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Professional In-Office Teeth Whitening | Litchfield MN
Proper brushing and flossing every day can help to keep your smile bright and breath fresh. Factors such as aging, consuming colored foods and drinks, and lifestyle habits such as chewing or smoking tobacco products can cause your teeth to discolor and get darker.
Fortunately, there are several options for teeth whitening to help improve the shade of your teeth and maintain the shade with follow up treatments as recommended by the dentist. Before treatment, the dentist will examine your teeth to establish the cause and severity of the discoloration, and then propose various whitening options that will be most suitable for your case to ensure that you get the desired results and the smile of your teeth. The results may fade with time depending on your diet, age, and lifestyle choices, so subsequent treatments may be necessary to maintain a white smile.
Good Candidates for Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is most effective on surface stains, and while anyone from the age of 10 years and above can be a good candidate for bleaching, there are a few cases when your dentist may prevent you from proceeding with the treatment. These include:
- Tooth and gum sensitivity – Sensitivities may disqualify you from using certain whitening techniques
- The natural color of your teeth – Intrinsic stains are harder to bleach compared to extrinsic stains
- The presence of crowns, fillings, bridges, or veneers – These do not bleach the same as natural teeth, which means that you may have to replace them after whitening your teeth to achieve a uniform look
- Exposed roots – These surfaces are harder to whiten effectively compared to tooth enamel, which means that you may have to consider alternative methods.
Your dentist will assess your teeth and mouth during your first visit to determine your suitability.
Final Note
Teeth whitening is not permanent, and people who expose their teeth to tobacco products and colored foods and beverages that cause staining may realize faster fading of the results. The more you exercise proper oral hygiene after bleaching, the longer you will stay without requiring touch-up whitening treatment.
Please contact your dentist to discuss ways to improve your smile with teeth whitening.
Cosmetic Smile Makeover Near Me, Litchfield MN
Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of professional oral care that aims to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile. A beautiful, healthy smile has many benefits both in professional and social settings – it makes you appear attractive, happy, and confident which helps you feel like anything is possible. But if you’re feeling shy or hesitant about smiling around others because certain aspects of your teeth aren’t up to par (cracks/stains/gaps), consider visiting a cosmetic dentist!
Some of the common aesthetic problems that cosmetic dentists deal with include:
- Stained or Discolored Teeth – May be caused by age, food, medications, smoking, and other lifestyle factors
- Tooth Decay – Usually caused by plaque buildup due to poor oral hygiene, as well as consuming too many sugary items.
- Chipped or Fractured Teeth – May be caused by any kind of trauma in an accident, due to a sports injury, or even bad habits such as chewing ice or opening soda bottles with your teeth.
- Crooked, Overcrowded, or Misaligned Teeth – The dentist will recommend the appropriate custom dental appliances to gradually move your teeth to the desired position.
- Missing Teeth – There are several options for replacing missing teeth depending on the health of adjacent teeth, the health of the gum and jawbone tissues, age, and personal preferences, among others.
When scheduling your cosmetic dentistry consultation, you should have a good idea of what you want – your ideal smile – before approaching the dentist. Generally, you should know:
- What shade of white you would like your teeth to be – natural, ultra-white, in-between
- Do you want your teeth to be in perfect alignment or slightly varied?
- Do you think your smile is toothy, gummy, or awkward in any other way?
- What defects do you want to be fixed? – missing tooth, crooked or misaligned teeth, fractured teeth, stained teeth, etc.
If you’re self-conscious about your teeth or want to improve your smile, please visit your cosmetic dentist today to discuss your case. The dental team will examine your mouth and formulate a custom plan to help you achieve the beautiful, dazzling smile you’ve always wanted.
What to Expect with Teeth Whitening in Litchfield MN
Teeth whitening, or simply bleaching, is a straightforward, non-invasive dental solution for changing the color of natural tooth enamel, and to enhance the appearance of your smile.
Getting whiter teeth is considered the most popular esthetic concern for most dental patients. Common reasons for teeth whitening include:
- Normal wear of tooth enamel
- Excess fluoridation (fluorosis) during early tooth development
- Stained teeth due to smoking or medications like tetracycline
- Brown or yellow stained teeth
Generally, any patient above the age of 10 years can consider teeth whitening to enhance their smile and boost confidence. However, it is not recommended for patients with oral issues such as dental cracks, leaky fillings, or dental decay, because the whitening products may irritate the tooth nerve, resulting in discomfort or more damage. In addition, patients with short teeth or a gummy smile may not necessarily look better after bleaching because whiter teeth tend to accentuate a gummy smile.
