The Team at Aspen Springs Dental Brightens Your Day By Brightening Your Smile
Patients with discolored teeth tend to feel more self-conscious. There’s a general misconception that staining and discoloration result from poor dental hygiene. In truth, there are many possible causes.
Patients often feel embarrassed about the state of their teeth—they smile less and may seem unapproachable or unfriendly. These are the patients that benefit the most from Aspen Springs Dental’s teeth whitening service.
Possible Causes of Discoloration
Staining can result from poor dental hygiene. It might also be as a result of:
- Eating or drinking the wrong foods
- The natural thinning of enamel with age
- Smoking
- Chronic medications
- An injury
Dr. Blatter will examine the teeth to assess the right treatment course. Without understanding what caused the discoloration in the first place, it's impossible to whiten the teeth safely.
That's why home treatments can be dangerous. If thinning enamel causes yellowing, these products can damage the teeth. It contains enough bleaching agents to weaken the enamel, but legally, it is not allowed to add ingredients that do more than remove surface stains.
Home whitening kits seem like a cost-effective option, but the results pale in comparison to what patients achieve with professional dentistry. An in-practice treatment can make teeth two to three shades lighter with ease.
Factor in the potential costs of repairing the damage and the time wasted, and OTC whitening treatments are more expensive than patients realize.
How Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments Work
Patients can opt for one of two professional treatments:
- Light Whitening Treatments
- Custom Bleaching Trays
Light Whitening Treatments
Light whitening procedures produce the fastest and most dramatic results. The process takes about two hours and lightens the teeth by a few shades. It's not for everyone, though (patients with browning or damaged teeth are not ideal candidates).
Dr. Blatter examines the mouth carefully to ensure that there are no cavities. He then applies a protective gel to the gums. After this, Dr. Blatter paints the whitening solution onto the teeth and then exposes the teeth to a specially designed light source.
The light causes a photochemical reaction in the whitening solution, which makes the teeth brighter.
Custom Bleaching Trays
For patients on a tighter budget, custom bleaching trays offer comparable results. Dr. Blatter first takes an impression of the teeth, then uses it to create a customized bleaching tray. The tray fits onto the teeth correctly, ensuring that the bleaching solution reaches each surface evenly.
Patients will wear the tray with the bleaching solution as directed by Dr. Blatter. They'll typically have to wear it for a set period every day for around two weeks. Custom bleaching trays require a little more effort from the patient, but the results are impressive.
Get to Know the Friendly Team at Aspen Springs Dental
If you’d like to brighten your smile, consult the team at Aspen Springs Dental. Dr. Blatter and his highly skilled support team will evaluate your teeth and discuss your best options. They’ll work with you to find the best solution for your teeth and your pocket.