When you have stains on your smile, this could cause embarrassment and even lead you to hide your smile from the world. However, we can offer teeth several shades bright with professional treatment. In today’s blog, your Austin, MN, dentists talk about our at-home teeth whitening system.
The Causes of Teeth Stains
Why do our teeth become stained in the first place? Well, a number of factors could be responsible. For example, eating foods and drinking beverages high in sugar leaves behind particles for bacteria to consume, which creates plaque buildup that makes stains more visible (and also increases the risk of cavities and gum disease). In addition, drinks with dark pigments, like tea, red wine, soda, and coffee, could cause discoloration. Other causes include smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products, lack of proper brushing and flossing, and infrequent visits for dental cleanings. These all cause surface discoloration that we can remove with professional teeth whitening.
Teeth Whitening Trays
The teeth whitening process is simple, and can brighten smiles by up to eight shades in some cases! We will begin by taking impressions of your smile to create a set of plastic trays that fits comfortably over your teeth. We then send you home with these trays and syringes of a powerful bleaching gel. You fill the trays with gel and wear them for about 30 to 45 minutes a day. The trays help provide even results across your smile, and prevent the gel from being diluted. The treatment period lasts about one to two weeks on average, and can lead to smiles up to eight shades brighter. The trays and any leftover gel are yours to use in the future.
Bonding and Veneers
While most stains appear on the surfaces, known as extrinsic stains, there are also intrinsic ones that form beneath the enamel, often caused by injury to the teeth, fluorosis, or the use of certain medications at a young age. While they may not respond to teeth whitening, we can still brighten smiles! With boding, we can mask them with the same composite resin we use in our fillings, and in only one visit. We also have custom porcelain veneers that can mask stains and also reshape the teeth to address a variety of cosmetic issues at once.
If you have any questions about removing discoloration or about our other cosmetic treatment options, then contact our team today to learn more. You can see us now to use your 2022 dental benefits before they expire.
Do You Have Questions About Removing Discoloration?
Our team is here to help you end 2022 with a significantly brighter smile! To make an appointment with the Potach and Mitchell Dental Clinic, contact our Austin, MN dental office today by calling 507-437-6312.