Your Consultation
Before you decide to whiten your teeth, it is important that you get a proper dental examination that includes X-rays to help establish the cause of tooth discoloration. In some cases, staining can be an indication of dental disease that requires a different treatment. But for simple whitening, options include bleaching from inside the tooth, for a dead tooth that has root canal, or a single-tooth bleaching tray for a living tooth.Once the cause and extent of discoloration and staining is known, you and your dentist can explore the different whitening options that apply to your case.
Teeth usually don’t get discolored uniformly. So your dentist will come up with an appropriate strategy to whiten each tooth sufficiently to give you a uniform smile. This means that you can also choose to whiten only one or two teeth, or more.
Final Note
Restorations like tooth-colored fillings, veneers, bonding, bridges, and crowns do not stain or lighten. So, bleaching has no effect on existing dental restorations. As such, you may need to replace pre-existing dental work to match the new tooth shade achieved in your natural teeth following whitening.
Please visit your dentist to learn more about teeth whitening.
Types of Professional Teeth Whitening Options in Litchfield MN
People can tell a lot from the shade of your teeth, including your age, state of oral health, and even your good and bad habits. And since everyone wants to look young and well groomed, teeth whitening has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in dentistry.
Advancements in teeth cleaning technologies have made the treatment more comfortable, predictable, long-lasting, and affordable for all people. Although there are many effective ways to whiten your teeth, they vary depending on the treatment time and frequency, type of stain that can be removed, and the level of whitening that can be achieved.
Some of the teeth whitening options available include:
Professionally applied bleaching:
With in office tooth whitening, the dentist applies a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide (bleach) to the surface of your teeth using trays that fit snugly around your top and bottom teeth. After the in-office treatment, your dentist may give you some hydrogen peroxide gel and custom-made trays to continue your treatment at home for a specific period of time to maximize the teeth bleaching results
Dentist-prescribed treatment:
Your dentist will give you a custom-made whitening kit for home use. This kit includes custom-made trays and some hydrogen peroxide gel. Teeth whitening at home is a gradual process that usually takes at least two weeks.
Which is the best option?
It’s best to consult a dentist for a thorough examination of your teeth so your treatment can be tailored to your unique needs. During your first appointment for professional teeth cleaning, your dentist will examine your teeth carefully, review your oral health history, and then determine whether bleaching is right for you. Please visit your dentist today to discuss your teeth whitening goals and smile concerns.
Common Questions: Teeth Whitening Treatment in Litchfield MN
If you want to get your teeth whitened, it’s important that you research the right dentist and dental practice. The procedure is safe and effective when done by an experienced dentist during the first visit and supervised by a dentist for subsequent treatments. Yet, before you get your tooth whitening procedure done, it is important that you visit a dentist for an examination and diagnosis to ensure you are a good candidate.
Here are some questions to help you choose the right dentist:
Can teeth cleaning and polishing make my teeth whiter without bleaching?
Professional teeth-cleaning and polishing is done to remove tartar that’s caused by drinks like tea and red wine, tobacco products, foods, and more. However, this will not change the color of stained or yellowing teeth. Teeth cleaning can help you remove deep stains and discoloration that won’t go away with routine cleaning and polishing.
What is in-office teeth whitening?
The dentist applies a bleaching product (usually hydrogen peroxide) on the surface of your teeth using trays that fit snugly on your teeth. The tray sits in place for a short period of time to break down the agent, resulting in an oxygen compound that penetrates tooth enamel.
Will I achieve the results I want?
Yes. Most cases of tooth whitening are successful. That said, the treatments work differently depending on the extent of discoloration or staining at the start of the procedure. Your dentist will discuss your treatment plan with you and inform you of the best ways to whiten your teeth, as well as any difficulties that may arise, and what the expected results are.
Can teeth whitening be done outside a dentist’s office?
It’s recommended that you consult a dentist to design your bleaching plan that can then be done in the office or at home with a customized teeth whitening kit. The best dentists will lay out your options, the expected time(s) for improvement, and the duration of treatment if you want to undergo dental whitening.
In which situations might tooth whitening be unsuccessful?
Tooth whitening only helps to improve the shade of your natural teeth. This means that it may not be successful when used on unhealthy teeth, teeth with exposed roots, or teeth that have been restored with fillings, crowns, veneers, or have received root treatments.
Please consult your dentist to discuss your bleaching plan and the expected results of your teeth whitening treatment.
