Teeth Whitening

What are the Benefits of Teeth Whitening?

Dental-grade teeth whitening is one of the most simple solutions to completely transform your appearance. If your teeth are being held back by years of staining, customized teeth bleaching can give you a whiter and more luminous smile without any anesthesia, invasiveness, or downtime. The benefits of teeth whitening include: 

• Non-invasive treatment that doesn’t require anesthesia
• Can undergo whitening at your own convenience
• Results noticeable after approximately one hour with in-office bleaching
• Ability to reach deeper discoloration penetrating the inner tooth

Teeth whitening is commonly incorporated into a Smile Makeover, full mouth rehabilitation, or “gummy smile” reduction, among other cosmetic dentistry treatments. Our dental team can listen to your goals and formulate an ideal treatment plan based on the types of results you wish to obtain. 

How Did My Teeth Change Color?

There are many ways in which a person’s teeth can become discolored. Here are a few of the most common culprits:

• Food and drink containing intense pigments have chromogens that can attach to the enamel of your teeth, staining them in unwanted colors. The most common drinks that cause staining include red wine, tea, and coffee.
• Tobacco contains tar and nicotine, both of which discolor your teeth. Tar is a black substance that will darken your teeth, and nicotine becomes a yellowish pigment over time as it is exposed to oxygen.
• Aging will naturally cause your teeth to darken and stain. As the white enamel layer of your teeth deteriorates, the darker dentin layer will begin to show through.
• Some medications will cause your teeth to become discolored. Young children are the most susceptible to this form of teeth discoloration.
• Tooth trauma caused by an injury will cause that tooth to form extra layers of dentin under your enamel, darkening your smile.

There are many reasons why someone should have their teeth whitened. That said, there are a few types of discoloration that professional bleaching cannot remove. Dr. Libby and our team would be happy to examine your teeth to help you determine whether teeth whitening or another solution, such as porcelain veneers, is the most effective treatment to give you a whiter smile. For more severe staining, a porcelain veneer may be a more effective and natural-looking restoration to mask discoloration. 

Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me?

If you have any imperfections that make you cringe at your reflection in the mirror, cover your mouth when laughing, or refuse to show your teeth when smiling, let us help you. Dr. Libby and the entire team here at Libby Dental understand the emotional weight that dental issues can carry. Our goal is to have you out of the dentist’s chair, feeling brand new with a smile you can’t wipe off your face! While every patient has their own reasons for teeth whitening, here are a few common reasons why someone might want to whiten their teeth: 

• Are you planning on getting a cap, veneer, dental crown, or filling? If you’re expecting to receive any of these dental restorations, then perhaps teeth whitening could benefit you. These types of repairs do not change color and are made to match the tone of your teeth as they appear. By having your teeth whitened beforehand, your repairs will appear brighter along with the rest of your smile!
• Are you self-conscious about the color of teeth? If you’re preparing for an important event such as a wedding, graduation, or family pictures, then perhaps it’s time to whiten your teeth. A picture can last a lifetime, so if you’re worried about the tone of your teeth, we can give you a brighter smile in a single office visit!
• Are you quitting tobacco? If you have recently quit smoking or want to quit, perhaps whitening your smile can be a healthy reward. The black tar and yellowish nicotine found within tobacco products can quickly darken and yellow your teeth. Schedule a visit with us, and you can have your teeth whitened in a single office visit!
• Are you not seeing results from whitening strips and toothpastes? These over-the-counter options are significantly less concentrated than our take-home or chairside whitening options and oftentimes will only remove surface stains. By coming into our office, we can offer quick and easy ADA-approved teeth whitening!

With teeth whitening treatments, we can create a bright smile — even after significant staining or discoloration. We want every patient to love their smile, and we will work with you to achieve the perfect smile you’ve always wanted.

How to Manage Sensitivity After Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening can yield powerful results, but the bleaching agents used during treatment have been known to cause temporary sensitivity and discomfort. That said, there is generally less sensitivity after professional whitening when compared to over-the-counter whitening since the solution can be applied to the enamel more evenly. At-home remedies to reduce whitening include:

• Use desensitizing toothpastes and rinses, such as Sensodyne, after treatment to help manage any discomfort
• Ensure your toothbrush has soft bristles and gently guide it along the surface of your teeth without applying excessive pressure
• Don’t consume food or drink at extreme temperatures — avoid very hot or very cold meals and drinks, such as hot tea, ice cream, etc.
• Wear a nightguard to avoid unintentionally clenching and grinding your teeth, which can cause soreness and jaw pain

Fortunately, any sensitivity in the teeth and/or gums after your appointment should resolve naturally. There are also effective ways to help manage sensitivity after at-home whitening treatment, such as adjusting the amount of bleaching solution in your tray, or whitening your teeth on a less frequent basis. Dr. Libby and our team will speak with you more about mitigating sensitivity after teeth whitening in person.

Does Teeth Whitening Require Any Aftercare?

Among the many benefits of teeth whitening is that there is no recovery or downtime required after treatment. Teeth whitening does not require any days off from work or school, allowing patients to resume their normal routine immediately. Patients can do impressions for bleaching trays to maintain brightness at home. However, it’s important to follow our instructions on proper aftercare to help minimize discomfort and facilitate the most successful outcome. Common effects after teeth whitening include gum irritation, teeth sensitivity, tenderness, and general discomfort. In general, patients should avoid smoking tobacco and consuming food/drink at extreme temperatures. Touch-up treatments can be pursued as necessary to brighten your smile in the future.

How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

Teeth whitening can be one of the fastest and most cost-effective cosmetic dentistry treatments to brighten your smile. With the ability to transform teeth by several shades almost immediately, teeth whitening is non-surgical, non-invasive, and doesn’t require any anesthesia. Thanks to the nature of teeth whitening, treatment is usually more economical than other cosmetic and restorative procedures. Depending on the unique details of your dental plan, the cost of teeth whitening is calculated based on:

• The extent of discoloration experienced
• The method of teeth bleaching chosen
• The number of sessions/teeth whitening trays necessary to achieve your goals

Rather than undergoing teeth whitening alone, implementing the teeth bleaching procedure into other cosmetic dentistry treatments can more comprehensively help San Diego patients enhance the shape, size, color, and symmetry, and appearance of their teeth. We accept dental financing for qualified patients, which can help bring the cost of teeth whitening into budget if you’d rather pay for your treatment plan in smaller installments.

Are There Any Teeth Whitening Alternatives?

Yes! For some patients, teeth bleaching is not an ideal treatment to whiten teeth. This technique is not successful for all types of teeth, such as brown or gray teeth. Teeth whitening is also ineffective in treating tetracycline stains, which refers to an antibiotic medication known to leave deep staining in teeth. If you struggle with discoloration that’s too severe to be improved with teeth whitening, Dr. Libby and our team also offer treatment with porcelain veneers — a thin porcelain shell placed over the front of a tooth to conceal stains, gaps, chips, and other aesthetic flaws. While some types of teeth staining do not respond to whitening, veneers can hide discoloration by color-matching the affected tooth to the rest of your smile. Don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Libby about your concerns so he can develop the best treatment plan for your needs.