Teeth Whitening and Bleaching Teeth.
We are all individuals and we all have individual smiles including the shape, number, position and colour of our teeth. If any aesthetic aspect of your smile concerns you, there may be options available to you. One very commonly asked question is “how can I whiten my teeth?”, so if this is you, you are not alone!
The first step is to have a consult. We are happy to hear any concerns that you have with your oral condition and we are here to provide advice and assistance if we can. At a consult we will determine your expectations and what is achievable. There is no obligation or pressure to pursue treatment. In purely aesthetic cases you are always in control.
Aesthetic options available to restore teeth include bleaching, restoration, direct veneers or indirect prosthodontic restoration.
External Bleaching:
We do not offer in office bleaching treatments. If you decide after your consult that you may benefit from generalised bleaching of your teeth, we will take some impressions to be able to fabricate your custom made close fitting bleach trays. The method we prefer to use employs the use of trays overnight while you sleep with a small amount of bleach adapted to the outer surface of your teeth. Results can usually start to be seen after a few weeks.
You will be advised in your consult that often this type of external bleaching can lead to increased sensitivity. This is due to the bleach having a dehydration type effect on the enamel matrix of your teeth. Depending on how sensitive your teeth are to begin with, external at-home bleaching may or may not be a recommended choice for you. Please ask us about any concerns.
Internal Bleaching:
Internal bleaching can be used effectively in certain specific cases where a single tooth has become discoloured. This is usually as result of trauma after the tooth in question has become necrotic. Internal bleaching is only performed on non-vital, root canal treated teeth but can have significant aesthetic results over a short period of time while being a simple minimally invasive procedure.
As always, the best treatment is prevention. Brushing and flossing regularly will give you the best chance to maintain a beautiful smile.