Professional Teeth Whitening Warren, OH
Snelson & Snelson, DDS provides professional teeth whitening services at our Warren, OH dental office to enhance your smile! By whitening your teeth, you can brighten your smile and boost your self-confidence. Professional teeth whitening is effective and safe, and can be used to lessen or eliminate the appearance of stains and discoloration caused by fluorosis, tobacco use, medications, certain foods and drinks, illness, and the natural aging process.
More and more people today are choosing teeth whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains. Teeth whitening treatments have effectively restored the smile of many people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth.
What Causes Teeth Staining & Discoloration?
The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco. Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances.
One type of stain—caused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosis—actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing don’t help. Another type of stain—one that can be more easily attacked by brushing, flossing and rinsing—is caused by external factors such as foods.
Benefits of Professional Whitening Treatments
Studies have shown that damaged and stained teeth are the feature that most people report feeling the most embarrassed and insecure about. And unfortunately, it can't be chalked up to personal paranoia. People with whiter, stain-free teeth are generally viewed as more confident, self-assured, and competent, which can affect everything from professional opportunities to social interactions and connections.
Some commercially available "whitening toothpastes" can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth's enamel.
Whitening agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products are also not as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth, or on restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings. In these cases, porcelain veneers or dental bonding may be more appropriate to change the appearance of the teeth.
Professional whitening performed at our office by our Warren dentists is considered to be the most effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as long as they are monitored and directions followed closely.