Teeth Whitening
Eagle Mountain, UT
 There are several big milestones in our lives that justify having a beautiful, white smile: college graduation, our wedding day, and even day-to-day events – like a major presentation at work or a blind date with a promising person – can make us want to put our best face forward. While it’s tempting to want to rush out and buy some over-the-counter whitening kit at a big box store, we strongly advise against this impulsive and possibly dangerous decision. The results you would get from a mass-produced, generic kit would not give you the same caliber of whitening that you would get from the professional grade products that we use here at Ranches Family Dental. If you’re looking to banish embarrassing stains, then we can give you the results that you desire.
Who is a Good Candidate for Professional Tooth Whitening?
While nobody wants appallingly fake-looking white teeth, neither do they want dull, dingy, grey or yellow teeth, either. Your teeth are like little sponges, full of tiny pores that make them absorb anything you introduce to them. That means that if your diet consists of a steady stream of red wine, coffee, tea, and even tobacco, your teeth can start to take on an unsightly hue. Over time, our teeth can start to color with age, as well.
While the color of your teeth is largely determined at birth, it’s normal to want to revert to those earlier days of a dazzling smile. Unlike what you’d find in an OTC tooth whitening kit, you’d get a better quality of product and faster results when you turn to us for tooth whitening. It’s also safer to turn to us for professional tooth whitening with less risk of damaging your teeth. Your gums are less likely to be turned white from spreading the bleaching product, as well.
Before we proceed with whitening your teeth, we’ll give you a thorough examination and cleaning to make sure you’re a good candidate for it. Patients whom we do not recommend tooth whitening to include:
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Children. Patients under the age of 16 are not good candidates due to the risk of more sensitivity afterward.
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Pregnant and lactating women. While whitening is safe, we do not want to take any chances with your unborn fetus.
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People with advanced tooth decay. We would first treat any cavities before moving forward with whitening.
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Patients with gum disease. Again, we will treat any active infections before proceeding.
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Patients with bonding, veneers, or crowns. These do not respond to bleaching agents, so any whitening would have to occur before having these placed in your mouth. |
Because we do use stronger products, it’s normal to expect a moderate amount of sensitivity in your teeth following the whitening procedure, but you can minimize any discomfort with NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Warm compresses can also be soothing but avoid anything with extreme temperatures after your whitening.
It’s important to keep realistic expectations about a tooth whitening procedure. Some patients simply won’t get super blindingly white teeth, and that’s normal. As long as you’re aware of the limitations of your teeth, you’ll be happy with your results. It’s also important to take care of your teeth following the procedure and abstain from foods that can stain and tobacco. Keep up with your brushing and flossing routine to keep your results longer.
If your teeth are stained and you’re feeling too embarrassed to smile, don’t be! Give us a call here today at Ranches Family Dental at (385) 374-0500 with any questions you may have and schedule an appointment to allow us to restore your teeth to their natural beauty. |
