Teeth Whitening – Southlake, TX
Remove Stains with Professional Whitening Solutions
![Smile before and after teeth whitening in Southlake](assets/images/teeth-whitening-1.jpg)
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.
![Cosmetic dentist in Southlake speaking with a smiling patient](assets/images/teeth-whitening-2.jpg)
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.
![Woman making a square shape around her smile with hands](assets/images/teeth-whitening-3.jpg)
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
![Woman holding tray for teeth whitening in Southlake](assets/images/teeth-whitening-4.jpg)
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
![Woman receiving in-office teeth whitening in Southlake](assets/images/teeth-whitening-5.jpg)
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.
![Woman brushing her teeth](assets/images/teeth-whitening-6.jpg)
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.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
If you’re like many people, you might be a little bit concerned about the prospect of discomfort when it comes to dentistry. Fortunately, there isn’t much to worry about when it comes to teeth whitening. The whitening treatment that you receive from us will be perfectly customized to fit you, which minimizes any chance of pain or discomfort associated with this cosmetic treatment. This being the case, you should feel comfortable pursuing teeth whitening without any concerns about sensitivity.
Am I a Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a fairly low-impact cosmetic procedure, which means that most people who are unhappy with the color of their smile are a candidate for the treatment. However, if you’re currently dealing with tooth decay or gum disease, this could increase your risk of complications as a consequence of the procedure. In such cases, we may need to treat these conditions before moving on to aesthetic treatment. We’ll be able to tell you more about the condition of your smile and whether you could need additional treatment when we meet you in person.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Teeth whitening is not a permanent procedure, but it often lasts a little bit longer than you might expect. Depending on how well you typically take care of your teeth, you can expect your teeth to stay white for anywhere from a few months to a few years!
If you want to maximize the lifespan of your results, the best thing to do is to adopt a solid dental hygiene routine. You should also see us for regular cleanings and checkups—we can use this time to polish your teeth, or even to touch up your whitening treatment.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
When you come to us for teeth whitening, we’re well aware of the risks inherent in any kind of dental care and will work hard to mitigate them. We also only use professional-grade whitening materials that have been both FDA and ADA approved and have therefore undergone rigorous testing to verify their safety. This means that we are confident in both the safety and efficacy of the whitening treatment we provide.
Of course, none of this is necessarily the case when it comes to over-the-counter teeth whitening solutions that you get from the store. That’s yet another reason to come to us for whitening instead of taking a DIY approach.