Not happy with the current color of your teeth? It may be time to look into professional teeth whitening. Here are some frequently asked questions you may have about the process.
What Is Involved In A Consultation?
Everything starts with meeting with a cosmetic dentist for a consultation. They'll want to look at your teeth to let you know if you are a good candidate for laser whitenings. One important part of the process is to identify potential problems with your teeth that could complicate the whitening process, such as dental bridges and fillings.
How Is Tooth Discoloration Measured?
Your dentist has a scale that they use for teeth discoloration, which is done by holding different colors up to your teeth to find one that matches. This can help assign the color of your teeth a number so the dentist knows a starting point.
How Do You Know How White Should You Should Make Your Teeth?
The dentist will take photos of your teeth and use digital technology to show you what they will look like with laser whitening. They will use the discoloration chart to show you different levels of whiteness until you pick a color that looks natural for you. The dentist will likely make a recommendation based on their experience and what is practical.
How Does The Whitening Process Work?
A mouth guard will be used to open your mouth wide open, and then a protective gel is applied to your gums. A special light is then used to harden the gel and keep it in place. A whitening gel is then applied to your teeth and left on for a little while before the first laser whitening treatment. The gel is then removed so that the patient can look at their teeth. The color is matched to the whiteness scale to tell how many steps the laser process has changed the teeth, and you will decide if you want to continue with making them look whiter with additional treatments.
What Care Should Be Taken After The Whitening Process?
Expect to have sensitive teeth after the procedure, so you'll need to be mindful of what you eat and drink since extreme temperatures may cause your teeth to feel painful. You should also avoid foods that tend to stand your teeth right after the whitening process, such as red wine, dark berries, and coffee. The sensitivity will eventually go away, but you should be mindful of the foods you eat to avoid staining in the future.
Contact a dental office like Kemper Pond Dental to learn more.