Do you have yellowed teeth? Are your teeth stained from too much coffee or cola drinks? Dr. Dhara Patel and her professional dental care associates at Best Dental Spa provide teeth whitening in Hoffman Estates, IL.
Teeth can discolor over time due to diet, poor oral hygiene, or smoking habits. However, sometimes, medications you’re taking or genetics cause discolored teeth. If we determine that traditional teeth whitening is not for you, we may recommend other effective cosmetic dental treatments.
Why Are My Teeth Discolored?
Discoloration can occur in many different ways. For starters, it naturally happens as we age. Our outer layer of tooth enamel gets thinner, exposing more of the dentin layer underneath. Dentin is naturally an off-white or yellowish, so you’re seeing this.
Lifestyle habits can also contribute to tooth discoloration. Smoking and drinking coffee or other dark drinks regularly will stain your teeth the more you use them. If you continue this habit over a long period of time, the staining will be darker. Certain medications can cause this, too, particularly if you took them while your mouth was developing and changing.
Trauma can also discolor teeth. If you have a “dead” tooth, it’ll turn a gray color because it’s no longer getting any blood flow. This can happen because of a hit to the tooth or because of decay.
During a cosmetic consultation at our office, Dr. Patel will do a full oral exam to ensure teeth whitening is the best solution for discolored teeth. In some cases, like a dead tooth, teeth whitening won’t successfully eliminate the discoloration. We offer options like dental bonding or porcelain veneers to get your desired whiter smile.
Teeth Whitening in Hoffman Estates, IL
Those who have tried less-than-effective teeth whitening methods can benefit from professional teeth whitening from Dr. Patel. Best Dental Spa offers in-office Zoom whitening and at-home treatment with whitening trays.
Teeth whitening is a safe procedure that does not damage the teeth or gums. Professional bleaching agents, designed with tooth sensitivity in mind, are painless while providing long-lasting results. Over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments found in supermarkets and drugstores are usually not effective enough to whiten teeth. Professional teeth whitening overseen by a dentist can lighten teeth by multiple shades.
Our office provides in-office and take-home whitening for your convenience:
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Dr. Patel offers patients the convenience of take-home teeth whitening treatment. She will provide bleaching trays custom-fit to their teeth and take dental impressions for them at their appointment.
The flexible trays hold professional-grade bleaching gel. Because they are made specifically for your smile, they protect your gums and soft tissue from coming into contact with the gel. Eliminating this contact helps prevent sensitivity to the gel.
Dr. Patel will create a personalized treatment plan for your specific needs. It includes how long you will wear the trays each night and how long the overall treatment will be. Sometimes, we recommend that you wear the trays overnight. Following your specific instructions will help you get the best results.
Your teeth will gradually get whiter until they’re the shade you want. Visit our office twice yearly to ensure your teeth stay healthy.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening is usually done when you have an event coming up and you need to get a whiter smile quickly. We offer Zoom! Teeth whitening in our dentist office. In about an hour at our office, you can leave with teeth up to eight shades whiter! You’ll see immediate results, but they’ll also improve after the treatment. You should see the full effects about 24 hours after your appointment.
For in-office teeth whitening, we protect your gums from the bleaching agent. Once this is done, Dr. Patel will paint your teeth with whitening gel. The staff gives you sunglasses to protect your eyes. A special light activates the whitening agent in the gel. You’re there for a certain amount of time until the treatment is complete.
Professional Vs. Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening
Tons of whitening products promise good results. However, nothing compares to treatment from a tooth whitening professional. Getting teeth whitened by a dentist brings many benefits compared to whitening them alone.
First, dentists have access to the most powerful whitening products available. Drugstore whitening products take long to provide results and require multiple applications. With professional whitening, you can get a significantly whiter smile in an hour-long visit to our office. The techniques dentists use are also different than over-the-counter, meaning you get whiter teeth faster.
