Visit Cooper Family Dental for professional teeth whitening. We offer lab-fabricated bleaching trays with take-home bleaching gel or ZOOM! Whitening. ZOOM is an in-office whitening procedure that allows you to achieve your desired “whiteness” in one appointment!
In-office whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures we offer. No matter which method, professional teeth whitening at home or in our Arlington, TX, dental office can help you meet your cosmetic goals.
Why Do I Have Tooth Stains?
Teeth discolor over time for many reasons, which may include:
- Poor Brushing and Flossing: An excellent oral hygiene routine not only prevents infection but also keeps your teeth bright. If you do not brush or floss regularly, a bacterial film called plaque can cover your teeth. Plaque can make the teeth appear darker.
- Foods and Drinks: Tea, coffee, and wine are common drinks that stain teeth. However, berries, soy sauce, and tomato-based sauces can also stain teeth.
- Medication: Some medications discolor teeth as a side effect. Antihistamines and anti-depressants are common medications that may stain your teeth.
- Smoking: If you use tobacco products, stains from nicotine can turn your teeth yellow. Years of smoking or tobacco use can change your tooth color.
- Dental Trauma: If you chip, crack, or break a tooth, it may turn grey. Damage to the blood vessels within the tooth causes it to change color.
- Tooth Wear: Natural wear and tear can expose dentin, the tooth layer beneath the outer tooth enamel. Dentin is darker than the enamel. As a result, your teeth will appear darker.
Professional Teeth Whitening in Arlington, TX
Compared to store-bought options, professionally crafted take-home trays or ZOOM in-office whitening can deliver results. If you have stains from foods, drinks, smoking, or plaque, we can help you find the proper whitening treatment to meet your needs.
Before treatment, we will provide a smile consultation, during which we will discuss your budget, concerns, and goals. We will also determine the type of tooth stains you have and, if you have sensitive teeth, consider which whitening treatments will be comfortable for you.
Extrinsic tooth stains are stains on the tooth surface. Common causes of surface stains include foods, drinks, and poor oral hygiene. Intrinsic tooth stains are within the teeth. Tooth discoloration from tooth damage and years of smoking are harder to remove.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Our in-office ZOOM treatment can provide results for patients after one visit to our office. To begin ZOOM treatment, we ensure your teeth and gums are clean. We will provide you with glasses to protect your eyes during treatment.
Then, we will create a barrier to cover your gums, which will minimize gum sensitivity. We will isolate the teeth and place whitening gel on each tooth. Then, we will use a light to activate the gel on the teeth. LED light helps the active ingredients in whitening gel enter the teeth.
After 15 minutes, we remove the gel and repeat this process. In-office treatment can take 45 to 60 minutes.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
With our custom-made whitening trays, you can whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. In our office, we will take dental impressions for your trays. We send these impressions to a dental lab, where technicians create the trays from high-quality materials.
Then, you will return to our office to receive your trays and whitening gel as a part of your whitening kit. You will clean your teeth at home before placing the whitening gel into your trays.
We will recommend how long you should wear your trays daily for the best results. In most cases, you will see results from tooth whitening treatment within two weeks.
Restorative and Cosmetic Treatments
If patients have deep or intrinsic tooth stains, we may recommend dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or dental crowns. These treatments can cover their teeth and change the brightness of one or more teeth.
Dental bonding uses tooth-colored composite resin and can commonly cover chipped and cracked teeth. However, we can also color-match the resin to brighten teeth. Bonding is best if you have one or two discolored teeth in the front of your mouth. Tooth bonding offers a quicker and more economical option than veneers.
We may recommend dental veneers when you want to cover all the teeth in your smile line. Veneers are thin, shell-like treatments that bond to the front of teeth. Veneers last longer than dental bonding but require more tooth preparation.
Tooth crowns cover single teeth like caps. They are best if you have damaged or discolored teeth because they cover and protect the teeth.
While tooth bonding, veneers, and crowns can change tooth color, you cannot whiten them. Unlike natural tooth enamel, resin and porcelain materials do not react to the active ingredients in teeth whitening treatments. However, if you have an old, dull restoration, we can create a new one for you.
How to Keep Your Teeth White
After your teeth whitening treatment, you want to keep your teeth as white as possible. To keep your teeth bright after treatment, remember to do the following:
- Brush and Floss: A good oral hygiene routine will help remove plaque, a bacterial film from leftover food particles and saliva. Plaque not only increases your risk of infection but makes teeth appear darker. Ensure you brush and floss for two minutes twice a day.
- Avoid Certain Foods and Drinks: Some foods and drinks, including berries, tomato sauces, coffee, tea, and wine, can stain teeth. In addition, acidic foods and drinks can wear down tooth enamel, making teeth appear discolored over time. Avoid acidic and staining foods and beverages to keep teeth bright.
- Get Touch-Up Treatments: We offer in-office touch-up treatments to help you maintain your results. Typically, teeth whitening treatments last 6 to 12 months.
Schedule a Dental Exam Today
Get a brighter smile with teeth whitening treatment in Arlington, TX. Call Cooper Family Dental at 817-646-1217 to brighten your smile, or schedule a dental appointment online. Do you have questions about teeth whitening treatment? Please let us know at your next visit.