Discolored, yellowed, or stained teeth can create a dull-looking smile. Tooth discoloration can also impact your confidence around others and make you look older than you are. Teeth whitening treatment in our Argyle, TX office is a part of our cosmetic dentistry services. We can help you regain your smile using high-quality, customized whitening treatments.
Professional teeth whitening may be right for you if you’re tired of looking for store-bought solutions for tooth stains. We can help you find the right teeth whitening treatment to whiten your teeth in multiple shades. ZOOM teeth whitening, dental bonding, veneers, and dental crowns are all options to create a brighter smile.
Why Do I Have Discolored Teeth?
Knowing the cause of your discolored teeth can help you determine the best teeth whitening treatment for your needs. There are many common causes of tooth stains:
- Foods and Drinks: These are the most common causes of tooth stains. Some foods and drinks, including tea, coffee, wine, berries, and tomato-based sauces can stain teeth. Acids in these foods and drinks can also weaken your teeth over time, which can make your teeth look discolored.
- Tobacco Use: If you smoke cigarettes, use a vape, or use other tobacco products, you’ve likely noticed your teeth turning yellow. When nicotine and tar mix with oxygen, they stain teeth.
- Dental Injury: A chipped, cracked, broken, or worn tooth can often appear discolored. A hit to the tooth can damage the nerves and blood vessels within the tooth, creating a discolored appearance.
- Medications and Medical Problems: Metabolic diseases, liver problems, antidepressants, and antihistamines are some medications and medical conditions that discolor teeth. Tooth discoloration can be a common side effect of many medical problems and medications.
- Age: As you age, you are more likely to experience tooth wear from years of acidic foods and drinks, brushing, and even medical conditions. Over time, the outer tooth enamel wears away, showing dentin, the dark underlayer. Because dentin is darker than the enamel, it makes teeth appear discolored.
- Genetics: Some people may have weaker, more brittle tooth enamel, which impacts the shade of their teeth. Genetics can impact how your teeth form and the appearance of teeth.
Store-bought vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
Over-the-counter whitening products are convenient, including toothpaste, strips, and gels. However, many patients don’t get brighter teeth with these products. Store-bought teeth whitening products take a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. These whitening treatments have lower concentrations of ingredients like hydrogen peroxide than professional treatments. Inconsistent use of these products also lessens the chance of lasting results.
Professional teeth whitening is customized to your needs. If you have sensitive teeth, we can reduce the amount of active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, which can irritate some patients. We can repeat the whitening process to get the right tooth shade. Additionally, if you have stains resistant to whitening, we can recommend long-lasting treatments like veneers or dental bonding.
Teeth Whitening in Argyle, TX
Our office provides in-office and take-home teeth whitening for your convenience. We recommend cosmetic or restorative treatments to cover discoloration if you have sensitive teeth or deep tooth stains. Teeth whitening treatment in our Argyle, TX office includes:
ZOOM Whitening
With ZOOM, you can whiten teeth in just one office visit. There are multiple steps to this in-office teeth whitening treatment:
- To begin treatment with ZOOM, we first clean and polish your teeth.
- We apply Vitamin E lip oil to prevent dry lips during the treatment. We will provide you with glasses to protect your eyes.
- Then, we place a cheek retractor to isolate your teeth and gauze over your gums to minimize gum sensitivity during treatment.
- We place a solution over the gums for further protection.
- Next, we apply the ZOOM whitening gel to the teeth. We use a curing light to ensure the active ingredients in the gel penetrate the teeth.
- After fifteen minutes, we remove the gel and repeat this whitening process multiple times until we reach your desired tooth shade.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
We can provide custom take-home whitening so you can whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home. To customize this treatment, we take dental impressions of your teeth. We use these impressions to make custom teeth whitening trays.
Once these trays are complete, you will return to our office. We will provide you with your custom whitening trays and whitening gel. At home, you will apply the gel evenly within the trays. We will give at-home instructions on how long to wear these trays daily for the best results.
Tooth Bonding
Dental bonding treatment offers quick and efficient treatment for one or more teeth. We apply a tooth-colored composite to injured and stained teeth during bonding treatment. Once the tooth is the right shape and shade, we cure the material. Our dental office often recommends tooth bonding if you have a single stained tooth or multiple stained teeth throughout the mouth.
Dental Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that cover the front of teeth. We recommend veneers if your stained teeth resist professional teeth whitening treatment. Veneers last longer than bonding treatment but require more tooth preparation. This preparation removes part of the tooth enamel to ensure the veneers fit properly.
Dental Crowns
We recommend tooth crowns if you have discolored and damaged teeth. Like bonding and veneers, we color-match crowns to your natural teeth. Crowns fully cover single teeth. These tooth caps protect teeth from further damage, creating a more even bite.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Learn more about teeth whitening treatment at Argyle Family Dentistry with answers to these patient questions:
What are intrinsic and extrinsic tooth stains?
Intrinsic tooth stains are stains that build within the teeth. Removing these stains is harder because they affect the dentin or the layer beneath the enamel. Extrinsic tooth stains affect the outer layer of the teeth. Dental cleanings and teeth whitening treatments can help remove extrinsic tooth stains.
How do you make teeth whitening last?
After teeth whitening treatment, follow these tips to keep your teeth white:
- Avoid staining or acidic foods and drinks
- Brush and floss daily
- Visit the dentist for routine dental cleanings
Proper maintenance will ensure that your teeth stay bright after professional whitening treatment.
How long does teeth whitening last?
On average, ZOOM teeth whitening treatments can last 12 or more months. We provide touch-ups and take-home whitening trays. Our office also recommends a good oral hygiene routine and routine dental visits to ensure your results last.
Can you whiten dental restorations?
No, you cannot whiten crowns, bridges, or dentures. Porcelain or ceramic does not react to teeth whitening. If you have discolored restorations, we can provide a replacement. We can also color-match restorations to other natural teeth for a seamless look.
Can teeth whitening irritate the gums?
During professional teeth whitening treatment, we cover the gums so the whitening gel does not irritate the gum tissue. Take-home whitening treatments use whitening trays that are custom-made only to cover the teeth. That way, the whitening gel will not affect the gums. Over-the-counter whitening treatments are not custom-made. As a result, they can lead to gum irritation.
How much is teeth whitening treatment?
The cost of teeth whitening treatment will depend on which treatment you choose. In-office teeth whitening treatment usually costs more than take-home treatment. If you choose treatments like veneers or bonding, treatment costs increase if you require treatment for more than one tooth.
Brighten Your Natural Smile
Are you looking for a long-lasting teeth whitening treatment? Call Argyle Family Dentistry in Argyle, TX, for teeth whitening at 940-531-9753 . You can also schedule a dental appointment with us online. Let us know if you have questions about teeth whitening. We’re here to help you get a brighter smile.