Teeth Whitening

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening, also called tooth bleaching, removes both extrinsic (external) and intrinsic (internal) stains from your teeth. While over-the-counter (OTC) options, like toothpaste, strips, and rinses, can remove surface stains over time, they can’t penetrate the deeper layers of your teeth like professional whitening treatments.

Why would I need teeth whitening?

There are many reasons stains accumulate on your teeth as you age, including:

Food and drinks

Certain foods and drinks can stain your teeth, especially if they’re part of your everyday diet. Some of these include red wine, coffee, tea, soy sauce, and curry.

Tobacco use

Tobacco products like cigarettes and chewing tobacco contain nicotine and tar, substances that are known to stain teeth yellow and brown.

Genetics

Your teeth consist of hard enamel that covers the softer, darker dentin underneath. If you naturally have thinner enamel due to genetics, your teeth may look darker than you’d like.

Age

As you age, your enamel gradually wears down, exposing the darker dentin underneath.

Medications

Many medications, including certain antibiotics, can darken your teeth over time, making them appear brown or yellow.

Excessive fluoride use, called fluorosis, during tooth development can also lead to darkened teeth.

What happens during teeth whitening?

A to Z Dental Studio offers several types of teeth whitening, such as Venus White® and ZOOM!® whitening, which both provide in-office treatments and custom take-home trays.

When you come in for a chairside treatment, your provider uses a special gel to protect your teeth and gums before applying a solution of either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. Next, the team uses a special light to activate the solution and gently lift stains from your teeth.

In many cases, chairside whitening can brighten your smile by up to 8-10 shades in only 1-2 visits.

If you’d rather whiten your teeth on your own time, A to Z Dental Studio provides custom take-home trays. 

At your initial visit, your provider takes impressions of your teeth to create your custom trays, which fit your teeth perfectly. When you receive your trays at your next visit, you also get a special whitening solution.

How long and often you wear these trays depends on your degree of staining and the desired level of whitening. In most cases, you can either wear your trays for 30 minutes twice a day or overnight for about two weeks.

For brighter, whiter teeth, call A to Z Dental Studio or schedule an appointment online today.