Tag: teeth whitening near me
Types of Professional Teeth Whitening Options, 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.
What to Expect During Teeth Whitening Treatment | Litchfield MN
Your smile may gradually lose its sparkle regardless of how thorough your oral hygiene routine is. Although brushing and flossing your teeth every day and scheduling professional teeth cleaning visits can help to prevent stains, factors such as ageing, smoking, and consuming wine, tea, coffee, and other colored foods and drinks can contribute to the yellowing or discoloration of your teeth.
Tooth whitening provides you with a way to improve the color of your teeth and ultimately enhance your smile. This requires you to consult a dentist to design a personalized treatment plan that is based on the current shade of your teeth and the desired outcome. Professional teeth whitening in the dentist’s office is the most common bleaching method, and is usually accomplished using hydrogen peroxide or another bleaching agent.
The treatment is performed by a team member during the first appointment, and then under one’s supervision for subsequent treatments to ensure safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
The procedure involves:
- Placing a rubber shield or some gel to protect your gums
- Applying the bleaching agent on your teeth using some trays that fit snugly like a mouthguard
- Leaving the trays on to activate the bleaching ingredient and break it down into oxygen that penetrates tooth enamel to change the shade of your teeth
- A laser may be used to speed up the breakdown for faster results. This requires application of a higher concentration of the bleaching agent without using the trays, and then using laser technology to activate it. This improves the color of your teeth by 5-6 shades.
After your whitening treatment, the effects can last for a long period of time if you practice proper oral hygiene. Please visit your dentist to learn more about teeth whitening options that may work for you.
Is Teeth Whitening Right for You? | Litchfield MN
The aging process, your diet, and other lifestyle choices can discolor your teeth over time. Whiter teeth are associated with beauty, success, and good health. They also draw attention away from other features, giving you a more youthful and vibrant appearance. Teeth whitening provides a fast and cost-effective way to get the smile of your dreams. It involves removing stains and discoloration to brighten your teeth and improve their appearance.
Why Do Your Teeth Change Color?
There are many reasons why few people have impeccably white teeth, including:
- Age – tooth enamel is naturally white, but it thins over time due to normal wear, allowing the yellowish dentin to show
- Fluorosis – teeth darkening due to excessive fluoride consumption
- Food and drink – tea, coffee, red wine, and other food items contain intense color pigments known as chromogens that bond to tooth enamel, causing discoloration
- Tobacco use – chewing and smoking tobacco exposes you to two chemicals responsible for creating stubborn stains: nicotine and tar
- Illness – early tooth decay or illness during tooth development can also cause spots on your teeth
- Medications – tooth discoloration can be a side effect of taking certain medications, like antihistamines and antipsychotics. Fetuses and babies may also be at risk of tooth discoloration of the adult teeth if exposed to antibiotics like doxycycline and tetracycline.
- Calculus – accumulated plaque can also reduce the sparkle of your teeth
Any of these reasons can lead you to find a dentist near you for teeth whitening.
Final Note
Please keep in mind that teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that may help to improve your self-confidence, but to maintain the results for as long as possible, you must be prepared to uphold your dental hygiene by brushing and flossing properly, avoiding smoking, avoiding colored drinks that stain your teeth, drinking plenty of water, and getting professional cleaning twice a year.
Please schedule a consultation with your dentist in Litchfield MN to learn more about teeth whitening and other ways you can improve your smile.
Cost of Teeth Whitening in Litchfield MN
Nothing gives you a more confident smile than having impeccable white teeth. Whiter teeth are often associated with beauty, good health, and high self-esteem. They stand out and everyone is drawn to you, which is good for your professional and social life. This is why many find the cost of teeth whitening worth the expense for a beautiful, bright smile.
There are different whitening treatments whose effectiveness depends on the cause of the discoloration and the type of whitening system. During your appointment, the dentist will perform a thorough dental examination to determine the condition of your teeth and oral tissues, and identify the source of the discoloration. Before any treatment, the dentist will professionally clean your teeth using specialized tools to remove the plaque and tartar that may interfere with the whitening process. Afterward, your teeth whitening treatment can continue.
Is Professional Whitening Worth It?
Considering that teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure, it’s usually not covered by dental insurance. So if you’re planning to schedule the procedure, then you will likely need to pay out-of-pocket.
The cost of teeth whitening depends on several factors, including:
- Type of whitening treatment and sessions
- The extent of tooth discoloration
- Dentist skill and expertise
- Location of dental practice
- Additional procedures before whitening
- Number of follow-up visits
In addition to the cost of treatment, you should also consider the maintenance needed to keep your smile impeccably white. Even with great results following teeth whitening, the changes tend to fade over time, with the whitening effect lasting about one year. So to maintain your white, dazzling smile for as long as possible, you should avoid stain-causing foods and drinks, or at least rinse your mouth with water after eating and drinking. You should also consider stopping smoking, and scheduling follow-up whitening treatments every 6 to 12 months.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
With affordable teeth whitening options and flexible payment plans, you can get the smile of your dreams today. Please visit your cosmetic dentist in Litchfield today for a consultation and to plan your teeth whitening treatment.
Cost of Teeth Whitening in Litchfield MN
Considering that teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure, it’s usually not covered by dental insurance. So if you’re planning to schedule the procedure, then you will likely need to cover the cost of teeth whitening out-of-pocket.
The cost of teeth whitening depends on several factors, including:
- Type of whitening treatment and sessions
- Extent of tooth discoloration
- Dentist skill and expertise
- Location of dental practice
- Additional procedures before whitening
In addition to the cost of treatment, you should also consider the maintenance needed to keep your smile impeccably white. Even with great results following teeth whitening, the changes tend to fade over time, with the whitening effect lasting about one year.
So to maintain your white, dazzling smile for as long as possible, you should follow these tips:
- Avoid stain-causing foods and drinks – Many colored foods and drinks can stain your white teeth. So, reduce or avoid your intake of tomatoes, berries, grape juice, red wine, coffee, tea, sports drinks, cola, and grape juice.
- Rinse your mouth with water after eating and drinking – Every time you indulge in items that can stain your mouth, it is important that you rinse your mouth with clean water right after. Swishing a little water after eating or drinking can help reduce staining.
- Stop smoking – Smoking is not only bad for your health, but also your teeth. The nicotine, tar, and tobacco in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes will stain your teeth.
- Practice proper oral hygiene – Daily brushing, at least every morning after breakfast and at night before bed, and daily flossing will help remove food debris and plaque and keep your mouth clean and stain-free.
- Schedule a follow-up whitening treatment every 6 to 12 months.
It’s possible to cut down on follow-up visits by following the recommended maintenance plan. To find out about the cost of teeth whitening for your specific case, please schedule an appointment with your cosmetic dentist in Litchfield today.
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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.
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