A brighter smile can boost your confidence and improve your quality of life. At Miller Center Dental, we use our expertise to blend the art and science of dentistry, helping you achieve teeth that look great and stay healthy.
If your teeth look dull, discolored, or stained, there is hope. Modern cosmetic dentistry makes it possible for you to enjoy a brighter smile. Our teeth whitening treatments can quickly and noticeably lighten your teeth.
You can trust us with your smile. We use the latest professional-strength whitening systems to make your teeth several shades lighter, brighter, and more vibrant after your treatment.
We want every patient to enjoy good oral health and a great-looking smile. That’s why we personalize our treatments to fit your needs and expectations.
After we examine your smile and decide if teeth whitening is right for you, we’ll suggest the best in-office treatment or a take-home kit to help you reach your goals.
The whiteness of your teeth depends on how they reflect and scatter light. Stains on the outside of teeth often come from foods, drinks, or tobacco. Discoloration inside the tooth can be caused by genetics, medications, tooth decay, dental work, or injury. As we age, the enamel gets thinner, making the yellow layer underneath more visible.
Teeth whitening, or bleaching, means any method that makes your teeth look whiter. There are many options available, from over-the-counter toothpastes, rinses, strips, and gels to professional in-office treatments and custom take-home kits. Despite the many over-the-counter products on the market today, it’s essential to keep in mind that the premier teeth whitening systems are the professional-strength ones provided by the dentist. Not only do these whitening systems offer a higher concentration of whitening components than the ones available in stores or online, but they also get delivered to the teeth in the safest, most effective, and well-supervised way.
If you’re thinking about buying a whitening kit from a store or online, use caution. Some over-the-counter products can harm your teeth or gums. They may work if your teeth and gums are healthy but can cause problems if you have sensitivity, exposed roots, cavities, broken fillings, cracked teeth, or loose dental work.
Whitening products typically fall into one of the following categories:
Most whitening systems that use peroxide contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Both can pass through the enamel to whiten teeth, but the amount of these ingredients affects how strong, effective, and safe the whitening system is.
Teeth whitening works through a chemical reaction between the bleaching agent and the stains. As the stains are oxidized, they break apart and disappear.
At Miller Center Dental, we blend art and science to help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. We value your trust and offer treatments that support your oral health and your smile goals. Our team will help you choose the best cosmetic dental option for you. Not every type of stain or discoloration responds well to one. First of all, teeth whitening only works on natural teeth and does not change or improve the color of dental fillings, crowns, or bridges. Another consideration is that individuals with yellow tones to their teeth typically respond well to teeth whitening; brown and grayish teeth can respond less well and may require more intensive whitening regimens or alternative cosmetic treatments. Furthermore, a teeth whitening procedure may not be recommended for patients with sensitive teeth, worn enamel, and significant gum disease.
We’ll carefully examine your smile and let you know if teeth whitening is right for you or if another cosmetic treatment would be a better choice.
What to Do and What to Expect After a Teeth-Whitening Procedure
To get the most from your teeth whitening, be careful about what you eat and drink, especially in the first 48 hours after treatment. The protective layer on your teeth needs a couple of days to rebuild after whitening.
Try not to drink coffee, red wine, dark sodas, or tea. Avoid fruits like berries and grapes, chocolate, and other dark-colored foods.
You can enjoy foods and drinks that are less likely to stain your teeth.
Drinks like water, milk, white wine, and clear sodas are fine. You can also eat bananas, peeled apples, cheese, and white foods like chicken, fish, pasta, oatmeal, potatoes, and bread without red sauces or dressings.
Smoking can stain and yellow your teeth. If you smoke and have just had your teeth whitened, try to avoid smoking for at least a couple of days. Cutting back or quitting completely will help your smile, your oral health, and your overall well-being.
You might feel some sensitivity to hot or cold for a few days, but this usually goes away. You can take over-the-counter pain medicine if needed, and toothpaste for sensitive teeth may help.
Teeth whitening usually gives great results, but everyone’s outcome is different. Your original tooth color, what you eat, and your oral habits all affect how long the results last.
As we discussed before treatment, whitening does not change the color of fillings, crowns, bridges, or dental bonding. If this is a concern for you, we can talk about replacing those restorations.
Maintaining the results of treatment also relies upon proper oral hygiene. To keep your smile bright, practice good oral hygiene and visit us regularly. If you need touch-ups after your procedure, we can talk about a take-home whitening kit. Dedicated to providing the highest quality of care. If you have any additional questions or concerns about your teeth whitening procedure, feel free to contact our office.
Call our office or click the button to schedule an appointment if you would like more information on teeth whitening.
While many over-the-counter teeth whitening products are available in stores or online, the healthiest and most effective methods are those supervised by your dentist. Our office can safely, comfortably, and effectively transform your smile by several shades in a short time.
Teeth whitening offers a simple, non-invasive way to brighten your smile. Whitening products contain different strengths of biologically safe hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide that bleach stained or discolored enamel. These agents break stains into smaller pieces, making the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter.
Every patient is different. While many experience no sensitivity or pain with professional teeth whitening, some do. Although minimally invasive, temporary discomfort during and after the procedure may occur. It helps to drink room-temperature beverages for a few days after whitening. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication. If you have sensitive teeth, we may choose a gentler whitening product or an alternative procedure.
Every patient has unique needs and care requirements. Generally, individuals with yellow-toned teeth respond best to whitening. Brown and grayish-tinted teeth respond less well and may need longer dentist-supervised whitening or alternative treatments. Teeth whitening may not be recommended for sensitive teeth, worn enamel, or significant gum disease.
For darkly stained teeth, a whitening procedure may not provide the cosmetic results desired. In these cases, we’ll talk about alternative options such as porcelain veneers or full-coverage crowns.
Teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. The fact that whiteners do not affect the color of existing dental fillings, veneers, bonding, crowns, or bridges on the front teeth remains an important consideration when choosing the best cosmetic dental care option.
The healthiest and most effective teeth whitening methods are those supervised by your dentist. Our office provides the safest, most effective professional-strength options to whiten and brighten your smile. Avoid over-the-counter products, which may be abrasive or harm your teeth and soft tissues. These products may work with healthy teeth and gums but are often ineffective or problematic with sensitive teeth, exposed roots, cavities, broken fillings, cracked teeth, or loose dental work.
How long your teeth whitening lasts depends on your lifestyle. Eating, drinking, and smoking habits significantly affect maintaining results. The best way to keep your smile healthy and beautiful is a good daily oral care routine with regular dental checkups and cleanings.
As a cosmetic dental procedure, teeth whitening may not be covered by your insurance. We understand the financial considerations and do our best to help you get the treatment you need without extra stress. We offer several payment options and financing plans to make things eas
At the office of Miller Center Dental, we want every patient to enjoy the benefits of a smile that is as beautiful as it is healthy. In addition to offering a comprehensive range of advanced services to keep your smile in tip-top health, we also provide leading-edge cosmetic solutions to transform less-than-perfect-looking teeth into ones that dazzle.