Teeth Whitening services offered in Richardson, TX
Teeth whitening is a safe, effective treatment to eliminate unwanted tooth stains. At Smile Makeover in Richardson, Texas, Osama Siddiqui, DMD, offers professional teeth whitening for patients who are unhappy with the color of their teeth. Professional teeth whitening is the fastest way to brighten your smile. To learn more, call Smile Makeover or schedule an appointment online today.
Teeth Whitening Q & A
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a process that lightens the color of your teeth. Most professional teeth whitening products contain either hydrogen or carbamide peroxide to effectively brighten teeth.
The molecules in peroxide spark a chemical reaction with the stain molecules in your teeth to break up unwanted discoloration, effectively removing tooth stains.
Why do I need teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening removes discoloration from years’ worth of stains. Most people experience a gradual darkening or yellowing of their teeth as they age. This happens for several reasons, including the food you eat, the medications you take, and other lifestyle factors.
Common causes of stained teeth include:
- Coffee and tea
- Red wine
- Sauces (soy sauce, marinara, curry, etc.)
- Certain medications, like antibiotics
- Sugary sodas
- Tobacco use
- Poor oral hygiene
- Trauma
- Chemotherapy and radiation
- Genetics
The protective tooth enamel that covers your teeth helps determine the color of your teeth. If your enamel is thick, your teeth may naturally look brighter than an individual with thin enamel.
Many people have genetically thin enamel, while others experience gradual erosion from teeth grinding and age-related wear-and-tear.
Are all teeth whitening products the same?
Teeth whitening products vary widely in safety and efficacy. While over-the-counter (OTC) solutions, such as drugstore whitening strips, toothpastes, and mouth rinses, may remove minor extrinsic (surface) stains, the peroxide they contain isn’t strong enough to reach deeper.
Only professional-grade whitening treatments can remove intrinsic stains, which develop in the deeper layers of your teeth. If you want dramatic results quickly, then professional teeth whitening may be right for you.
What can I expect from teeth whitening?
There are many types of professional teeth whitening products available. The most popular form is chairside whitening.
With chairside whitening, Dr. Siddiqui places a barrier around your gums and lips before applying a peroxide-based solution to your teeth. To accelerate the whitening process, he may activate the solution with a special light.
Another popular whitening option is custom-made take-home trays. You wear your custom trays either during the day or at night until you achieve your desired results. Take-home trays offer professional results without chairside treatment.
To learn more about teeth whitening, call Smile Makeover or schedule an appointment online today.