Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
After years of enjoying stain-causing food and beverages, such as tomato sauces, dark berries, red wine, dark soda and coffee, our teeth can start to look yellow or dingy. A professional teeth whitening treatment — which is our most requested cosmetic procedure — can reverse this staining and years of age in as little as one visit to our Scotts Valley cosmetic dentist’s office.
Wondering if professional teeth whitening is right for you and your smile? Let’s take a closer look:
What does teeth whitening do?
A whitening treatment removes stains from tooth surfaces. Two types of stains can develop on teeth: extrinsic and intrinsic. An extrinsic stain is known as a surface stain. Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, develop inside your tooth, forming either because of the deterioration of tooth enamel due to age or trauma or as a side effect of using certain prescription medications. Typically, a whitening treatment is more effective in removing extrinsic stains than intrinsic stains. Our Santa Cruz dentist usually recommends porcelain veneers to treat intrinsic stains.
Am I a good candidate for teeth whitening?
Assuming the stains on teeth are extrinsic, almost everyone is a good candidate for teeth whitening. But the only way to know for sure is to visit our cosmetic dentist’s office in Los Gatos for a consultation and evaluation.
The following is what our dentists will be looking for to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for teeth whitening:
- Teeth/Gum Condition — One of the most important prerequisites for any cosmetic procedure is strong oral health. Tooth decay, gum disease, weakened tooth enamel, or flawed or failing existing restorations may not provide the best results from a teeth whitening treatment.
- Existing Tooth Sensitivity — An in-office whitening procedure shouldn’t cause tooth sensitivity the way an over-the-counter whitening kit can. If you have problems with teeth sensitivity, however, be sure to talk to our dentist about it before undergoing a professional whitening treatment.
- Existing Dental Restorations — Teeth whitening treatments are meant to lighten and brighten natural teeth. Crowns, fillings and dental bridges are all tried-and-true treatments in restorative dentistry to repair damaged teeth or replace lost teeth, but the active bleaching agent in whitening procedures will not change their shade.
TEETH WHITENING IN SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, AND LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
The best way to know how teeth whitening will benefit you and your smile is to give us a call at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry. Schedule a consultation today by calling (831) 824-5111.
