Teeth Whitening

Tooth whitening is one of the simplest procedures that can be performed to help improve the satisfaction of your overall smile.  As we age our teeth naturally become darker, additionally if you drink coffee, tea and/or are a tobacco user this will cause the teeth to darken as well.  The good news is that these stains generally respond very well to whitening.

Am I a candidate? What’s the process?

If you are interested in having whitening done, Dr. Wright will perform a no charge consult to ensure that you are in good oral health and to make sure that whitening is a viable option for you. (Some stains caused by exposure to tetracycline or excessive fluoride during the early childhood stages of tooth development don’t respond well to whitening.)  If you are a candidate, Dr. Wright will take an impression to create a custom tray (similar to a mouth guard) and you will receive the whitening gel and instructions on how to use the at home system. Every patient is unique and it usually takes 10 to 14 days to see the maximum benefit of the whitening, but some patients notice results almost immediately.

How long does it last?

It really depends on the individual and their personal habits (coffee, tea, dark cola, smoking, tobacco snuff lessen the effectiveness of the whitening) but typically the effect lasts between 1-5 years. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day and regular dental checkups will help maximize the length of the whitening.