Are You an Ideal Candidate for Tooth Whitening?

Having your teeth professionally whitened is a great way to improve your appearance instantly and give your confidence a big boost. While most people are good candidates for having their teeth whitened, others teeth may not be in good enough health and prevent them from being a good candidate for the procedure. You should talk with your dentist to find out what dental care you need before you seek a cosmetic dentist to brighten your smile.

If you have a lot of dental work like tooth-colored fillings, crowns, bridges, or veneers, they won’t be lightened from the tooth whitening process. Bleaching should be completed prior to having this type of work done so that it can be matched to the whitest shade for the teeth. Otherwise, whitening your teeth will result in a white frame for your previous dental work.

Not all discoloration of the teeth is the same. If yours are yellow in color, then you will probably get the desired results from the whitening process. For those with gray tinted teeth, whitening is less likely to give you the results you want. Other types of treatment may be required to give your teeth a white, youthful appearance.

You should have any cavities filled prior to having your teeth whitened. Otherwise, the hydrogen peroxide used in the bleaching process will get into the tooth where there is no enamel to protect it and may cause severe sensitivity.

If you have gum disease, you should not have your teeth whitened. Gum disease can cause receding gums which exposes the nerves of the teeth to the peroxide solution. The nerves are much more sensitive to the peroxide and, although the dentist should protect the gums from the solution during application, you should have treatment for the gum disease before considering subjecting the teeth to the procedure.

The best candidates for a professional whitening process is one whose mouth is healthy and not in need in need of dental work Healthy, strong teeth with the enamel intact can usually be whitened successfully without any risk of dangerous side effects.

Our Fairfield cosmetic dentistry practice offers professional teeth whitening, invisalign, and a range of other treatments to our patients.