-side whitening, it may require one or more visits, with each visit lasting 60 to 90 minutes. During this procedure, the dentist applies a protective gel to your gums to shield soft oral tissues. A whitening agent is then applied to your teeth. Dr. Seznik uses in-office whitening agents with the ADA Seal of Acceptance to assure you that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.

There are several products available for at-home whitening procedures. Ask your dentist what is best for you. Whitening solutions that contain peroxides bleach the tooth enamel. Recommended usage may be twice daily for two weeks, or overnight for one to two weeks. These whiteners typically come in a gel that you place in a mouthguard or tray custom-molded to fit your teeth exactly. Your teeth may become sensitive during treatment, but this should go away when treatment is complete. Your gums may get irritated if they come in contact with the gel or if you have a tray that does not fit correctly. Talk to your dentist if these side-effects become bothersome.

Toothpastes remove surface stains with mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes with the ADA Seal of Acceptance have chemical or polishing agents that provide even more stain removal effectiveness. Unlike whitening solutions, toothpastes clean but do not change the intrinsic color of your teeth.

Bonding

Bonding is a relatively inexpensive way to repair chipped, discolored or crooked teeth. In dental bonding, a white filling is applied to your tooth. Available in a variety of tooth-colored shades that can match the natural color of your teeth, the filling "bonds" with your teeth. Tooth bonding maycan be used for tooth fillings instead of traditional silver amalgam, particularly when patients want a less-noticeable filling.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers can be a great solution for teeth that are stained, crooked or badly shaped. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made with tooth-colored materials and are designed to cover the front side of teeth. The dentist makes impressions of your teeth and sends them to a lab where the veneers are made. Applying veneers is usually irreversible because a small amount of enamel must be removed from your teeth to accommodate the shell. Your dentist may recommend that you avoid certain foods that may stain or discolor your veneers, such as coffe, tea or red wine. Veneers may also chip or fracture but, for many patients, the positive results far outweigh the negatives of veneers.