Are you unhappy with the look of your smile? Professional teeth whitening services are your best option for a brighter, whiter smile. Whitening is one of the most common cosmetic treatments to create a beautiful smile. Allen Dental Center offers in-office and take-home teeth whitening in Allen, TX, for patients who want effective and long-lasting results.
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment aims to tackle yellow teeth and teeth with tough stains. It offers a safe and effective way to improve the look of your teeth.
Why Do I Have Stained Teeth?
You may have stained, discolored, or yellow teeth for many reasons. Common causes of tooth stains include:
Poor Oral Hygiene
When you don’t brush and floss regularly, plaque builds up on your teeth and can harden into tartar, which often has a yellow or brown color. This makes teeth look dull and discolored.
Foods and Drinks
The foods and drinks you consume also play a big role. Dark-colored beverages like coffee, tea, soda, and red wine can stain tooth enamel. Certain foods with strong colors, such as berries, tomato sauce, or soy sauce, can cause similar staining over time.
Smoking
Smoking or using tobacco products is another major cause of tooth discoloration. The nicotine and tar in tobacco create stubborn yellow or brown stains that are harder to remove even when you brush and floss.
Medication
Some medications can affect tooth color too. Certain antibiotics, antihistamines, and high blood pressure medications may cause teeth to darken, especially in children whose teeth are still developing. Even some mouthwashes can lead to staining with long-term use.
Dental Trauma
Dental trauma or injuries can change a tooth’s color. If a tooth gets hit hard, it may respond by producing more dentin (the layer under the enamel). This layer can can make the tooth appear darker. Sometimes, a damaged tooth may even turn gray over time as the nerve inside dies.
Types of Tooth Staining
The two types of stains are extrinsic stains and intrinsic stains.
Extrinsic stains are the most common types of teeth stains we treat. They affect the outer layer of the teeth, the enamel. Lifestyle choices cause these surface stains. Smoking, poor oral hygiene, and consuming foods and drinks that stain your teeth will lead to extrinsic stains.
Most types of professional teeth whitening treatments cannot treat intrinsic stains. However, you can cover these stains with veneers.
The Benefits of Whitening My Teeth at a Dentist’s Office
Store-bought whitening toothpaste, strips, and other products offer inconsistent results. Professional teeth whitening treatment offers many benefits over store-bought options:
- Customized Treatment: Our Allen Dental Center dentist will assess your dental condition and create a custom treatment. We want you to get your dream smile, and we will also ensure the safety of your teeth and gums.
- Stronger Agents: When you use professional teeth whitening, the bleaching solutions contain a higher concentration of agents. This allows for more effective and noticeable results compared to over-the-counter products. Stronger bleaching agents enter the tooth enamel to lift deep stains and change tooth color by multiple shades.
- Safer: Teeth whitening from a dentist is safer and offers fewer side effects. Our dentists will take the proper measures to protect your gums and oral tissues before beginning treatment. Protecting the gums reduces the chances of sensitivity and irritation.
Teeth Whitening in Allen, TX
Regardless of your type of stain, Allen Dental Center will find a solution to whiten your teeth. Our goal is to make teeth whitening safe and comfortable for you. Our dentist will examine your smile, review your medical history, and recommend the most suitable treatment.
In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening
Zoom! Teeth Whitening is one of the most popular methods of tooth whitening today. In-office whitening is effective, safe, and reliable. Zoom does not require trays and can deliver dramatic results fast. The in-office Zoom system can whiten teeth by up to 8 shades in about an hour.
The process is simple. Our dentist will cover your gums, lips, and tongue to protect them and minimize discomfort. Then, our dentist will apply the gel that contains hydrogen peroxide to the teeth.
We activate the teeth whitening gel with a special Zoom light that accelerates the whitening process. Then, we will repeat this treatment multiple times, lasting about 15 minutes each cycle.
At-Home Professional Teeth Whitening
In addition to Zoom! Teeth Whitening, we also offer an at-home whitening option. Many patients prefer this treatment because they can whiten their teeth from the comfort of their own homes.
With at-home whitening, you can reach your desired results after several weeks. While this takes longer than in-office treatment, take-home whitening is safer and more effective than store-bought products.
We will take dental impressions at our office to fabricate your custom bleaching trays. When those are ready, you can begin treatment at home. You will use the trays and gel every day. We will instruct how many hours a day to wear the trays. The length of your treatment will depend on your desired results.
KoR Teeth Whitening
Allen Dental Center offers KoR teeth whitening as an option that combines and in-office and take-home whitening process. KoR teeth whitening is uniquely formulated and uses the stabilizing benefits of refrigeration to deliver exceptional results for difficult tooth stains. This is the only whitening treatment that can address darkening of the teeth from aging, stains from certain medications, and fluorosis.
