Is Teeth Whitening Right for You?
Created on May 30, 2018
Teeth whitening treatment was one of the most significant advances in dentistry in the 21st century. Most people don’t realize that the human race had been working on viable teeth-whitening strategies for centuries before we had the safe and effective method we do today. What is widely known is that we love to see radiance in other people’s smiles, which means we’d also like to have that for ourselves. Surveys have indicated that about 80% of people would like a brighter smile. We don’t just want our smile to shine brightly; we take action to make that dream a reality.
Patients of Taylor Street Dental in Springfield, MA can get a vibrant smile in about an hour if they choose to have their teeth whitened in the dental office. Another common option for teeth whitening is to gradually remove discoloration in a home-whitening process that takes a few weeks. One treatment is not better than the other, just faster. In either situation, though, it is necessary to answer a few questions to ensure that teeth whitening will achieve the intended outcome.
Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me?
This is the ultimate question that needs to be answered. We can help you determine the merit of teeth whitening by conducting a thorough consultation and examination of your teeth. Before scheduling your visit, consider smaller questions that relate to this larger one.
Will Teeth Whitening Work on My Teeth?
One of the first things we do when observing teeth for whitening treatment is assess the type of staining that has occurred. There are a few different ways that stains may appear on teeth. The most common, and the one that can be resolved with teeth whitening, is the settling of microscopic particles in the uppermost layer of enamel. Even when you brush every day, a certain amount of debris can become trapped in the pores in enamel. During teeth whitening treatment, the bleaching agent breaks up this debris, leading to whiter teeth.
Less common ways that teeth may look darker and stained include naturally-thin enamel, injury, and internal staining. When enamel is thin, the dentin that lies beneath shows through. This material is darker and somewhat yellow, so creates discoloration. Tooth injuries that damage the root or nerves may cause the tooth to change color. Internal staining often occurs early in life when teeth are still developing. A common form of internal staining is tetracycline use.
Stains that cannot be lifted with professional whitening can be disguised with bonding or porcelain veneers, so don’t count yourself out of having a great smile even if teeth whitening isn’t right for you.
Take a leap toward your best smile. Call (413) 781-7645 to schedule your teeth-whitening consultation.
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