Even for patients who have taken excellent care of their teeth throughout their lives, it’s pretty normal to want them to look a little whiter and brighter as time passes. This process has become more and more convenient in modern dentistry, and Cashmere Family Dentistry conducts it with the utmost care. Let’s talk about why teeth whitening is the perfect start to a new year.
Why Choose Us?
We want to start off by saying that the practice and provider you choose for treatment makes a big difference in your results—and being in the hands of Dr. Janie or Dr. Ryan Busk promises that they’ll be exceptional.
- Personalized Solutions: Our team understands every smile is different, so we tailor your whitening treatment to your specific needs and goals.
- Comprehensive Options: From quick in-office treatments to convenient at-home systems, we make sure to offer solutions that fit your schedule and lifestyle.
- Commitment to Oral Health: Our patients who complete whitening treatments often become more proactive about maintaining their oral health. We offer many dental services to help enhance your smile in a holistic sense.
How It Works
To get started, we carefully consider what you’re looking for out of your teeth whitening treatment, what your concerns might be, and how we can accommodate them. Here’s a bit of an overview of what a whitening process will look like from start to finish:
1. Consultation: We will sit down with you to closely examine your teeth and discuss any existing restorative work that might need to be considered. We do this to make sure your smile’s overall appearance looks seamless after the session is complete.
2. Professional Treatment
- In-Office Whitening: We use the Philips ZOOM Lightspeed system to brighten your smile by up to eight shades in a single appointment. A specially formulated gel is applied to your teeth and activated with a light to remove deep stains and discoloration. This usually only takes around an hour.
- At-Home Whitening: For this option, we’ll give you custom-made trays and professional-grade whitening gel. You can wear the trays for about an hour daily, and within two weeks, you’ll achieve a brighter smile. This option can be great for those who have a packed schedule and want flexibility.
3. Long-Lasting Results: Both systems provide significant whitening, and we supply touch-up kits as needed to help maintain your results over time. Please note that the longevity really depends on having good oral hygiene and lifestyle habits, as well as attending regular dental cleanings at Cashmere Family Dentistry.
Why Should I Whiten My Teeth?
Teeth whitening falls under the category of cosmetic dentistry, which is to say it usually serves an aesthetic purpose for our patients as opposed to a medical or functional one. There are many culprits behind yellow or discolored teeth:
- Aging: Over time, as we age, the enamel breaks down and thins. Beneath it is a substance called dentin, which has a yellow tint.
- Diet: Popular daily drinks like coffee or tea repeatedly expose teeth to discoloration. Brightly colored foods like curry and berries can stain teeth over time.
- Tobacco: Smoking or chewing tobacco deposits tar and nicotine, causing yellow or brown stains and a whole host of other dental and bodily consequences.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as tetracycline and excessive fluoride during development, can cause some of the most significant examples of discoloration.
- Plaque and Tartar: Plaque and tartar will build up as a result of poor oral hygiene in some patients, leading to surface stains that aren’t always obvious at first. It can be especially innocuous in patients with braces.
- Genetics: Some people simply inherit naturally thinner or more translucent enamel, which can make teeth more vulnerable to discoloration.
- Environment: High levels of fluoride in drinking water can unexpectedly lead to enamel discoloration over time.
A Word of Warning
Teeth whitening kits are available far and wide in stores and online. These kits can seem like the cheaper and more convenient option on the surface—but be aware that they often lead to extremely inconsistent results.
For one thing, they contain lower levels of hydrogen peroxide, and for another, they lack any professional oversight or guidance. This is why we urge patients to use professional methods in our office instead.
Putting in the Work
Maybe you’ve been struggling with discoloration for many years now, or maybe you just have a few stubborn spots that bother you—either way, we offer a perfectly stress-free solution! The first step is to reach out to our Cashmere, WA office so we can get your appointment scheduled! We can’t wait to meet you!
