Yellow or discolored teeth can make us self-conscious, and that can affect our confidence, our personal relationships, and the first impressions that we make when meeting someone new. Dr. Vikash’s Ethical Dental Care offers two great teeth whitening methods:
1. IN-OFFICE TEETH WHITENING
This painless procedure takes about an hour in our office. The dentist applies a bleaching agent to your teeth and then activates it with a special light while you relax. A concentrated Hydrogen Peroxide gel is applied for 15 minutes and this process is repeated 3 times depending on what shade you want.
2. AT-HOME TEETH WHITENIG KIT
This is a 2 visit process.
On the first visit, an impression for your custom mould trays will be done. On the second visit you will be provided with the tray and the whitening kit. You’ll use a custom-fit bleaching tray on your teeth in the comfort of your own home. The process takes longer than our in-office process but can last for more than a year with good dental hygiene habits.
With bleaching as an option, you must know that your teeth will stain at the normal rate. Tea, coffee, dark colored beverages like wine, and food rich in turmeric causes external stains on your teeth. You may need to visit your dentist in a few months for whitening again.
While these are two great options, they might not be right for everyone. Factors like the condition of your teeth could mean that neither at-home nor in-office teeth whitening is an option.
It is not an option for patients having extensive tooth decay, gum diseases, cracked tooth, and tooth abscess. Pregnant ladies and children under the age of 16 are not candidates for teeth whitening.
Another option for you to get a beautiful smile is, PORCELAIN VEENERS.
A veneer is a hard coating that completely covers the front of an individual tooth. Veneers are purely cosmetic; they are used only on the front teeth as they are most visible
Veneers are made of either porcelain bonded directly to the tooth’s surface. With porcelain veneers, the dentist will make impressions of the teeth and the veneers are custom made for each tooth. Veneers provide you with a natural-looking, custom-made “shell” that covers each tooth.
It is essential that you have healthy teeth and enamel before considering veneers. Removing some of the enamel from a tooth that is already compromised can be problematic.
For porcelain veneers, impressions are made after the enamel is removed. The impressions go to a lab where the veneers are made. Because this takes some time, you may get temporary veneers until your next appointment. At that visit, the dentist will bond the veneers to the teeth, and polish and fine-tune their shape for a natural feel and look.
Veneers can last for upwards of 15 years. But, they can chip or come loose if you grind your teeth or chew on hard items like ice or even your fingernails.
Potential patients need to realize, however, that since some of the enamel is removed, and getting veneers is not something that can be undone. If they come off or are damaged, they should be replaced.
Veneers are costly but last a long time. They also can resolve a number of dental issues at once like chipped teeth, uneven spacing, and discoloration. But having them put on will permanently change the teeth’s enamel. There’s no going back.
Professional tooth whitening is routine, safe and effective. The risks are minimal and the cost is reasonable. But, sometimes it might not work. The procedure won’t address issues like crooked teeth or gaps. And you may have to have it done every few years.
Any cosmetic decision is best made by weighing the factors that are most important to you. Deciding on teeth whitening vs. veneers is no different. Discussing your options with your dentist will help you decide what makes the most sense for you.