Have you been wondering about the benefits of teeth whitening? Most people would prefer whiter teeth if they can get there without too much effort or expense. There is nothing like flashing your “pearly whites” rather than reluctantly showing dingy yellow or grey teeth.
Understand, first of all, that we are talking about professional teeth whitening from your dentist – not the strips or gels that you get from the drugstore. If you are reading this, you have probably already tried those treatments and discovered that they do not work all that well. First of all, the strips only cover the front of your teeth, so you can forget about offering the world a wide smile – people are going to see your yellowed or discolored back teeth. You also know that those strips tend to slip off, and you can never get them back on properly. If you add up the number of kits needed to get a decent result, you might even find you’ll spend more for the over-the-counter whitening products.
When you come to see Dr. Stefanie Shore for teeth whitening, she will customize her recommendations for whitening to your specific needs. For those with mildly discolored teeth, one to two weeks of home treatment often gives dazzling results. First, we take impressions (molds) to make a model of your teeth. Next, we use the model to make custom-fit trays using a soft, rubbery, clear material. When you come in for the tray and gel delivery appointment, we take a “before” shade and teach you how to apply the gel. We carry 3 strengths of the Opalescence gel – 10% (for sensitive teeth or for those who want to wear the trays all night), 20% (for 2 to 4-hour treatments), and 35% (for 30-minute treatments). The higher strength gels require less time on the teeth to achieve the same results but can cause more temporary tooth sensitivity. After one week of whitening, we check your progress. Most people achieve a whiter smile in just two weeks of home whitening.
For those who want whiter teeth but don’t want to do treatment at home, Dr. Shore offers the Opalesence Boost in-office whitening system. Two to Three one-hour sessions are needed. The gums are protected with a special barrier, then the strong whitening gel applied is by our highly trained staff. This technique can be ideal for teeth that are too sensitive to whiten at home.
For stubborn cases or very dark teeth, Dr. Shore offers the KOR system for deep tooth whitening. This system can offer up to eight shades of whitening. The process for KOR whitening involves trays made by a dental laboratory, KOR nighttime whitening gel, and a more extended whitening time (up to 3 months) depending on how much change is needed. The KOR technique also involves two in-office treatments, one at the beginning and one at the end of home whitening. It is more expensive than our usual home whitening system, but the results for those with very dark teeth can be life-changing.
Contact Us
If drugstore treatments have not given you the teeth whitening results you want, see us for professional whitening. You can book an appointment by calling 916-966-5269, or using the form on our Contact Us page.
