Teeth Whitening
Have you considered brightening your smile? Professional teeth whitening is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to improve the appearance of your smile. Many of our patients have been amazed by the difference teeth whitening can make!
Professional Teeth Whitening
At Wahlers Family Dentistry, we make it easy for you to whiten your teeth on your schedule according to your needs. Our professional take-home whitening kits allow you to whiten your teeth in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Getting started is easy. Just give us a call to schedule a cleaning and a consultation. We can discuss your needs and your goals and determine whether teeth whitening can help you meet those goals.
If you and Dr. Wahlers agree that teeth whitening is a good option for you, we can provide you with one of our take-home whitening kits. Your kit will be customized for you, with an appropriate strength whitening product and trays made from impressions of your own teeth for a perfect fit. The process usually takes about two weeks, and at that point you will see a noticeable difference in the appearance of your smile.
If whitening is not the best choice for you, we can discuss other options that will help you improve your appearance and meet your goals.
What about the Kits in the Drugstore?
Many patients who are considering whitening ask us about the kits that are available at the drugstore or grocery store. Many of them promise results similar to professional kits but there are significant differences. Additionally, drugstore kits are designed to be “one size fits all.” This “one size fits all” philosophy leads to products that do not fit properly, so the product doesn’t come into perfect contact with your teeth and can leak onto your sensitive gum tissue, causing discomfort and less-than-ideal results.
Additionally, drug store kits use a less concentrated whitening product. In time, you will notice a difference, but it won’t be as dramatic or as fast as a professional product.
The most important difference, however, is that when you choose professional teeth whitening at our East Norriton dental office, you will be under the care and guidance of Dr. Wahlers at all times. Our team will be available any time you have a question or concern, and we will tailor your whitening program to your needs and goals. If you are having any concerns with your whitening, you can always call us or stop by for advice.
Is Teeth Whitening Right for You?
Would you like to learn more about whitening your teeth? Each whitening starts with a cleaning so that you can get the best results possible, so call today and schedule a cleaning and a consultation at Wahlers Family Dentistry. We’d love to help you improve your smile with this easy procedure!
Frequently Asked Questions
Tooth sensitivity is very common and can present in different forms such as hot, cold or sweet sensitivity. Sensitivity to extreme temperatures, or extremely sugary foods like candy, does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with your teeth. Some people simply have teeth that are more sensitive than others, with younger people typically having more issues than elderly people. Sensitivity is also considered a normal side-effect of tooth whitening, but fortunately in almost all cases the sensitivity resolves after the whitening process is completed. Cavities, cracked teeth, and other dental problems also are associated with sensitivity, so a quick dental examination should be performed to determine the cause.
The most sensitive area on a tooth is usually found at the gumline. This portion of the tooth has the thinnest enamel and therefore is less "protected" from hot or cold temperatures. Gum recession is very common and occurs when the gum tissue surrounding the tooth recedes back, leaving a small portion of the root exposed. These exposed roots have no enamel covering them, and can be extremely sensitive.
There are many products that treat tooth sensitivity, with the most common being toothpastes that contain Potassium Nitrate 5%, such as Sensodyne toothpaste. Pottasium Nitrate toothpastes work very well when used daily, but results often take a few weeks to be noticed- they rarely provide immediate relief. Fluoride is also a great desensitizer and over-the-counter fluoride mouthrinses often work well. There are also varnishes and sensitivity treatments that a dentist can apply to your teeth to provide relief if the over-the-counter products are not sufficient. If you are unsure of which sensitivity treatment is right for you, ask us at your next visit!
White teeth are associated with youth, health, and beauty - it is no surprise that people universally want their teeth to be white! As people age, the shade of their teeth naturally darkens. Dark foods and drinks such as red wine, coffee, tea, soda, or dark berries can stain teeth. Tobacco products are well-known for their ability to turn teeth yellowish-brown. Fortunately, there are safe, easy products to reverse this color change.
