Teeth Whitening
When you look in the mirror, do you see the bright, vibrant smile of your youth? Or do you notice yellowing of your teeth?
Yellow teeth are the result of thinning of the dental enamel that covers and protects the teeth. While coffee and tobacco products can contribute to stains, the main culprit is aging.
No amount of brushing or flossing will reverse the yellowing process; however, we offer effective and affordable solutions that will quickly and safely restore the beauty of your smile.
What about Drugstore Products?
A truly dizzying array of teeth whitening products greets your eyes along certain aisles of grocery and drug stores. You may have even tried a few products yourself, hoping to get the same results you would see with professional products. As you probably found out, however, over-the-counter whitening products simply aren't comparable.
Some over-the-counter products rely on abrasives to polish away surface stains. These will give your teeth a subtly whiter appearance, but it takes a long time, and the abrasives can actually cause damage to your enamel along with sensitivity. Other products use a peroxide ingredient similar to that found in professional kits, but because the percentage of active ingredient is so much lower, results take much longer and are likely to be less vibrant than you would get with a professional product.
Most importantly, however, is that when you use professional products, you are under the care and attention of your dentist. Dr. Haag and our team will discuss your options with you and make sure that whitening is a good choice for your needs and your goals.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Home teeth whitening systems were developed by dentists to allow you to achieve optimal results in the comfort of your own home, on your own schedule. The whitening systems we offer use professional grade products that are not available over the counter. Home whitening allows you to remove stains and reverse yellowing at a time that is most convenient for you.
If you decide to opt for home whitening, we will first take impressions of your teeth in order to make custom-fitted trays. These durable plastic trays fit snugly up against your teeth and ensure that the whitening product maintains constant contact with the tooth enamel.
Use the trays and whitening gel daily until you achieve the desired results, usually within a week or two. The trays can be worn for up to two hours, although patients with sensitivity issues may want to limit their exposure time to thirty minutes.
In-Office Whitening
The process of in-office whitening is great for those who want instant results. During your two hour appointment, professional strength whitening gel is applied. At the end of the appointment, you will walk out with a brighter smile.
Are yellow teeth sending the wrong message when you smile? Although yellowing is a natural process, it may be misinterpreted to mean you have poor oral hygiene – even if you brush and floss daily!
Patients at Southwest Nebraska Dental Center are often surprised to learn how quickly and easily their appearance can be transformed through the use of tooth whitening systems.
Call us today so we can discuss your whitening options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Teeth whitening is not permanent and your teeth will eventually start to discolor again. This happens due to natural processes but food and drink may speed up the rate of yellowing.
Tea, coffee, wine, and tobacco will all cause discoloration of the teeth. So, in order to keep them pearly white, you will need to touch up your whitening anywhere from every 6 months to once a year depending upon your rate of discoloration.
There are several factors that affect how your teeth will respond to whitening. What color your teeth were to begin with as well as the cause of your discoloration contribute to your results. For instance, a yellow hue is easier to whiten than a gray/black discoloration.
Any of our staff can answer your questions and evaluate if you are a good candidate for whitening.
At Southwest Nebraska Dental Center, we use Opalescence whitening gel, which contains potassium nitrate and fluoride that not only whitens from the inside out but decreases sensitivity and can even prevent cavities.
Sensitivity is the most common side effect of teeth whitening. If it does occur, it is usually temporary and goes away once you have completed the whitening process. However, the Opalescence whitening that we use in our office contains fluoride, which aids in reducing sensitivity.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Kaitlin Haag
Dr. Kaitlin Haag is a McCook native who graduated from McCook High School in 2004. She is also a graduate of Chadron State with a degree in biology. She then attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry and graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She knew she wanted to be a dentist after an unfortunate softball accident knocked out her two front teeth and she had a wonderful ...
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