Teeth Whitening – Southlake, TX
Remove Stains with Professional Whitening Solutions
Even with a dedicated oral care routine, stains can find a way into teeth, making them look duller and more yellow than you may prefer. Additionally, if you enjoy many richly pigmented foods or simply need a boost of caffeine in the morning from a cup of coffee, you may develop stains much sooner on average. Alternatively, stains can appear as a result of natural aging and even genetics! If you’re not happy with the color of your smile, Dr. Pettigrew offers both in-office and take-home whitening to help get your smile back to where it needs to be. Give his office a call to learn if teeth whitening is right for you.
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
The best way to confirm if teeth whitening can enhance your smile’s appearance is through a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Pettigrew. However, those with all types of stains (including extrinsic and intrinsic) throughout their smile may be able to benefit from either take-home or in-office whitening. Extrinsic stains occur as a result of the foods or beverages you eat and drink, such as coffee, wine, tomato sauce, soy sauce, etc. Intrinsic stains develop inside the deeper layers of enamel, making them more difficult to remove without more professional options.
Additionally, if you want to feel more confident about your smile, either socially, in professional settings, or for another reason, teeth whitening is a great cosmetic enhancement to consider.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
There are two main types of teeth whitening: in-office whitening and take-home whitening trays. Both utilize professional-grade bleaching ingredients to whiten teeth. However, keep in mind that the take-home option we make is not typically found in stores. This is because only professional whitening uses a specific strength of bleaching materials. Additionally, whitening prescribed by a dentist is far more personalized, meaning you can achieve a specific level of whitening you desire.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Take-home whitening uses a set of whitening trays personalized to your smile exactly. This ensures the bleaching material (which is injected into the trays prior to wearing) fully covers your enamel and prevents leakage from occurring. Since you can take them anywhere, whitening at home and on the go is easy. By wearing them for a set period of time each day (usually 30 minutes to an hour) over the next two weeks, you can achieve the same smile you’d receive through in-office treatment.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
For those who would prefer to get their whitening treatment done faster, especially ahead of an important event or occasion, in-office whitening is more ideal. By using a combination of highly concentrated bleaching gel and our Biolase dental laser, we can make your smile up to eight shades whiter in just one hour.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
To ensure your smile stays stain-free for as long as possible, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind:
- Avoid very hot or richly pigmented foods immediately after your whitening is performed.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste.
- Consider using a whitening toothpaste once a week to remove surface stains from teeth.
- Consider performing a touch-up if you are using a take-home kit (or visit our office for an in-person touch-up)
- Maintain checkups every six months to ensure no stains have developed or other cosmetic concerns have reappeared since you last completed whitening.