Are yellow teeth making you feel less confident? Do you have tooth stains that make your smile look bad?
One of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures in Knoxville is teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is often done for special events such as weddings, graduations and job interviews. This relatively inexpensive procedure delivers noticeable results in a short period of time.
Professional teeth whitening is an excellent option for practically anyone who wants to improve the appearance of their smile. We often combine cosmetic and restorative dental procedures with teeth whitening for optimal results.
Dr. Pamela Cain offers teeth whitening in Knoxville TN. Our office uses professional-grade bleaching gel that is administered at home using a custom-made bleaching tray. The bleaching trays can be worn either during the day or overnight.
Your dentist will tell you exactly how long and when you should wear them. Depending on the state of your oral health, you may start seeing results within a couple of days.
Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is far superior to the over the counter treatments sold at drug stores. The store-bout options are a “one size fits all” solution, where bleaching strips or trays are not designed to fit the patient’s teeth comfortably and precisely. Ill-fitting trays or strips can cause inconsistent bleaching, gum irritation and damage to your tooth enamel.
Our teeth naturally darken as we age. Other factors that cause our teeth to become dull and discolored are dark foods and beverages such as coffee and wine, tobacco use, certain medications and family history. Having a whiter brighter smile can boost your confidence, make you more attractive and give you a younger appearance.
Alternatives to Tooth Whitening Kits
As mentioned above, there are many factors that contribute to tooth discoloration. Sometimes those external factors cause issues that whitening kits can not fix. For example, deep white spots on teeth are sometimes not responsive to teeth whitening kits. For issues like these, we recommend alternative treatments.
These treatments can include:
Dental Crowns: If your tooth discoloration is due to decay, we can repair and protect your tooth with a crown. A crown covers the top and sides of a tooth.
Tooth Bonding: This treatment is an economical alternative for teeth whitening. Perfect if you have a single troubled tooth, or just a few yellow teeth. You can avoid getting a complete teeth whitening system if you are having issues with just one or two teeth.
Porcelain Veneers: A dental veneer can also help fix a single discolored tooth. A thin shell is placed over the front of a tooth to cover the imperfection. Although not as economical as tooth bonding, it can still be an effective alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening
How does your in-office procedure work?
For our in-office procedure, we will first place a protective covering on the lips and gums. We then apply a bleaching gel onto the teeth. We use a special light to activate the bleaching gel, which then lifts the stains. The entire procedure takes between one and two hours and in some cases, can brighten teeth by multiple shades.
Do you have a take-home alternative?
We do! With this option, we create a set of trays and send them home with you, along with a bleaching gel. At home, you will fill the trays with gel and wear them daily for the amount of time the doctor recommends, typically between one and two hours. The total course of treatment takes about a week or up to 10 days.
What can I do to keep my smile bright?
You can keep the tray and gel for touch ups down the road. However, to keep your smile bright you also need to floss each night and brush your teeth twice a day. We also suggest seeing us for a routine dental cleaning every six months.
Should I avoid certain foods and drinks?
We suggest cutting back on drinks with dark pigments (think coffee, tea, soda) and avoiding foods high in sugar, as these can promote plaque buildup (and plaque can make stains more apparent). If you have any questions about preventing teeth stains or removing them, then please contact our office today.
Schedule A Tooth Whitening Appointment Today
Find out how you can get a whiter, brighter smile in just a few weeks! Contact us to request an appointment with Dr. Pamela Cain. She serves as a general, cosmetic and restorative dentist to patients in the Knoxville, TN area. We welcome new patients of all ages and surrounding communities.
Call our dental care team to schedule your visit to our Knoxville dentist office, or you can request an appointment online.
