Teeth Whitening

A white smile automatically looks attractive, conveying a sense of youthfulness and it shows the person cares about their appearance. When you know your teeth look great, you’re more inclined to smile at others which can lead to people perceiving you slightly differently. Someone who smiles frequently and who seems happy and confident is more likely to be seen as a person who is warm, welcoming, and friendly. People who aren’t so confident about their appearance will frequently hide their teeth when talking with others and will tend to smile and laugh less often.

While a beautifully white smile can be a sign that you look after your dental health, even people with the most well cared for smiles and who regularly see their dentist can have yellowing teeth. Often tooth discoloration is a natural part of aging or is due to lifestyle habits, and some people have naturally darker teeth than others. If this is sounding a little familiar, then luckily, we live in an age where dental technology can provide you with the most beautiful white smile. Several different procedures can be helpful, but one of the most popular treatments is relatively straightforward and highly affordable. In case you hadn’t already guessed, it’s a professional tooth whitening treatment!

Why Whiten Professionally?

With a plethora of over-the-counter treatments readily and cheaply available, you might wonder what the advantages of whitening professionally are and whether it’s worth your while. If you care about your smile and your dental health, then it’s definitely better to see a dentist for a tooth whitening treatment because it is a dental procedure that when incorrectly used has the power to harm your teeth. Even worse, if you have any dental problems, then tooth whitening could be a painful experience. Why risk your dental health for the sake of saving a few dollars on an inferior product? Dental professionals can use higher strength whitening gels that are far more effective, providing you with a fully customized treatment that will deliver the results you desire. Seeing a dentist ensures that your tooth whitening treatment is entirely safe, so you receive a predictable, highly effective, and long-lasting treatment outcome.

Every Tooth Whitening Treatment Begins with a Checkup

Every single tooth whitening treatment here at Alexandra Sthale DDS: Smiles of Beverly Hills begins with a checkup with our dentist, Dr. Alexandra Stahle. It’s an essential part of the process because you should only ever whiten teeth that are healthy and free from cavities, and it’s important that your gums are healthy too. Dr. Stahle will carefully check your mouth for any signs of dental disease before recommending this treatment. If you do have any dental problems, then these must be treated beforehand so you can whiten safely and comfortably.

Another huge advantage of seeing a dentist for teeth whitening is that you will learn why your teeth have become discolored. Discoloration is generally due to lifestyle choices such as smoking or enjoying a good cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of red wine. However, teeth can stain because of other reasons which include tetracycline use, exposure to excess fluoride during childhood, or root canal therapy. These types of stains may require a slightly different treatment to whiten them because they are intrinsic or inside your tooth.

A Brighter and Whiter Smile Can Be Yours in a Single Appointment

Once Dr. Stahle has confirmed you are suitable for a whitening treatment, you can look forward to your teeth becoming brighter and whiter in just a single appointment. We use the Philips Zoom whitening system because it is one of the safest and most effective systems available worldwide. With this treatment, your lips and gums are fully protected before professional-strength whitening gel is carefully painted onto your teeth. A special laser light activates the whitening gel which helps it to penetrate your tooth enamel more easily and more quickly, lifting even deep-seated stains. The gel may be wiped off and reapplied several times during treatment.

Afterward, we will give you lots of instructions on how to look after your teeth and how to ensure they keep their beautiful white appearance for as long as possible. Initially. after your treatment, it’s important to avoid highly colored foods because these could stain your teeth. You generally need to avoid colored foods for the first couple of days after treatment. It’s really not that difficult because when you think about it, there are lots of tasty foods that aren’t highly colored! The effects of your treatment should last for quite some time, but eventually, your teeth will begin to darken. The longevity of your treatment largely depends on your lifestyle habits, but ensuring you keep up with a good oral hygiene routine and have your teeth professionally cleaned regularly will also help quite a bit.

How Frequently Can I Touch up the Results?

We can advise you as to how frequently you can safely whiten your smile because it’s crucial not to over-bleach your teeth. Overusing whitening products won’t make your teeth any whiter and in fact could have the opposite effect, making them appear gray and lifeless. There’s even a particular term for people who try to whiten their teeth excessively as they are called bleachorexics. For the sake of your dental health and your smile, please don’t become one of them!

Combining Teeth Whitening with Other Treatments

Teeth whitening is often extremely useful when combined with other cosmetic dental treatments. You might want to consider this option if you have aging restorations that could do with replacing. With this option, your teeth are whitened before the restorations are replaced, so they accurately match your newly brightened teeth. Treatment also works well with gum recontouring, a procedure that can rectify a gummy smile, and with adult orthodontics. The idea is to provide you with the most conservative treatments possible that will help achieve your aims and desires for a beautiful and healthy, white smile.

It is important to have reasonable expectations as to the shade that can be achieved with teeth whitening. Ideally, with any form of cosmetic dentistry, it’s best to aim for a shade that looks natural and healthy. Teeth whitening will not give you a bright, white Hollywood style smile. If this is your aim, you may be better investigating other treatments such as dental veneers that can be made in brighter and whiter porcelains known as the Hollywood shades.