Teeth Whitening
Providing Teeth Whitening in Kalamazoo, MI
Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours.
Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and regular hygiene visit at the dentist's office. However, if you decide you would like to go beyond regular care to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your options.
Finding the Best Treatment for You
Schedule a visit with our dentist to learn whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners do not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish teeth will probably bleach well, brownish teeth may bleach less well, and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings or crowns. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you do have other options, such as porcelain veneers.
Tooth Whitening Treatments
- Professional teeth whitening with your doctor
- At-home whitening system
- Whitening toothpaste
When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance — your assurance that a product has met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening by Dr. Hanna is your best choice when you need immediate whitening results. This procedure is called chairside whitening and may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take 60 minutes.
During chairside whitening, Dr. Hanna will apply either a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. A whitening agent is then applied to the teeth and a special light may be used to enhance the action of the agent.
At-Home Whitening System
There are several types of products available for use at home, which can either be dispensed by Dr. Hanna or purchased over the counter. They are generally teeth whitening trays (mouthguards), or strips.
Teeth Whitening Trays
Our whitening is Day White hydrogen peroxide 7.5%, 9.5% (used for 30 minutes twice daily) or Nite White carbamide peroxide 10%, 16%, 22% (used over night). Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come in a gel and are placed in a whitening tray. Usage regimens vary. Some products are used twice a day for two weeks, while others are intended for overnight use for one to two weeks. If you obtain the whitening solution from our office, we can make a custom-fitted whitening tray for you that will fit your teeth precisely. Currently, only dentist-dispensed, home-use, 10% carbamide peroxide tray-applied gels carry the ADA Seal.
Teeth Whitening Strips
We offer the Professional Strength Crest Whitestrips®, which are 80% more effective than over the counter products. Whitening strip kits come with two types of strips: strips for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. The whitening agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips into place to ensure contact with all your teeth. Teeth whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment will vary.
Whitening Toothpaste
All toothpastes help remove surface stain from your teeth through the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.
Contact our Kalamazoo, MI dental office to learn more about your teeth whitening options.
