Teeth Whitening
There are so many different ways to whiten your teeth today, a far cry from 20 years ago, and the Pearl Whitening Drops some of you may remember. It seems like EVERYONE wants their teeth whiter. In fact, a recent study claimed that teeth whitening is the most requested cosmetic procedure in the world! So what should you do to whiten your teeth? Well lets first talk about what NOT to do.
First, do NOT go on eBay and try to buy some cheap teeth whitening product, or for that matter anything else online. There are hundreds of teeth whitening scams out there right now. Everyone wants a piece of the $5 billion a year market. The Internet is plagued with scam artists and thieves who will take your money all day long and provide little, if any, results. There is also no accountability. Once they have your credit card....well, you can imagine what could happen. Besides the efficacy, the safety of products you buy online for teeth whitening is in question. All teeth whitening gels and products have a shelf life and I have seen many examples of people selling old or expired products online.
Retail Teeth Whitening Products: What you should do is determine exactly what results you want. Do you want to remove the stain and just freshen up your smile a few shades? Or are you looking for "kapooow" results? Are your teeth really dark, or just a little yellow? For many people, retail/over-the-counter options are worth considering. First of all, they are very affordable. Most of these products are safe and easy-to-use as well. However, the big detractor here is TIME. Yes, it will take time, and sometimes a lot of work as well to see the results you want. Pulling on and off strips every day, putting gel all over the teeth and then brushing it off. Wearing trays, that sometimes do not fit very well, for hours at a time, etc.
Getting your teeth whitened at the mall: If time is a big factor for you, then there are still some decent teeth whitening retail options. One is mall whitening. Yes, that's right... the whitening you see in the malls. Does it work? Yes. Well at least most of the time. Should you do it? Maybe, but there could be some disadvantages here as well. The price might be right, it only takes about 15-20 minutes and results are usually in the 2-6 shade category. However, you have to ask yourself if you feel comfortable with a non-dentist putting anything in your mouth. Actually, legally, the mall-whitening folks cannot touch you. They are only supposed to hand you the products and you do all the work. Unfortunately many of these mall whiteners are not well trained and do not know the law. They might have a good product, but because they don't know how to use the product properly, you may get less than adequate results and put yourself at risk as well.
L.E.D. Cosmetic Teeth Whitening: Still looking for an "entry level", inexpensive retail product that works and requires little to no effort? L.E.D. Cosmetic Teeth Whitening might be what you are looking for. It is very similar to the mall whitening, with the exception that it is provided by a cosmetic dentist professional and performed in the safe environment of a dental office. The right dental office can also provide good advice and other options that fit into your budget and lifestyle.Today there are incredibly few dentists offering this technology to their patients. Most dentists shy away from it because of its affiliation with the Malls and because they are not aware of the benefits for their patients: inexpensive, fast, and easy.
Zoom ACP Teeth Whitening: What if you want the premiere, top of the line, professional teeth whitening? Well, you can get this at almost any dental office these days. Zoom ACP represents the latest advancement in professional teeth whitening techniques. Zoom is a step up in whitening and often requested by individuals who are looking for the best that money can buy. On average, individuals gain 4-10 shades on whiteness with ZOOM. This is a 45-minute process. Some individuals will have teeth sensitivity for up to 12 hours after the treatment, however it is completely safe. If you are considering bonding or porcelain veneers, this is an excellent way to get your teeth their most natural white to match.
There are a few other professional systems out on the cosmetic dental market including laser teeth whitening. Most professional systems provide similar results that are fairly predictable. It may be noteworthy to mention that it never hurts to see your Charlotte cosmetic dentist before you use any product that promises to get your teeth whiter. A dentist or properly trained dental professional can identify things with your teeth that could save you time and money when it comes to getting your teeth their most natural white.
How long does teeth whitening last? Great question! The answer is...it all depends! You may have been told that you can expect teeth whitening to last anywhere from a few months to several years. The truth is, that how long your teeth stay white is dependent on several important factors. What you eat and drink, smoking, how dense and opaque your tooth enamel is, the natural hue and transparency of your teeth, and your DNA, can all determine the whiteness of your teeth. The important thing to know is that teeth whitening that is properly maintained by either yourself or a dental professional can stay white for a LIFETIME. The key is maintenance and finding a Teeth Whitening Program that fits your lifestyle and your budget.
Dr. Christian Yaste
Ballantyne Center for Dentistry
15105 John J. Delaney Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28277
(704) 236-5734


Christian Yaste
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