"How can I make my teeth whiter?"

Maybe it’s the two or three cups of coffee you have in the morning. It could be the iced tea and soda you drink throughout the day. Or you could be like the thousands of people trying to quit smoking. But you look in the mirror every morning and your teeth seem dull or even stained. They definitely are not as white as you would like. But there’s no easy way to change that, right? Wrong!

Tooth whitening is a relatively new process in cosmetic dentistry. It is actually a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of the enamel and dentin. And best of all, it is generally comfortable, affordable and effective.

There are many causes of tooth discoloration. The most common include aging, consuming staining substances (coffee, tea, colas, tobacco), trauma, tetracycline (antibiotic) staining, excessive fluoride, nerve degeneration and old fillings.

Almost everyone can benefit from the effects of tooth whitening. However there are some cases where the treatment may not be effective or may take longer to work. Through a complete examination your dentist can determine the best way to whiten your teeth.

                       Before                                   After                           

During the first visit Dr. Williams or Scott will take an impression or mold of your teeth. Then a custom fitted tray to hold the bleaching solution will be made to hold the whitening solution.

Tooth whitening works as the bleaching solution is placed in a thin tray that fits over your teeth. As the active ingredient breaks down oxygen is released and enters the enamel and dentin and bleaches the colored substances. The tooth is not actually changed; only the color is made lighter. This is unlike over the counter products that may contain a mild acid that actually etches or erodes away a small portion of the outer layer of the tooth. Also the whitening solution dispensed by a dentist can remain active for up to eight hours while store bought brands only last an hour or two.