Teeth whitening is a great way to whiten your smile and reduce discolouration. Here’s what needs to be considered for your teeth whitening procedure with Aesthetic Laser Dentistry near Essendon.
Here at Aesthetic Laser Dentistry in Airport West near Essendon we offer professional in-chair teeth whitening. We recommend this treatment to patients that suffer from discolouration, or simply want a smile that’s whiter than the smile they currently have.
Our procedure can:
Whiten stains from tea and coffee
Whiten stains from smoking
Whiten stains from red wine
Whiten other extrinsic and intrinsic stains
Most people are suitable
Although teeth whitening is extremely effective it does have limitations that your dentist will go through with you during your consultation and treatment. In some cases patients may think they have discolouration when in fact the colour change of their teeth is an effect of serious decay or loss of enamel.
Loss of Enamel (demineralisation)
Losing your enamel can be detrimental to your health and the appearance of your teeth. Enamel is the hard outer layer on your teeth that protects the sensitive pulp and dentine that is in the centre of your tooth. If your enamel is eroded, your dentine will be exposed, which is a much more porous surface that cannot be whitened in the same way as enamel.
To prevent the erosion of enamel, refrain from brushing your teeth within twenty minutes after eating carbonated drinks, sugar or acidic foods and drinks. It’s also important that you use toothpaste with added fluoride to help re-mineralise the teeth.
Discolouration due to tooth decay
If your teeth or a tooth appears brown or greyish in colour then you may have decay below the surface. This can affect the blood supply to the tooth, which can dehydrate the tooth and make it appear discoloured. This is otherwise known as a necrotic or ‘dead’ tooth and needs urgent dental attention.
Are you suitable for teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening can cause sensitivity in some patients, especially if you’re already susceptible to sensitivity when you eat hot or cold food. If you do find you have frequent sensitivity then we recommend that you use a sensitive tooth paste well in advance before your treatment and if you believe it is serious please let us know as you may not be suitable for the procedure. In most cases teeth whitening can still be applied, although our team will monitor your treatment carefully.
As you can tell more goes into your teeth whitening procedure than applying gel. This is why we recommend visiting a dentist for all of your teeth whitening needs as they have the expertise and skills to assess your mouth for underlying problems, which may compromise your treatment.
What results can you expect?
While good dental hygiene will go a long way toward preventing stained teeth, general day to day wear and tear can leave your teeth slightly discoloured or even a little yellow without you even realising.
Professional teeth whitening procedures can be completed in under an hour, and you can expect to walk away with a smile five to ten shades brighter than when you walked in.
Teeth Whitening Essendon
Visit Aesthetic Laser Dentistry in Airport West near Essendon for our teeth whitening services. Our friendly dentists believe in providing ‘more than just great smiles’, which is our slogan and dental philosophy. The appearance and health of your smile are intrinsically connected, so please visit a dentist for a professional assessment before you choose teeth whitening for your smile.