Infected Tooth Pain- Do I Need An Extraction? Litchfield MN
It is normal to have bacteria in your mouth covering the teeth, tongue, and other oral tissues. However, tooth infections can occur when bacteria penetrates the exterior of your tooth (enamel and dentin), and reaches the tooth pulp, or settles in deep gum pockets where it can’t be reached with regular brushing.
Poor dental hygiene, tooth injury, and dental procedures can lead to cavities and fractures that trap bacteria and allow plaque to build up. Although these injuries are usually not painful, the tooth should be filled or crowned promptly to stop bacteria from eroding the tooth any further. If left untreated and the infection reaches the pulp, a condition known as pulpitis may result, causing you to experience a toothache or sensitivity that is aggravated by hot and cold liquids and foods. If the infection continues to spread through the tooth, it may form a pocket of pus known as an abscess.
Treatment options for tooth infections
If you have pulpitis, your dentist may recommend root canal therapy to remove the infection and preserve your natural tooth. Since the tooth will be weakened after the procedure, it will need to be crowned or capped to restore its strength and stability.
Once an abscess forms, the pus has to be drained to treat the tooth. If the tooth can’t be saved with root canal therapy, it may have to be extracted. Pus removal can occur before or after the extraction. If your dentist finds that extracting the tooth before treatment may allow the infection to spread and cause other complications, such as compromising the healing process after tooth extraction, then your dentist may recommend treating the infection before tooth removal to reduce these risks.
Generally, you will need to take pain medication and some antibiotics for a few days before your surgical tooth removal to remove bacteria in the area, as well as after tooth extraction to prevent infection when healing.
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of a tooth infection, please visit your dentist as soon as possible to save the tooth or schedule an extraction.
When Do I Need White, Tooth-Colored Fillings? Litchfield MN
Tooth-colored fillings are used to treat cavities or weakened teeth. To get a tooth-colored filling, your dentist chooses a material that matches the shade of your natural teeth when filling the cavity. This allows you to discreetly repair your teeth and restore them to their full form and function, while enhancing the beauty of your smile.
Here are some reasons to get white, tooth-colored fillings:
- They provide a strong and durable material that can help restore decayed teeth, repair chipped teeth, and close unsightly gaps between your teeth.
- They look natural compared to your own teeth. This is because the filling material is matched to your natural tooth color and then bonded directly to the tooth, giving you a restoration that is both discrete and understated.
- The procedure is brief and generally takes about an hour, so it doesn’t require you to miss a full day of work. However, the amount of time taken for the white fillings depends on different factors including cavity size, location and number needed.
Are White, Tooth-Colored Fillings Right for you?
To determine if white tooth colored fillings are right for you, it is important to know your requirements before beginning the procedure. You should visit a dentist for an examination of the teeth that need filling followed by customization of the tooth-colored fillings made with composite so they match your enamel and blend in when you smile. Please call our office to book your consultation appointment.
Contact Us Today!
White tooth-colored filling is an excellent restoration choice to restore your teeth because of the numerous benefits it offers. If you still have more questions about white tooth colored filling, contact our dental practice today. Our dentists will be available to discuss with you and provide suitable answers to your questions and concerns.
Most Recommended Dentist Near Me, Litchfield MN
Your natural teeth should last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. That is why you need a reliable dentist near me to help provide adequate care for your dental health, treat dental issues, and adjust your overall dental hygiene routine as your needs change. But before choosing a new dentist, it is important that you carry out detailed research. If you need a top rated dentist near me, our dental practice is the ideal place to turn to.
We are a reputable dental practice committed to offering top-class dental services and solutions to both young and adult patients. At our dental practice, we work with a dedicated team with several years of experience in various dental procedures. We offer dental exams, routine cleanings, and other advanced dental procedures at our deluxe dental office.
Preventative Dental Care
We firmly believe in preventive dental practices, such as proper at-home oral hygiene and regular dental visits for professional teeth cleaning. Our dentist can help you with this to reduce the risk of dental problems in the future. Moreover, with regular checkups, we can restore damaged teeth at the earliest stage possible to reduce the discomfort and tooth deterioration associated with untreated dental problems.
Restorative Dental Services
Dental emergencies can arise any time. As such, it’s important to have ready access to a top rated dentist near you to provide the necessary treatment. Our experienced dentist and dental team performs a wide range of dental procedures using state-of-the-art dental equipment, the newest techniques, and advanced technology. Whether it is a minor or major issue with your teeth or gums, our dentists will offer a fast, efficient, and lasting solution.
