Time For Professional Teeth Whitening

kansas city teeth whiteningWhen you have stained teeth, this could be a source of embarrassment. However, our team can either remove stains with teeth whitening, or even mask them with other cosmetic treatments options. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about our approach to cosmetic treatment options.

Our Professional Whitening Options

We have an in-office teeth whitening option if you need fast results, and one you can use from the comfort of your own home. The in-office one takes about an hour, and involves coating a special bleaching gel onto the teeth, and then activating the bleaching ingredients with a special light. This then breaks up and removes discoloration in one session. The at-home option can address more severe stains and reduce the risk of tooth sensitivity. It starts with a brief office visit so we can create a set of plastic trays custom-fitted to your smile. We then send you home with these trays and a bleaching gel. The trays will be filled with trays and be worn for about 30 minutes a day, over a period of about two weeks. The trays prevent saliva from diluting the gel, and ensure even results across the teeth. Your smile could be eight shades brighter in some cases, and the trays and leftover gel are yours for touch-ups down the road.

Keeping Teeth Bright

You can also take steps to help your results last and limit the severity of future discoloration. For example, drink more water and cut back on staining beverages like coffee, red wine, tea, and soda. Avoid foods and drinks high in sugar, as this promotes plaque buildup, which in turn makes your stains more visible. Avoid tobacco products too, and be sure you brush and floss daily. Finally, see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months, so we can remove all plaque buildup.

Masking Permanent Discoloration  

If you have permanent teeth stains, also known as intrinsic discoloration, this means the stains are beneath the surface of the teeth, making it difficult to remove them with whitening procedures. To help brighten the smile, we could instead mask them with dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or a combination of the two, instantly brightening your smile. These options could also address other cosmetic issues at the same time, such as gaps between teeth, dental damage, misshapen teeth, or worn-down teeth.

If you have any questions about how we mask discoloration or remove them with professional cosmetic treatments, then contact our team today to learn more.

Your Kansas City, MO Dentist Offers Cosmetic Dentistry

We can offer brighter smiles with professional treatment! If you want to learn more about how we remove or mask discoloration, then contact your Kansas City, MO, dentist, Dr. Murphy, by calling (816) 531-8000.