Kansas City Tooth Whitening Options
Whether you are self-conscious because you have yellowed teeth from smoking or drinking coffee, or if you just want to look your best, tooth whitening is a sure way to brighten your smile and gain increased confidence in your appearance.
What is Tooth Whitening?
This is a wonderful teeth whitening technique that allows us to easily, comfortably and safely whiten your smile. In our Bonner Springs office, we use a special, mild, pleasant tasting carbamide peroxide gel that, over a period of 7-10 days, can dramatically whiten your smile. Custom-made, soft plastic stints are fabricated that allow you to wear them almost invisibly. The special tooth whitening gel is placed in these stints and worn for several hours a day (or night). Most patients notice a difference in just 6-8 hours of time. Almost all of our Kansas City area patients have completed their tooth whitening within 2-3 weeks. Darker teeth may take longer.
Finding the Best Treatment for You
Schedule a visit with our dentist to learn whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners do not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish teeth will probably bleach well, brownish teeth may bleach less well, and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings or crowns. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you do have other options, such as porcelain veneers.
Tooth Whitening Treatments
- At-home whitening system
- Whitening toothpaste
When selecting a whitener or any dental product, be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance — your assurance that a product has met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness.
At-Home Whitening System
There are several types of products available for use at home, which can either be dispensed by Dr. Drake or purchased over the counter. They are generally teeth whitening trays (mouthguards), strips, or paint-on products.
Teeth Whitening Trays
These products contain peroxide(s) which actually bleach the tooth enamel. Carbamide peroxide is the bleaching agent and comes in several different concentrations (10%, 16%, and 22%). Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouthguard. Usage regimens vary. Some products are used twice a day for two weeks, while others are intended for overnight use for one to two weeks. If you obtain the bleaching solution from our office, we can make a custom-fitted mouthguard for you that will fit your teeth precisely. Currently, only dentist-dispensed, home-use, 10% carbamide peroxide tray-applied gels carry the ADA Seal.
Teeth Whitening Strips
Teeth whitening strips are thin, flexible plastic (polyethylene) strips with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide bleaching on one side. Whitening strip kits come with two types of strips: strips for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. The bleaching agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips into place to ensure contact with all your teeth. Teeth whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment will vary.
Teeth whitening can have minor side effects and you should speak with Dr. Drake if these become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. In most cases, this sensitivity is temporary and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Some people also experience soft tissue irritation, either from a tray that doesn’t fit properly or from solution that may come in contact with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with Dr. Drake.
Whitening Toothpaste
All toothpastes help remove surface stain from your teeth through the action of mild abrasives. “Whitening” toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA Accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.
Cost of Teeth Whitening
The cost of teeth whitening varies according to the type of teeth whitening method – whether professional in-office or at-home.
More full face images are available at our conveniently located office in Bonner Springs in the Kansas City, Kansas area.Feel free to stop in anytime to view many more full face photos at no obligation. You can also call us at (913) 721-1300.