Whitening at the dentist is safer, too. Overusing drugstore whitening products can cause sensitivity or burn the soft tissues in your mouth. We take precautions to protect the soft tissue in your mouth before the whitening treatment so that they don’t burn. Professional products are also designed to lessen sensitivity, making them a safer choice. Application by a professional is safer than attempting to do it on your own.
Over-the-counter whitening products have to appeal to a wide range of people. They’re one-size-fits-all so that they can work for as many consumers as possible. This can lead to splotchy, uneven results. Professional whitening is customized for your smile. In the office, we paint the gel onto your teeth, ensuring it covers everything properly. Take-home whitening trays are made from impressions of your smile to provide even coverage and prevent saliva from interfering with treatment.
While it may seem like drugstore products are less expensive, they add up. You must buy many products to get the shade of white you desire. The effects don’t last as long, so you must purchase the products more often. Professional whitening requires far fewer treatments, and the results keep your smile whiter for longer.
Alternatives to Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment
Many stains are extrinsic, meaning outside factors stain the outer layer of teeth. However, you may also have intrinsic stains that do not react to teeth whitening in our Hoffman Estates, IL office. Intrinsic stains are within the tooth. Hits to the tooth, medical reactions, and other factors can create intrinsic stains.
Dr. Patel will work with you to find a treatment to improve the aesthetics of your smile. Several cosmetic and restorative treatments can cover intrinsic stains:
- Porcelain Veneers: We bond thin shell-like veneers to the front teeth. Dental veneers can cover deep tooth stains in the smile line.
- Tooth Bonding: Bonding is best for single-stained teeth. Teeth can turn grey after an injury and do not react to whitening treatments. Covering the tooth with tooth-colored bonding material helps it blend in with the rest of the smile.
- Dental Crowns: Dental crowns are best for patients with damaged and discolored teeth. Crowns cover single teeth like caps. Worn and discolored teeth will require extra support to improve the look and function of the smile.
Real Patients, Real Results: Zoom Whitening
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does professional whitening weaken your teeth?
No evidence has shown that professional teeth whitening damages a patient’s teeth. The dentist applies whitening gel to the surface of a patient’s teeth. It does not harm the bone or enamel.
How long do professionally whitened teeth last?
The length of time teeth whitening treatment lasts varies from patient to patient and depends on the type of bleaching agent the dentist uses. On average, teeth whitening results may last anywhere from six months to three years.
How long after teeth whitening can I drink coffee?
After having professional teeth whitening treatment, we recommend avoiding coffee. It’s best to avoid coffee for at least 48 hours after treatment to let the whitening effects fully run their course. Coffee is known to stain teeth. If you want whiter teeth, avoiding coffee or drinking it through a straw is in your best interest.
What causes teeth discoloration?
There are a number of factors that cause teeth discoloration. Certain foods and drinks, such as coffee, tea, and soda can stain teeth. Smoking and tobacco use can also cause significant discoloration. Moreover, poor oral hygiene, which leads to plaque and tartar buildup, can make teeth appear yellow.
We should also point out that aging thins enamel, revealing the yellowish dentin beneath. Certain medications and excessive fluoride exposure during tooth development can also cause discoloration. Our office can address most types of discoloration with professional whitening treatments or veneers.
Should I get my teeth cleaned before whitening?
Getting your teeth cleaned before whitening is a smart move. A professional cleaning removes surface stains and plaque. This allows the whitening agent to work more effectively. Furthermore, clean teeth absorb the whitening gel more evenly, resulting in better outcomes. We recommend scheduling a cleaning about a week before your whitening treatment for optimal results.
How often can you do teeth whitening?
Professional teeth whitening frequency varies by patient. Most dentists recommend touch-ups every 6 to 12 months. Your lifestyle habits can affect how often you might need whitening. Over-whitening can lead to sensitivity and enamel damage. We’ll help you create a personalized whitening plan that brightens your smile without risking your dental health.
Get a Whiter and Brighter Smile Today
Call 847.660.6603 for high-quality teeth whitening at Best Dental Spa in Hoffman Estates, IL. You can also request an appointment with Dr. Patel online.