Cosmetic Dental Services
A bright and healthy smile exudes confidence. This is our responsibility to our patients to create beautiful, healthy, and confident smiles through our restorative and cosmetic dental procedures. Our compassionate cosmetic dental services and procedures will help you achieve the healthy gums and brilliant smile you always wanted.
Contact Us Today!
Call our dental practice today to schedule an appointment with our experienced dentists. We offer affordable, reliable, and highly professional dental services. Our trusted dental team will be happy to meet with you and discuss your available dental options.
When is Whitening Not Advisable? Litchfield MN
Your smile is your most distinct feature when interacting with people. But over time with aging, the use of tobacco products, drinking colored beverages like wine and coffee, using some spices, taking antibiotics like tetracycline, consuming excess fluoride in water, and other factors can cause your teeth to discolor or darken, affecting the appearance of your smile.
Fortunately, patients above the age of 10 years can consider the different methods of teeth whitening for their permanent teeth. Your dentist will determine whether your teeth are healthy enough to have a successful whitening procedure. There are some stains, such as those caused by tooth developmental conditions or medications that cannot be completely removed with whitening. Any dental restorations, including fillings and crowns, also do not respond to bleaching. To create uniformity in your smile, your dentist can recommend several alternatives or complementary teeth whitening options.
When is Whitening Not Advisable?
If your tooth enamel is damaged and you are already sensitive to cold and hot foods and drinks, then bleaching or any other whitening procedure may aggravate your sensitivity. That said, there are lower strength whitening treatments that can be recommended to people with worn/eroded enamel or tooth sensitivity. The treatments can also be used less frequently to reduce sensitivity. In addition, your dentist can recommend a way to reduce sensitivity after the whitening procedure.
Keep in mind that, there are many different whitening options for different teeth requirements, including those with very thin enamel. It is essential that you follow your dentist’s instructions for your specific treatment.
Final Note
Although teeth whitening leaves your teeth looking impeccably white, the longevity of the results will depend on your diet and habits. The amount of time that you can enjoy your sparkling smile depends on multiple factors. If you drink tea, coffee, wine, or use tobacco products, your teeth will stain again sooner, and you will need more subsequent whitening procedures.
Please contact your dentist to discuss ways to improve your smile with teeth whitening.
Cosmetic Dentistry Specialist in Litchfield MN
Today, there are many dental procedures for cosmetic purposes that can significantly enhance your smile. Even subtle changes to your smile can make a huge difference in the way you look and feel about yourself.
Cosmetic dentistry is a specialization of professional oral care that aims to improve the appearance and health of your teeth. A beautiful smile can help you in whatever life path you choose- whether it be professionally or socially. It also gives you great confidence when smiling with other people, which helps give them faith in what they do as well! But if your teeth are damaged from cracks, stains, or gaps then visiting a cosmetic dentist may be the best idea for improving things.
Here are some of the most common cosmetic teeth problems:
- Stained or Discolored Teeth – There are many things that contribute to tooth discoloration, including age, food, drinks, medications, smoking, and other lifestyle factors
- Tooth Decay – Decay occurs due to the buildup of plaque, causing it to eat away your tooth structure and create cavities. Depending on the extent of damage, your dentist will remove the infection, treat the site, and then fill the cavity to stop further deterioration.
- Chipped or Fractured Teeth – Teeth can break due to any kind of trauma in an accident, due to a sports injury, or even bad habits such as chewing ice or opening soda bottles with your teeth. Broken teeth can be repaired in a simple in-office procedure to restore the aesthetics of your smile.
- Crooked, Overcrowded, or Misaligned Teeth – The dentist will recommend the appropriate custom dental appliances to gradually move your teeth to the desired position.
- Missing Teeth – There are several options for replacing missing teeth depending on the health of adjacent teeth, the health of the gum and jawbone tissues, age, and personal preferences, among others.
Anyone who has been shy or hesitant about smiling or laughing with other people because of fractures, cracks, stains, or gaps in their teeth is a great candidate for cosmetic dentistry. If you’re self-conscious about your teeth or want to improve your smile, please visit a cosmetic dentist near you to discuss your case.
Please contact your dental team to learn more about available cosmetic dentistry treatments, and to schedule your appointment.
6 Month Smiles
Six Month Smiles is a short term orthodontic treatment that involves wearing clear braces to straighten and improve tooth alignment. This alternative treatment is a convenient approach to a straighter smile without the time commitment.
Learn more