KoR offers several levels of whitening to meet the varying needs of patients and different types of tooth staining. Our dental care team will evaluate the condition of your teeth and recommend the right type of treatment. This can include an in-office treatment, a take-home treatment, or both.
Alternatives to Teeth Whitening
If you have intrinsic stains, you may not qualify for professional teeth whitening procedures because they are hard to remove. We will also recommend alternatives to whitening if you have sensitive teeth. Whitening treatments with high levels of active ingredients can affect your tooth nerves.
If you have sensitive teeth, Allen Dental Center may recommend tooth bonding or dental veneers to whiten teeth. Bonding uses tooth-colored material to cover single teeth. We can color-match bonding material to your desired tooth shade.
Veneers are thin shells made of porcelain that bond to the front of the teeth to hide dull, yellow, or discolored teeth. We color-match veneers to ensure they cover one or all teeth that show when you smile.
Before we place your veneers, we will remove a portion of the enamel. Because we must prepare your teeth for veneers, this is a more permanent solution for discolored teeth. We recommend veneers if you want to cover tooth stains permanently.
How to Keep Your Teeth Bright
You want to maintain your results as long as possible. Follow these tips to keep your teeth white:
- Brush and floss twice daily: Good oral hygiene can remove surface stains from your teeth. When you brush and floss daily, you can remove stains from foods, drinks, and bacterial buildup.
- Avoid certain foods and drinks: Coffee, tea, red wine, soy sauce, tomato sauce, and other foods and beverages can stain your teeth. In addition, acidic foods and drinks can wear down your teeth, changing your tooth color. You can drink water after these foods or drinks to help wash away leftover staining particles.
- Get touch-ups: We provide touch-up treatments to keep your teeth white. Our office can provide take-home whitening trays or in-office treatment. Depending on your type of treatment, we often recommend touch-ups after six to twelve months.
- Visit the dentist every six months: We provide thorough cleanings that remove plaque and surface stains from teeth. During cleanings, we can clean and polish the teeth for a brighter look.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Discover more about teeth whitening in our Allen, TX, dental office:
Am I a candidate for teeth whitening?
If your teeth are healthy and you want to brighten their color, you might be a good candidate for teeth whitening. Whitening works best on natural teeth and for stains caused by food, drinks, or smoking. Our office only recommends this treatment for adults with fully developed teeth. We can help you decide if teeth whitening is right for you.
Is teeth whitening safe for sensitive teeth?
Yes, but you should use the right method. Professional teeth whitening is often gentler on sensitive teeth than over-the-counter products. Our dentist can recommend a treatment designed for sensitive teeth to minimize discomfort.
We may not recommend KoR for some patients because the treatment is more intensive. Our dentist will review your options before treatment to find the most comfortable and effective option.
Can I whiten my teeth if I have crowns, veneers, or fillings?
Teeth whitening doesn’t work on crowns, veneers, or fillings because these materials don’t change color. If you want to whiten your smile, our dentist can talk to you about other options. We may recommend that you replace older restorations to match the new shade of your teeth.
What foods and drinks should I avoid after teeth whitening?
After you whiten your teeth, avoid foods and drinks that can stain your teeth, like coffee, tea, red wine, soda, berries, and tomato-based sauces. Stick to lighter-colored foods and drinks for at least 48 hours to protect your results. If you drink beverages that stain teeth, use a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.
Can I brush my teeth after whitening?
We recommend that you wait at least 30 minutes after whitening before you brush your teeth. This gives your enamel time to rehydrate. It also reduces the risk of sensitivity or irritation.
Does whitening work on all types of stains?
Teeth whitening works well on stains from food, drinks, and smoking. But it’s less effective on stains caused by medications, trauma, or aging. Our dentist can help determine the best treatment for your type of stains.
Can you whiten yellow teeth?
Yes. Professional whitening can help reduce yellow stains and make your teeth look brighter. But the results depend on what causes the yellowing. Talk to our dentist to find the best option for your teeth.
How much does tooth whitening cost?
The cost of whitening is based on the type of treatment. KoR costs more than in-office and take-home Zoom whitening. Also, take-home whitening is less than in-office options. But KoR is best for patients who want to treat deeper stains and need more intensive treatment. KoR also lasts longer because it needs more care.
Whiten Teeth Today
Are you looking for a dentist who offers at-home or Zoom teeth whitening in Allen, TX? Allen Dental Center offers both treatments for patients who want to whiten their teeth. We can help you get a white smile.
To book a consultation today with an expert cosmetic dentist at Allen Dental Center, call 972.727.3941. You can also schedule an appointment online. Let us know if you have any questions about whitening your teeth. We’re here to help.