Teeth Whitening Williamsport, PA

Teeth Whitening An Overview

Teeth whitening can be a quick, easy, and economical way to makeover your smile and erase years of tooth stains for a more youthful look.Cosmetic Dentist in Williamsport PA Dr. Kim offers professional teeth whitening that can provide results that are safer, longer-lasting, and more consistent when compared to over the counter options.

Dr. Kim will meet with you first to evaluate your overall dental health and discuss your cosmetic goals before your teeth whitening treatment. This is an important step, providing the opportunity to ensure that your tooth stains or discoloration will respond to a whitening treatment and that your teeth are clean and healthy for the best possible result.

For patients who have stains from medications, medical conditions or genetics that may not respond to a teeth whitening treatment, Dr. Kim may recommend alternatives for whitening your smile that can also provide permanent results. Alternative cosmetic dentistry treatments can include tooth bonding, dental veneers, or dental crowns.

What Causes Tooth Discoloration?

Tooth discoloration occurs when teeth’s natural white color changes, leading to yellow, brown, or even gray stains. There are several reasons teeth can lose their bright, white appearance, and understanding these causes can help you prevent discoloration and maintain a healthy smile.

1. Diet and Beverages

One of the most common causes of tooth discoloration is the foods and drinks we consume. Some foods and beverages, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and berries, contain pigments that can stick to the enamel of your teeth. Enamel is the outer layer of your teeth, and although it’s strong, it can absorb these pigments over time, causing staining.

Regularly consuming these types of foods or drinks can make stains worse. Smoking or using tobacco products is another major contributor to tooth discoloration. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes can turn your teeth yellow or brown, especially if you smoke frequently.

2. Poor Oral Hygiene

Not brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is another major cause of discoloration. When you fail to properly clean your teeth, plaque and tartar can build up. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth, and when it isn’t removed, it hardens into tartar.

Both plaque and tartar can make your teeth look yellow or dull, and they can also trap staining food particles, making discoloration worse. Brushing at least twice daily and flossing daily are key steps to prevent this build-up and keep your teeth looking white.

3. Medications

Certain medications can also lead to tooth discoloration. For example, antibiotics like tetracycline, if taken during childhood when teeth are still developing, can cause permanent staining. Other medications, including some antihistamines, antipsychotics, and blood pressure drugs, can dry out your mouth, reducing the amount of saliva that helps wash away food particles and bacteria. A dry mouth can also lead to staining. Additionally, chemotherapy and radiation treatments can sometimes cause tooth discoloration due to their effect on the enamel.

4. Aging

As we get older, the enamel on our teeth naturally wears down. This can cause the yellowish dentin beneath the enamel to show through more clearly, making the teeth appear darker. This is a normal part of aging, and although it can’t be prevented, the discoloration can be minimized with good dental care.

5. Injury or Trauma

Another cause of tooth discoloration is injury or trauma to a tooth. When a tooth is injured, the blood vessels inside the tooth can break, causing the tooth to darken. This discoloration may show up right after the injury or develop later, and it may affect one or more teeth depending on the extent of the damage.

6. Genetics

Genetics also play a role in how white or discolored your teeth are. Some people naturally have thicker or thinner enamel, which can affect the appearance of their teeth. If your enamel is thinner, the yellow dentin underneath is more visible, which may make your teeth look more yellow. Those with thicker enamel may have naturally whiter teeth.

7. Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions can contribute to tooth discoloration. For example, enamel hypoplasia is a condition where the enamel doesn’t form properly, making weaker teeth more prone to discoloration. This condition can occur during childhood, making teeth more vulnerable to staining.

8. Preventing Tooth Discoloration

To help prevent tooth discoloration, maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial. Brush and floss regularly, avoid or limit foods and drinks that stain teeth, and regularly visit the dentist for cleanings and check-ups. If your teeth are discolored, your dentist can recommend teeth whitening treatments or other professional services to restore their bright appearance.

Teeth Whitening What to Expect

As your trusted cosmetic dentist in Williamsport, PA, Dr. Joyce Kim will first and foremost evaluate your smile to ensure that any underlying issues like dental decay are taken care of before we begin cosmetic treatment. Your dental health is important to us, and our goal is to help you maintain your dental health while also helping you achieve your cosmetic goals.

Once it is determined that you are a good candidate for teeth whitening treatment, Dr. Kim will take impressions to create custom-fit bleaching trays for a personalized take-home teeth whitening kit. These trays will fit over your teeth like a mouthguard and will minimize gum irritation while delivering a consistent layer of bleaching agent to the teeth. Typically, the bleaching trays are worn for a specified period of time daily for a couple of weeks and the results will be gradual.

Professional Teeth Whitening vs. Over-The-Counter Options

Many patients ask us about the differences between our teeth-whitening trays and ones that they can buy at the grocery store. Our teeth-whitening trays are created custom to your smile. Unlike over-the-counter treatment options, we do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Many patients will find that over-the-counter options do not fit their smile appropriately, causing blotchy and irregular results. With customized whitening trays, we ensure that the bleaching solution hits all angles of your teeth and guarantee the results you are looking for with cosmetic dentistry.

Teeth Whitening FAQs

How many teeth whitening treatments will I need?

Every case is different. Dr. Kim will analyze your teeth and recommend a certain length of treatment. It depends on the stains on your teeth and how deep they are in the teeth.

Can teeth whitening hurt my teeth?

No, professional whitening treatments shouldn’t hurt your teeth. One of the main reasons professional treatments are better than over-the-counter solutions is that they’re designed to avoid the sensitivity that often comes with drugstore whitening products.

When is the best time to whiten my teeth?

With your at-home whitening treatment, we recommend you whiten your teeth before bed. It gives time for the treatment to set in and your teeth to rehydrate overnight. It also reduces the chances of more staining, since you won’t be eating and drinking for a while.

How long do teeth whitening results last?

The results of your teeth whitening procedure can last anywhere from six months to a few years. It depends on the individual, including their genetics and lifestyle habits. For example, if you’re a heavy coffee drinker, your teeth will stain again quicker than someone who doesn’t drink coffee.

What should I avoid after tooth whitening?

For the first 48 hours after tooth whitening, it’s crucial to avoid staining agents. When you whiten teeth, the pores in your tooth open, allowing the bleaching agent to penetrate the deeper layers of your tooth. These stay open for a while, making your teeth more vulnerable to stains at this time.

Should I get my teeth cleaned before teeth whitening?

Yes, the best time to whiten your teeth is when they’ve just been cleaned. If there’s plaque or tartar buildup on your teeth, the whitening gel can’t penetrate these areas. This leads to splotchy and uneven results.