A white smile can instil confidence in you. However, before your teeth can be whitened, your dentist must examine them to determine if they are healthy enough for this cosmetic procedure. Our team at Jubilee Dental outlines the criteria we use to determine if teeth whitening is a good option for you.
Whitening is a great way to enhance the appearance of your teeth. A brighter, whiter smile can help you reveal a more confident grin. That said, before you apply the first whitening strip, there are some things you should know before bleaching your teeth. Our Surrey dental team will need to examine your smile to make sure your teeth are healthy enough for whitening treatment. In this post, we share the criteria for deciding whether teeth whitening is right for you.
Am I a good candidate for teeth whitening?
If you're thinking about whitening, make an appointment with your Jubilee dentist, who will examine your teeth for signs of enamel weakness or decay that could affect the outcome of whitening treatment. If you have periodontal disease or very sensitive teeth, we may advise against bleaching and suggest porcelain veneers instead.
Individuals with healthy, unrestored teeth (with no fillings) and gums but who have yellow tones to their teeth are the best candidates for teeth whitening.
What should I expect from teeth whitening treatment?
While bleaching has been proven to be safe and effective, some patients may experience minor tooth sensitivity or gum irritation, which should go away once treatment is completed. In terms of what kind of results you can expect, dental teeth bleaching can only change the colour of your teeth from grey to a lighter shade of grey, for example.
Keep in mind that each patient's results will vary, and visible restorations such as a crown or bridge will not respond to whitening and will remain the same colour as before.
You should have at least one vial of bleaching gel leftover from your initial course of treatment after bleaching your teeth with one of our cosmetic kits. This can be used to "refresh" your smile, and you can purchase additional bleaching gel vials to use with your custom mouth guard as needed.
Consistent Oral Hygiene Preserves Smiles Best
Regardless of how healthy your teeth are, our dentists always recommend visiting the dentist once every six months for a checkup and cleaning (the frequency of your visits depending on the general condition of your teeth and gums and your at-home oral hygiene routine). A solid at-home oral care routine combined with regular dental visits is the best way to preserve your white smile and keep oral health issues at bay.