Many toothpastes claim to be "whitening" products, but in reality they can only remove surface stains, and are not very useful in whitening the actual tooth itself. Almost all whitening products on the market, both over-the-counter and those provided by a dentist, are a form of hydrogen peroxide, with carbamide peroxide being the most common. The only significant differences between products is the concentration of the peroxide and the manner in which it is applied to the teeth. When used as directed, these products will not harm teeth and have been on the market for decades. Whitening products do cause a significant increase in tooth sensitivity, but this is typically temporary and disappears within weeks of whitening. Crest WhiteStrips, which is a common over-the-counter whitening product, has the peroxide on a plastic strip that is pressed on to the teeth and allowed to remain there for a set period of time, and this process is usually repeated daily over the course of a week or two.
Professional products are usually purchased at a dental office and contain much higher concentrations of peroxide. Our office recommends a process where we take impressions of your mouth, and make custom whitening trays are made to fit exactly over your teeth. This is a take home system, where in the comfort of your home a gel is placed in the trays, and the trays are placed onto the teeth and allowed to remain for an hour or so. In some cases, you can even go to sleep with the trays in your mouth to allow them to whiten as you sleep. After one to two weeks, the results are usually amazing. It is important to know that only natural teeth will whiten - fillings and other dental work will not.
There is currently no way to whiten your teeth and have the results be permanent. All whitened teeth will eventually darken again, as various foods and drinks stain them again. The benefit of having whitening trays is that you can maintain the whiteness of your teeth by performing a once-a-month whitening session (wear the trays for one hour per month). Extra whitening gel is relatively inexpensive (at least at our office) compared with the original whitening procedure.
When you take a quick look at the toothpaste section in any drug store or supermarket, it can be overwhelming. There are literally hundreds of different products to choose from. Essentially they all do the same thing- clean your teeth. The majority of these toothpastes are labelled as "whitening" toothpastes. The problem for shoppers is that there is no real way to compare products. Saying that toothpastes can whiten your teeth is similar to saying that vegetables can improve your health. The main reason that the manufacturers put the word "whitening" on their products is that they find they sell more toothpaste. Everyone wants whiter teeth. In reality, very few "whitening" toothpastes do anything more than simply remove surface stains, which I personally find misleading.
All true dental whitening products contain a form of peroxide. Therefore, when patients ask me which toothpaste to buy to truly whiten their teeth, I tell them try ones with peroxide in them. Most of the big brands, such as Crest or Colgate, make toothpastes with peroxide (sometimes in conjunction with baking soda). Rembrandt makes a toothpaste called Deeply White (with peroxide) that works well. As with most any healthcare product, I would recommend sticking with brand names, and avoid any toothpastes that can only be ordered over the internet.
However, even the best whitening toothpastes will only provide modest results. For more profound results, a professional tooth whitening treatment ("bleaching") may be the better way to go. We can always answer any of your questions at your next visit.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Christopher Wahlers
Dr. Wahlers was born and raised in central New Jersey. He attended Gettysburg College for his undergraduate studies, where he majored in biology, graduating summa cum laude. During his undergraduate volunteer experiences in different medical settings, Christopher decided to pursue a career in dentistry.
During his time at New Jersey Dental School (Rutgers University), Christopher served as president of his class and graduated in 2003 as a member of the OKU National Dental Honor Society. He continued his education with an Advanced Dental Education residency program at Temple University.
Prior to Wahlers ...
Featured Blog Posts - Teeth Whitening
What Foods Stain Your Teeth?
There are many causes of stained teeth. Most people are aware that smoking and chewing tobacco are among the worst culprits. Also, teeth naturally darken as we age due to thinning enamel, changes in structure of our teeth, cracks (which pick up stains) and changes in the thickness (density) of our teeth. Most people are also aware that certain things we eat and drink profoundly affect the color of our teeth.
A simple way to determine a food’s ability to stain teeth is to think of a white T-shirt. In general, ...