Generally regarded as a form of elective, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening helps to remove some of the discoloration and staining that arises from aging, coffee-drinking, smoking, bacterial pigments, or various mouth-related complications. In addition, certain medications (like tetracycline) have been known to cause staining or a general reduction in the enamel's brightness.

Boca Raton Teeth Whitening - the Procedure

There exist a number of teeth whitening procedures, including various over-the-counter products to be used at home. Peroxide-based bleaching pens, bleaching gels, bleaching strips, natural bleaching, and laser bleaching are just a few of the more common approaches to teeth whitening. Although both the type and duration of results vary depending on the bleaching procedure used, in nearly all cases, the oxidizing agent penetrates the rod-like crystalline structure of your teeth's enamel and literally oxidizes the stain deposits, thus, removing their colors and helping to restore your teeth's natural whiteness.

Affordable Teeth Whitening in Boca Raton

While at-home kits can be quite effective for the bleaching process, the advantage of relying on Boca Raton dentists for your teeth whitening is speed. They often use a technique known as power bleaching in which specially treated lights help to accelerate the process and achieve faster, cleaner results. In addition, Boca Raton dentists can also employ more aggressive approaches like internal bleaching in which they dig deeper into your tooth's enamel to remove stains that at-home kits usually cannot access. In extreme cases, Boca Raton teeth whitening dentists may have to use dental veneers - composite material held together with various bonding agents to completely cover up any discolored teeth.

Recent Advancements in Boca Raton Teeth Whitening

Because there is no shortage of over-the-counter teeth whitening products, you may be tempted to rely exclusively on these before booking an appointment with a Boca Raton dentist capable of handling the procedure. The American Dental Association (ADA) has even published a list of approved at-home kits to help patients in their decision-making.

However, you should not explore any teeth whitening solutions until you have consulted your Boca Raton dentist first. The ADA recommends at least one check-up before committing to any particular treatment. During this consultation, your Boca Raton dentist will examine your mouth and dental history to ensure that you have no allergies, sensitivities, or damaged tissue. Your dentist will also analyze the extent of the discoloration, helping you to decide which procedure is the most effective - deep discoloration may warrant additional visits to the dentist since over-the-counter products typically just treat the surface of the tooth.

Why Patients Choose Boca Raton Dentists for Teeth Whitening

While in-office teeth whitening tends to be more effective than over-the-counter solutions, this is just one of many reasons why patients prefer to rely on Boca Raton dentists instead of using at-home kits. Other reasons include the risk of side effects - complications best addressed by a licensed dental practitioner.

Some of the more common side effects of teeth bleaching include:

• Overbleaching (known in the Boca Raton dental community as "over-white teeth" or "hypereodonto-oxidation")
• Pain and overly sensitive teeth, caused by exposed dentinal tubules
• Rebounding - the process in which teeth quickly lose their bleached effect. This is especially problematic with products that result in rapid coloration changes over a short period of time
• Chemical burns if highly concentrated oxidizing agents make contact with unprotected gums, lips, and other tissues

All of the above complications can arise regardless of where and how you receive your teeth whitening. The advantage of completing the procedure with Boca Raton dentists, however, is that they can spot the early warning signs and make the necessary corrections right away. If you choose to perform your teeth whitening at home instead of with a Boca Raton dentist in your area, you may not be able to detect the side effects until it is too late. At the very least, you will likely require a trip to the dentists' office in convenient office hours, thus, reducing any convenience gained or money saved by performing the treatment at home in the first place.