At Lakeside Dental in Moses Lake, we offer professional strength teeth whitening options that help you enjoy a beautiful, confident smile. Even if you grew up with white teeth, our enamel gradually collects stain over the years from the foods and drinks we enjoy. Certain medications can also cause tooth staining. Professional treatments are a fast and effective way to restore your natural glow or enjoy the whiter smile that you never had.
If you’re considering cosmetic dental treatments or a smile makeover, teeth whitening is a great place to start. Plus, it’s an extremely affordable way to make a huge impact on your appearance as a whole.
There are a number of different reasons and situations where a person might want to whiten his or her smile. Here are some of the most common ones:
While there are a lot of reasons why you can decide to whiten your teeth, the biggest factor is finally asking our dentists about how to get started. You’ll wish it was something you had done years before!
Most people who are starting to think about teeth whitening have already begun looking online or at the grocery store to see what’s available. There are plenty of DIY and take-home kits that can be purchased these days, but do they really work? The answer is “sort of,” but never as good as what you can get from our cosmetic dentists in Moses Lake.
Why is this? Because over the counter whitening solutions are weaker and less concentrated. Yes, they can slightly lighten the color of your teeth, but it takes longer and the results are far less effective.
Instead, we can help you whiten your smile by several shades in the least time necessary. The results are also easier to maintain, making this option far more cost-effective. By the time you’ve purchased two or three kits at a store (and only gotten half of the results), you could have had your teeth professionally whitened!
Depending on your situation, there are generally two types of whitening treatments to choose from: in-office treatments and take-home whitening trays.
With an in-office session, we whiten your teeth in just one appointment that’s about an hour to hour and a half long. The whitening solution is applied to your teeth and accelerated with a bright light. We re-apply the solution a few times until the desired results are achieved.
Take-home whitening options get your teeth just as white but in the comfort of your own home. Just wear your whitening trays filled with gel for about an hour a day, for 10-14 days. When you want to touch up, all you need is a tube of our prescription strength gel.
How can you make sure that your teeth respond the best way possible to your teeth whitening treatment?
Before you start your whitening treatment, we will use a shade guide to record the current color of your enamel. After treatment, we’ll record your new shade. You can see for yourself just how well a professional teeth whitening option works at our dental office.
Some people find that whitening their teeth can cause tooth sensitivity. Our dentists recommend using a sensitivity formulated toothpaste for at least one or two weeks leading up to your whitening treatment and during the entire course of whitening. This helps to protect sensitive nerve endings so that you don’t have to worry as much about this common side effect.
Exposed root surfaces are another reason why you might have sensitive teeth. When you whiten, it’s important to not have the whitening product come into contact with these areas. The roots of your teeth will not change color and they are very tender when it comes to external stimuli. If these areas are an aesthetic concern, we may want to consider covering them with dental bonding, a white filling, or gingival graft.
Whitening is safe for adults and teens with healthy teeth and gums. Before you start any kind of a tooth whitening treatment, we’ll need to make sure your smile is free of disease or decay.
If you’ve been thinking about whitening your teeth, just ask! Your checkup is a great time to start. We can even fit you for custom whitening trays the same day if you’re ready to get started. Call us today!