Being eager and excited about your upcoming dentist whitening treatment is perfectly natural. We all love a crisp white smile and the benefits, like a boost in confidence, that come with these results. However, if you want your process and results to be as sweet as possible, then it might be good to pause for a second and find out more about these dental procedures. Here are a couple of questions you should be asking your Christchurch dentist before booking that teeth whitening appointment.
Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Bleaching?
Dental cosmetic procedures, like whitening treatments, are quite gentle. This means they are suitable for most people. There are, however, some times when you might not be quite ready for this type of procedure. The whitening agents can irritate the gums and could cause severe pain flare-ups if you have underlying tooth problems like exposed roots, cavities, or other types of issues.
The best way to find out if you are healthy enough for whitening is by getting a quick examination. If you do have some toothy issues, then it can be good to postpone the whitening treatment a little bit and get some restorative care first.
Will Crowns, Veneers, or Fillings React With Whitening Agents?
Most people choose neutral matching shades when they are getting veneers done or crowns and fillings fitted. Even though these materials look just like teeth, they are very different in composition from your natural teeth.
Whitening gels are specifically designed to alter the enamel coating over your teeth. Any visible dental restorations won’t change colour. In some cases, this can make the restorative work a lot more noticeable.
What Shade Can I Realistically Achieve?
In-office dental whitening treatments are a lot more powerful compared to home kits. They usually make teeth up to 8 shades lighter – perhaps even 15 shades if your teeth’s stains are easily removed. It is always good to ask your dentist what you can expect. Based on your current tooth shade and staining, your dentist will be able to estimate just how much lighter your teeth will become.
Realistically, your teeth will turn out a couple of shades lighter, yet won’t be perfectly white. This can be a good thing. Titanium white smiles always tend to look a bit unnatural – perhaps even plastic or fake. That impeccable white smile and the contrast it might create with your features can make some other imperfections stand out even more. While lighting your smile, you should be careful not to go overboard, especially if there is any chance that you could be damaging your enamel.
How Long Will My Teeth Stay White?
This can vary for every individual since aspects like the chemical content of your saliva, eating and drinking habits will affect how bright or yellowed your teeth are. In most cases, teeth whitening lasts around 6 months, yet your teeth can still look better for up to three years after getting the treatment.
Get Professional In-Office Teeth Whitening in Christianchurch
If you want to know more about the teeth whitening process or are curious about the results, then we welcome you to contact Sweet Tooth Dental. Our dental team is very approachable and will happily discuss our bleaching solutions with you. We can also do a quick check to see if your teeth and gums are healthy enough for this procedure.
Contact Sweet Tooth Dental now for a brighter – and sweeter – smile.
