by Orange County Dentist Dr. Tammy Tran is how sparkling your teeth now look. Today’s modern whitening techniques not only remove accumulated stains on your teeth but lighten the natural pigment. The result will be teeth whiter and brighter then ever before. Dr. Tran likes to start with an examination to check for leaky fillings or teeth that could be irritated by the bleaching process. It is also more effective to bleach teeth that have been recently cleaned, so it's good to have your teeth cleaned before doing the whitening .The next step is to take impressions of your teeth that will be used to make a set of snug fitting trays. The trays, filled with a special bleaching gel that she will give to you, will be placed on your teeth for a specified period of time each day over two weeks or longer. When the procedure is completed, you’ll have that white, sparkling smile you always wanted.
How Does It Work?
Some people may have questions about teeth whitening done in a dentist's office compared to over-the-counter whitening products available in your pharmacy. After all, we’ve all seen the commercials about the over-the-counter treatments. The fact is, these products do work, but only superficially. They can remove surface stains on teeth but underlying stains beneath the enamel remain untouched. That's where the procedure done professionally by a trained dentist like Dr. Tran excels. Dr. Tran will use a strong bleaching gel containing peroxide with your trays. The peroxide penetrates your teeth and then releases oxygen. It is this oxygen that oxidizes stubborn stains. The over-the-counter products, even if they contain peroxide, are used without the supervision of a trained dentist and so the concentration of peroxide is fairly weak. These retail products are also unable to penetrate the tooth structure as deeply as needed to create a bright, lustrous smile.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
The simple answer is yes…but with a caveat. After undergoing the procedure with Dr. Tran, your teeth will always be whiter than they would have been without teeth whitening. However, as you go about your everyday life, as you continue to drink coffee, soft drinks, juices, and ingest other food and drink, over a long period of time your teeth will gradually begin to pick up stains again. When that happens, short touch-up treatments at home will bleach away the new stain. If you have questions about teeth whitening, Dr. Tran will be happy to see you in a complimentary consultation to answer your questions and help you decide if you want to commit to a formal examination and x-rays. To request either a consultation or an examination, call the office at (714)-979-3710 or visit our Make an Appointment Fountain Valley Teeth Whitening page.
