People are often surprised by the difference professional teeth whitening makes. When you whiten with your dentist, you can rid your teeth of stubborn stains and years of discoloration.
Of course, your Elk Grove Village dentist will first evaluate your teeth and gums to ensure our teeth whitening system suits your goals and oral health profile.
How Professional Teeth Whitening Works
If you’re a suitable candidate for professional teeth whitening, we may start you with a teeth cleaning. By cleaning the teeth first, we help ensure a predictable and beautiful result. Clean teeth allow our whitening system to penetrate the enamel better and remove stains and discoloration. If you’ve recently had a teeth cleaning, you can forgo this step. Your dentist will check your teeth to be sure.
Next, we create custom tooth trays taken from impressions of your teeth. The dentist sends you home with your trays, our whitening gel, and instructions on how to use the system. It’s essential to follow the instructions for best results. You can call us anytime with questions or concerns during your at-home teeth whitening.
A member of our team can also provide guidance to help you maintain your new bright smile, including a list of tooth-staining foods and encouragement for quitting tobacco in all forms. Smoking is a common culprit in tooth discoloration.
How Professional Teeth Whitening in Elk Grove Village Differs from Store-Bought Kits
If you’ve whitened your teeth with over-the-counter products and systems, you may not have enjoyed a transformative experience. Store-bought kits do not have prescription-grade ingredients so that some stains can be left behind.
Additionally, the ingredients may be too abrasive for your teeth and gums, leaving you with sensitive teeth or even enamel damage.
Remember, when you whiten with your dentist, we ensure your teeth and gums are up to the task! Additionally, we will let you know whether the system will work for your unique tooth stains. Sometimes, your dentist may recommend an alternative to hide a particularly stubborn stain, like a dental crown or veneer.
Teeth Whitening as Part of a Smile Makeover
If you have multiple cosmetic issues you’d like to address, you can incorporate professional teeth whitening into your smile makeover. For example, if you have missing teeth, chipped teeth, or unusual spacing, we can help.
Our cosmetic dentistry options include:
- Dental veneers and dental bonding
- Tooth-colored, same-day crowns and restorations
- Tooth replacement, including dental implants and teeth in a day
- Orthodontics, including Invisalign® and Six Month Smiles
- Gum grafting or contouring
Restorations and replacement teeth will not lighten with professional teeth whitening. So, your dentist will start with whitening, which allows you to select lighter restoration and tooth colors.
Maintaining Your Teeth Whitening Results
To maintain your results, we encourage you to eliminate or cut back on tooth-staining foods and drinks, including:
- Coffee, tea, and red wine
- Curry and bright spices
- Tomato and other bright sauces
- Tobacco and smoking
You can also touch up your smile at home, using your tooth trays and any remaining whitening gel.
Some tooth stains result from aging or certain medications. Your dentist will discuss options to help maintain your bright smile in these cases.
You should also brush and floss regularly and see your dentist every six months for professional teeth cleanings.
Are You Considering Professional Teeth Whitening in Elk Grove Village?
To schedule your consultation for teeth whitening or if you have questions, contact our dental office today to get started. We encourage you to talk to a team member about our current dental specials, exclusive savings plan, and easy financing through CareCredit and Proceed Finance.
We look forward to helping you reach your smile goals through cosmetic dentistry in Elk Grove Village, IL.