Teeth Whitening – Is It Worth It?

Teeth whitening is one of the most common cosmetic dentistry procedures performed at Forster Dental Centre. It will brighten your smile and self-confidence!

One of the most common dental procedures is teeth whitening. The goal of the procedure is to improve the visible look of your teeth by removing staining and other forms of discoloration.

Teeth can be stained in a variety of ways but are most commonly yellowed from smoking and excessive consumption of dark-coloured liquids including coffee, tea, cola and red wine. Your teeth can also turn yellow from poor dental habits as well as through your inherited genetics.

Whitening Teeth – A Common Cosmetic Dentistry Procedure

The enamel outer coating on teeth shows the colour of dentin, the part of each tooth that is white. Genetics play a huge role in the thickness and smoothness of your tooth enamel. Light reflected off the enamel essentially creates the brighter or duller white visual of dentin.

Enamel is porous which is why dark-coloured liquids have a lot to do with creating stains. In addition, a thin coating of pellicle forms on tooth enamel daily and it can be stained.

Proper dental care in the form of regular brushing and flossing can be your best defense in fighting teeth staining, but a teeth whitening procedure can help you even more. Teeth whitening can be conducted in the dental office by your dentist, or as a do-it-yourself at home procedure, and may require more than one treatment depending on the intensity of the staining.

Either way, it is not difficult to do and the benefits are many.

How to Whiten Your Teeth? Ask Forster Dental Centre

When it comes to this form of cosmetic dentistry there are a few things to keep in mind. For example, this procedure will not work on various dental implants such as ceramic or porcelain crowns or veneers. The whitening solution is designed to penetrate the porous enamel surface of natural teeth.

Also, whitening is not recommended if you have any form of tooth decay including receding gums. The reason for this is that it may result in tooth sensitivity. To be sure if this is the correct cosmetic dentistry procedure for you, schedule an appointment today with us at Forster Dental Centre.

Professional Teeth Whitening vs. DIY Teeth Whitening

The choice is yours to make but let’s take a look at the difference between the two ways the procedure can be done. The professional route will involve at least one visit to the dentist office. It is not uncommon for the dentist to photograph your teeth in order to monitor the progress being made with the teeth whitening treatment. This will be part of an examination and questions related to how your teeth became stained and your reasons for the whitening. The procedure will begin once your teeth have had a thorough cleaning which will prepare them for the whitening process.

An at-home procedure uses trays that are moulded to fit your teeth precisely. The whitening gel is applied to the trays that you ‘bite down’ on in order to have it make contact with your teeth. The trays can be made at the dentist office or you can opt for over-the-counter kits. These kits contain trays for the whitening gel or a number of whitening strips that you stick to your teeth. Home methods usually require two to three weeks of daily applications to be effective. Overuse may cause damage to your teeth so it is important to follow printed directions exactly.

Your Dentist Can Help You Decide How to Whiten Your Teeth

There are ways to remove the yellow stains that can form on teeth over time. Proper oral hygiene is key to keeping your smile healthy and bright but your dentist has various cosmetic dentistry methods that can help you when brushing and flossing is not enough to remove the discoloration.

To be sure if you are a candidate for teeth whitening, seek the advice of our professional dentists and dental hygienists at Forster Dental Centre by scheduling an appointment on (02) 6555 5554.

Forster dentist is also serving local communities in Tuncurry, Pacific Palms, Smiths Lake, Hallidays Point, Failford, Old Bar, Nabiac, Taree, Manning Valley, Bulahdelah, Harrington and Great Lakes.