A white smile can significantly increase one's self-esteem. Before whitening your teeth, your dentist must examine them to ensure their health and suitability for the procedure. Our team at North Burnaby Dental Group has outlined the criteria we use to determine whether or not teeth whitening is a viable option for you.
Whitening your teeth is an excellent way to improve your appearance. A more confident grin can be revealed with a brighter, whiter smile. That being said, there are a few things you should know before applying the first whitening strip. Our Burnaby dental team will need to examine your smile to ensure that your teeth are in good enough health to undergo whitening treatment. We'll discuss the criteria for determining whether teeth whitening is right for you in this post.
Am I a good candidate for teeth whitening?
If you're considering teeth whitening, contact your North Burnaby Dental Group dentist to schedule an appointment. Your dentist will examine your teeth for signs of enamel weakness or decay that could adversely affect the outcome of the whitening treatment. If you have periodontal disease or extremely sensitive teeth, porcelain veneers may be recommended rather than bleaching.
Individuals who have yellow tones in their teeth but have healthy, unrestored teeth (no fillings) and gums are normally the best candidates for teeth whitening.
What should I expect from teeth whitening treatment?
While bleaching is generally considered to be safe and effective, some patients may experience mild tooth sensitivity or gum irritation during treatment. These symptoms should subside once the procedure is complete. In terms of changing the colour of your teeth from grey to a lighter shade of grey, dental teeth bleaching has a limited effect.
Bear in mind that each patient will experience a unique outcome, and visible restorations such as a crown or bridge will not whiten and will retain their original shade.
Following treatment with a cosmetic kit, you should have at least one vial of bleaching gel remaining. This can be used to "refresh" your smile, and additional bleaching gel vials for use with your custom mouthguard can be purchased as needed.
Consistent Oral Hygiene Preserves Smiles Best
Regardless of how healthy your teeth are, our dentists always recommend that you visit for a checkup and cleaning every six months (the frequency of your visits depending on the general condition of your teeth and gums and your at-home oral hygiene routine). Combining an effective at-home oral care routine with regular dental visits should be the most effective way to maintain a white smile and avoid oral health problems.