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Stain, Stain Go Away!

Seems as though just about everyone is doing it these days! Getting that “Hollywood Smile” is a regular pastime and the number one requested cosmetic dentistry procedure. While many people buy the “drugstore brand” of whitener, our office whitening procedure produces better results, and in only a fraction of the time.

Woman holding teeth whitening chart

Teeth whitening is the most requested cosmetic dentistry procedure!

Want to know more? Call DeLand Smiles and we’ll gladly provide you with the pros and cons of the different types of whitening procedures.

Is Whitening for Everyone?

When it comes to teeth whitening (bleaching), it’s always best to begin in our office. We can advise you on whether you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. Those people with yellowish teeth typically have better results than those with brownish or grayish hues. Also, whiteners have no effect on crowns, tooth-colored composite fillings or teeth that are bonded, so whitening will only make these teeth stand out from the ones that do whiten.

Are In-Office Procedures Better than At-Home Procedures?

The whitening procedure that we do at DeLand Smiles generally takes about 30 minutes and the results are immediate.  It gets even better — it’s not only fast, but there is ZERO SENSITIVITY!  After ensuring that the teeth are clean, a mouthpiece is inserted containing the bleaching agent and it does all the work!  20 minutes later, the tray with bleaching agent is removed & you have brighter teeth!

Our office also dispenses take-home kits containing your whitening mouthpiece, instructions & a whitening pen containing 30 additional at-home applications that is generally used to maintain the desired results.

Over-the-counter bleaching kits also contain a whitening agent, but you won’t get the special mouthpiece, and your saliva tends to weaken the effectiveness of the gel.

There are NO GUARANTEES for whitening procedures.  Results differ for each patient due to individual biology.  Our whitening system averages approximately 4 shades whiter; however, individual results will vary.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Teeth whitening comparison

Notice the difference in the upper teeth in these two photos!

Our patients have not had any side effects so far; however; some people can experience tooth sensitivity after using bleaching agents. This is usually temporary and goes away after completion of the whitening process. Others can experience irritation if there is some gum recession.

Side effects should always be brought to our attention so we can advise you on whether they are typical or not.

Can I Go Overboard on Bleaching?

Believe it or not, bleaching can become addictive for some people who never believe that their teeth are white enough! This is dangerous because too much exposure to carbamide peroxide (the most common whitening agent) may cause the tooth enamel to appear translucent and increase teeth and gum sensitivity and irritation.

And… you certainly don’t want your teeth to glow in the dark, do you? So be safe and know when to say when and that’s usually when the color of your teeth match the whites of your eyes!

Want to be really safe? Schedule an appointment with DeLand Smiles and let us make your smile shine! Give us a call to set up a convenient time to meet. You’ll be happy you did!