Teeth Whitening
When you look at your smile in the mirror, do you see yellow, stained, or discolored teeth? If you’ve tried whitening toothpaste without any noticeable results, it may be time to invest in teeth whitening. At his self-titled practice in Silver Spring, Maryland, Stephen J. Friedman, DDS, PA, proudly offers take-home teeth-whitening treatments to restore his patients’ teeth to their pearly white, near-original condition. To see if you’re a candidate, call the office or click the online booking tool today.
Why are my teeth yellow and discolored?
Yellow teeth may be the natural color of some patient’s teeth, as enamel color and thickness varies from patient to patient. It can also be the result of thin enamel and particularly yellow dentin. Some color variation can be due to medications taken during developmental stages of the patient’s teeth, such as tetracycline, while dentin and enamel are being formed.
Also, as patients age, their teeth accumulate stains both extrinsically and intrinsically and also experience a variety of wear-and-tear damage can allow stains to penetrate below the surface into the dentinal layers. Since dentin is yellow in color, if the enamel is thin or worn, this underlying color shows through.
Other factors can increase the rate of staining, including tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, and drinking dark-colored beverages such as soda, coffee, and red wine, and devitalization of the pulp of the tooth.
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a non-invasive treatment that uses FDA-approved gel treatment , usually peroxide-based, that modifies the enamel to remove stains and whiten the teeth. This treatment may be done “in-office” or with a “take-home” kit under the supervision of the dentist, or it may be attempted with unsupervised “over-the-counter” commercial products.
The whitening procedures are usually performed on a one time basis “in office” or for an extended period of time for 1-2 weeks consecutively with the over-the-counter and take home products..Sometimes the best results are achieved by first applying the “in office” treatment followed by a “take-home” maintenance regime to achieve the best results.. Results can vary from individual to individual with regard to the effective treatment duration and may require repeated treatments.
Although the results of teeth whitening can be reversed with time, patients who practice good oral hygiene and avoid stain producing foods can achieve long term results.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Yes. Modern teeth-whitening treatments are safe and well-tolerated. In fact, the majority of treatments use special formulations of peroxide that are entirely harmless.
Some side effects may include irritation of gums or tongue or sensitivity of the teeth. These symptoms can be controlled by the way the topical whiteners are applied. This requires monitoring the application of the whitener by the professional supervising the procedure.
A follow-up visit after a week is prescribed to check the patient’s progress. If any complications occur, the patient is instructed to contact the office immediately for special instructions.
For a whiter, brighter smile, teeth-whitening treatments can help. Make an appointment by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool today.
