Teeth Whitening in Columbia, MO

Many people desire a whiter, brighter smile. White teeth usually indicate good oral health and can help a person feel more confident.

Teeth Can Darken Due To Many Factors:

Age – As a person ages the enamel of the tooth, which is the hard, outer shell, gets thinner, and the inner (and more yellow) surface of the tooth shows through.

Tobacco use – Tar and nicotine can cause dark stains on the teeth.

Food and drink – Dark drinks are usually the cause of these types of stains. However, some foods can cause stains, as well.

Trauma – When a tooth has been traumatized, it can lay down extra dentin (the yellowish inner surface), making the tooth appear darker.

Medications – Several medications or medical treatments can cause tooth staining. The antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline cause staining if taken during tooth development. Some antihistamines, high blood pressure medications, and antipsychotics also cause teeth stains. Chemotherapy and head or neck radiation can darken teeth as well.

How Does Whitening Work?

Two different types of peroxide can be used to whiten your teeth. By making contact with the stained teeth, peroxide breaks up the stain on a molecular level, whitening the teeth.

Does Whitening Work On All Teeth?

Unfortunately, no. If you have existing crowns, bridges, veneers, or fillings, those teeth will not whiten. Only natural tooth structure bleaches. Often, teeth that have had trauma or staining due to medications will not whiten. It is best to consult with your dentist to determine if teeth whitening in Columbia will work for you.

What Are My Teeth Whitening Options?

Over-the-counter whitening toothpaste can work well for some people if the stains are mild surface stains.

Non-custom bleaching trays (“Opalescence Go”) mold to your teeth due to the temperature in the mouth. These come pre-loaded with whitening gel and are more cost-effective than custom bleaching trays. These trays are available for purchase in our office.

Take-home custom whitening utilizes a self-applied bleaching agent and UV light (that you keep). You are able to bleach your teeth in the comfort of your home and on your schedule.

In-office custom whitening: At our dentistry, you can also have your teeth whitened in one hour with a professionally applied bleaching agent utilizing a UV light. It is applied in 20-minute increments and can be applied up to three times to maximize the results. A protective coating is used to protect the gums before we apply the gel. This is usually the most efficient method of whitening.

What Are Potential Side Effects Of Whitening My Teeth?

Depending on the type of whitening option utilized, there are some potential side effects that you should know about:

• Bleaching agents can be harmful to the gums and other areas inside of the mouth. Care should be used to control the gel while it is whitening your teeth.
• Tooth sensitivity can also occur with bleaching.

Please contact us today at All American Dental in Columbia, MO, at (573) 449-1918 for your teeth whitening consultation!