Teeth Whitening at Dentist South Bend, IN

How does teeth whitening at the dentist work?

At Michiana Family Dental, we can provide you with an in-office teeth whitening using professional-grade whitening solution. This is an important distinction to make because the whitening kits that are sold in the store contain solution that is not nearly as strong and will not produce the same level of results. Patients may also visit our office after trying a kit at home and wish they had come here first. The reason for the difference is that a store-bought solution will typically only remove the surface stains from the teeth. This can help to eliminate some of the stains caused by recent food or beverage consumption. It will not remove the deep staining and discoloration that is coming from within the tooth, but our solution will.

Why teeth whitening at the dentist produces better results.

It all comes down to oxidization. When we place whitening solution on your teeth it will not stop at the enamel, but penetrate it. Once inside of your tooth, our solution will work to start the process of oxidization so that the molecules inside of your teeth will reflect less light. By appearing colorless, your teeth will look like a brilliant shade of white.

How long does it take?

When you visit our South Bend dental office for teeth whitening, we will prepare your teeth and protect your lips, gum tissue and cheeks. We will then apply the whitening solution and give it time to be activated. Typically, it only takes an hour from the time you sit in the dental chair to when you are able to leave. The solution will begin to take effect during this time and your teeth will show an immediate improvement.

Can anyone have their teeth whitened?

At Michiana Family Dental, we recommend whitening procedures for adults and some older teens. This is not an appropriate procedure for children and, fortunately, they very rarely need it. Before determining if someone is a good candidate for teeth whitening, we conduct a thorough examination. This is to determine if there are any signs of cavities, infection or gum disease. These oral health problems require treatment prior to conducting any cosmetic dentistry procedures. This is to ensure that we are not putting whitening solution on a tooth that is decaying or exposed. Naturally, this could cause you discomfort and only exasperate the situation. Fortunately, if we do find any oral health problems, we can correct them quickly and schedule you for a teeth whitening treatment right away.

How frequently can I schedule a teeth whitening at the dentist?

When you visit our dental office, we will examine your teeth, look for signs of erosion and discuss your overall treatment plan. In most cases, you can have your teeth whitened every six to twelve months. This is true if the teeth are healthy. If they are not healthy, sensitive, or eroding, we may recommend that you only have your teeth whitened once per year.