By One Dental Care
November 05, 2015
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: Teeth Whitening  

Having a big, pearly-white smile has become so engrained into our culture that tooth whitening has become a hugely sought after cosmetic dental procedure. Quick and easy, professional tooth whitening can drastically change the look of your smile in just one Teeth Whiteningappointment. However, sometimes preparations are needed before this simple appointment can take place. Your Billerica, MA dentist can not only whiten your teeth, but prepare them for this potentially life-altering procedure.

What should I do to prepare for my whitening procedure? 
Before you make any decisions, a consultation with your dentist is never a bad idea. They may suggest that you have your teeth cleaned before the whitening procedure to ensure the best results. They will also talk to you about what to expect and about having realistic expectations for the end result. Ask your dentist to show you a shade guide so that you can discuss exactly how much lighter you would like your teeth will be after the procedure.

How does tooth whitening work?
Your teeth are comprised of two main layers. The enamel, or hard outer layer of the tooth, is the white surface of the tooth. This layer can have staining due to outside food or drink, smoking or drinking dark colored beverages, such as coffee or soda. Depending on severity, at-home kits or whitening toothpastes may help lighten the stains, but may not remove them completely. The dentin layer makes up the softer inside of the tooth, and lies beneath the enamel. Staining on this layer is usually due to trauma, aging or too much fluoride. These stains are much harder to treat than stains on the enamel, and are largely unaffected by whitening toothpastes or at-home kits.

When you have your teeth professionally whitened, your dentist will use strong whitening agents on your teeth, coupled with a special whitening light. Since these whitening agents can be supervised by the dentist, they are much stronger and more effective than the ones found in at-home kits. The whitening agents use a chemical reaction with the molecules in the staining to break the bonds that hold the stain together, giving the teeth a whiter appearance.

One Dental Care in Billerica, MA can guide you on your journey to a Hollywood smile. If you have questions about tooth whitening, or would like to schedule an appointment, call (978) 667-0691 today!