There are many contributing factors to stained teeth. As we get older, minerals penetrate the tooth’s enamel, which causes discoloration. Factors that cause tooth discoloration and staining include:

• Age.
• Natural staining and discoloration that happens over time from foods and beverages.
• Tobacco use (cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, cigarettes, et cetera)
• Certain foods and beverages such as: red wine, dark colas, tea, coffee, et cetera.
• Certain medications (tetracycline and some antibiotics).

This process is sometimes referred to as laser bleaching or power bleaching. It is a safe, effective way to whiten teeth in the fastest way possible. The process can take anywhere from one to three hours, which includes tooth preparation time.

In-office whitening gives patients instant results.

Take-home whitening kits allow patients to whiten teeth in the privacy of their own home. They are affordable and effective. The process starts with our dentist preparing your teeth and then taking impressions to use as the model for your custom fabricated plastic trays.

Once the kits are fabricated to fit comfortably and securely in your mouth, you will fill the tray with the whitening gel and place the trays over the teeth. Our dentists will let you know how long to wear the trays at one given time. This process typically lasts between ten to fourteen days (or nights), or until the desired whiteness is achieved.

We can say that over ninety percent of patients see results with professional teeth whitening procedures.

• Patients who make excellent candidates: those with yellow and light brown teeth.
• Patients who will need special whitening techniques: those with dark brown or grayish stains.
• It’s important to note that whitening will not lighten fillings, bonding, or veneers that you may have in your mouth–so no need to worry about that.
• If you are pregnant, have sensitive teeth, damaged teeth, or gum disease, our dentists can help you determine if teeth whitening is right for you.