You could call your smile your Calling Card. It’s the primary aspect of your appearance that speaks to your personality and even your character. Studies suggest that, within seconds, we form an opinion of others based on the way they look. It has been shown that a person with a radiant smile is perceived as youthful, friendly, trustworthy, and generally healthy.
If your teeth have become dull, yellow, and discolored, you may feel dissatisfied with the appearance of your smile. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic solution that can help, and we have in-office and home whitening options available here at Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry.
It’s important to understand that your dentist uses different methods of teeth whitening than what you can find elsewhere. Teeth whitening strips may be convenient, but they may not be the best choice for you. Some of the advantages of seeing your dentist for professional teeth whitening treatment include:
- More powerful whitening agents get results more quickly than store-bought whitening treatments.
- Your dentist can make sure your teeth and gums are in good condition before you begin your whitening treatment.
- Professional whitening can achieve more dramatic results than commercial whitening treatments.
- Your dentist can help you manage side effects like sensitivity.
- Your dentist can schedule whitening treatments according to your unique needs, including severe discoloration.
- Your dentist can ensure that teeth whitening is the right approach for your type of staining.
- Professional treatment can attend to additional needs, such as existing crowns or other restorations that don’t respond to teeth whitening
It can be difficult to predict how long teeth whitening results will last. Many of the factors that contribute to enduring results are in your hands. For example, your teeth may become discolored again quickly if you smoke or routinely consume beverages like tea, coffee, and red wine. Due to these factors, as well as your oral care habits, your results can begin to diminish as soon as 6 months after treatment, or they may last for a few years. With good daily oral care, routine rinsing of your mouth after meals and snacks, and regular dental visits, your brighter smile is much more likely to last for at least several months.
You might schedule touch-up whitening treatments as often as every year without compromising your oral health. This may depend on the type of whitening treatment you have done. Our primary objective is to help you maintain your most radiant smile without causing prolonged sensitivity or enamel erosion due to overexposure to whitening agents. By talking to your dentist about your goals and the factors that may affect your results, you can determine the best ways to care for your new, whiter smile.
It isn’t uncommon to experience some sensitivity after having your teeth whitened. This side effect occurs because the active whitening agents used during your treatment must strip the protective barrier from tooth enamel. The barrier returns within days of getting your teeth whitened, but in the meantime, the nerves at the core of your teeth may be more easily stimulated. You may need to take over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate this symptom. You can also brush using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth.
Schedule your Teeth Whitening Consultation in Pound Ridge, NY!
At Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry, we’re all about making smiles more beautiful! Contact us at 914.764.3540 to schedule your teeth whitening consultation.
