This is Dr. “O” from E&S Orthodontics, Your Phoenix Orthodontist. For this week’s Friday focus I’m going to talk about teeth whitening. We call teeth whitening a smile enhancer because it takes those perfectly straight teeth and really highlights their shape and color.
Surveys have shown that when asked what they’d most likely do to improve their smile, the general public’s most common response was to whiten their teeth. Also, the American Association of Orthodontists found that approximately 90% of patients asked to have their teeth whitened. This is also the case for those who have undergone orthodontic treatment.
If you’ve just finished your orthodontic treatment, now is the perfect time to enhance your smile with teeth whitening. Here at E&S Orthodontics we have plenty of options that will fit your needs and brighten your smile. Whether you’re trying to whiten your smile for a special occasion or just to add a boost to your appearance, we offer several teeth whitening options, from in office treatment to take home teeth whitening systems that are guaranteed to give you the smile you desire. Following are brief descriptions of available teeth whitening options.
In Office Teeth Whitening
If you want immediate results, in office teeth whitening is the way to go. This typically takes about an hour and could take a couple of treatments.
Take Home Teeth Whitening Systems
If you’re looking for convenience, take home options would be a good choice for you. These kits make teeth whitening easy because they include trays that you can use in the privacy of your home. Take home kits come with a gel that you put a in tray that fits on your teeth.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry recommends using custom fitted mouth trays for the safest and most effective take home whitening treatment. These are made by the orthodontist. If the trays aren’t custom fitted, the tooth-whitening gel can end up leaking out, irritating the gums. With “Out of the box” options the whitening process isn’t as effective either. Also, important to note is that the concentration of the bleaching agent used in take home systems is lower than what your orthodontist would use in the office.
Teeth Whitening Pastes
While teeth whitening, pastes can be used for maintenance, unlike bleaches, they don’t change the color of the teeth, they just remove surface stains. For the best results, choose a paste that displays the ADA Seal of Acceptance, the gold standard when it comes to evaluating the efficacy and safety of dental products. Quality whitening toothpastes with the ADA seal typically include special polishing agents that provide additional stain removal performance.
In conclusion, I thought I should note that you never want your teeth to be whiter than the whites of your eyes. If you do and you ever go out in the dark, say in a night club, or dark restaurant with neon lights, you’re going to end up glowing in the dark.
If you have any questions about the teeth whitening options we offer, contact us today for a complimentary consultation. Together we’ll review the best options for you.
