Teeth Whitening Q & A
Melanie L. Throne, DDS, PA
General Family Dentist located in Fort Worth, Texas
Would you feel more confident about your smile if your teeth were whiter? If so, you should visit Melanie L. Throne, DDS, PA, in Fort Worth, Texas, for professional teeth whitening treatment. At her practice, Dr. Throne can restore the sparkle to your teeth and give you a smile that you'll be proud to share with the world. To learn more, schedule a visit today by calling the office or booking an appointment online. 817-735-4700
Why aren't my teeth whiter?
Teeth become dull and discolored for a number of reasons, including:
- Bad oral hygiene
- Consuming darkly colored foods or beverages, like coffee, soda, or red wine
- Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco
- Particular medications, like certain antipsychotics or antihistamines
- Exposure to tetracycline or doxycycline antibiotics before the age of eight
Your teeth also naturally lose their shine as you age. The soft inner layer of your teeth (the dentin) naturally yellows over time, while the hard outer layer (the enamel) gets thinner, allowing the yellowed dentin to show through more.
In that regard, generics can also play a role in the color of your teeth, since the transparency or porousness of your tooth enamel is a genetically inherited trait.
What whitening solutions do you offer?
Dr. Trhone takes an impression of your teeth that she used to design a clear plastic bleaching tray that fits perfectly around your smile. She also provides you with a professional-grade bleaching gel that you put in the trays that are worn on your teeth at home.
Depending on your degree of staining, and the desired level of whitening, you wear your trays either a day for 30 minutes at a time or overnight.
After a few weeks, your teeth will be remarkably whiter, giving you a smile that you'll be proud to show off!
Because bleaching solutions don't work on restorations like crowns and bridges, you might need to have these replaced after your treatment to make them match your newly whitened teeth. You might also need to come back for a whitening touch up every few years.
Can't I just use an over-the-counter treatment?
You can, but you shouldn't. Over-the-counter products won't give you the same results as professional whitening, and can even be harmful to your oral health.
These bleaching solutions can also be irritating to your gums, making it especially problematic when they leak out from the strips and trays.
If you want professional-looking teeth, get a professional treatment with Dr. Throne. You can schedule your consultation today by calling the office or booking a visit online.