Having discolored teeth can make you want to hide your smile when you should be showing it off. Make sure your smile is one you feel confident with. Drs. Robert Gauthier and Joseph Cheung of Sudbury Dental Arts, a dentist in Sudbury, MA, highlights the multiple ways you can get a whiter smile.
Professional Teeth Whitening
This is probably what you think of when you think of getting a whiter smile. Professional teeth whitening gives better results than over the counter products do. The kits you’ll get at the drugstore are one size fits all, meaning you can get uneven coverage and the bleaching agent can come into contact with your gums. This can make them extremely sensitive.
At Sudbury Dental Arts, we offer both in-office and take-home whitening options. ZOOM! in-office teeth whitening is great for when you have an event coming up. We can get your teeth up to eight shades whiter in about an hour in our office. The dentist will paint a gel on your teeth after taking precautions to protect your gums. A special light is used to activate the bleaching agent. That’s all it takes!
Take-home teeth whitening is a more gradual process. We’ll take impressions of your smile to make bleaching trays that fit you perfectly. Bleaching gel is placed inside, ensuring an even application and avoiding harm to soft tissue. You’ll wear these overnight or for a few hours each day for a few weeks. We’ll help you figure out the length of time you should wear them to get you the results you desire.
Porcelain Veneers
There’s some tooth discoloration that’s resistant to traditional whitening techniques. Porcelain veneers offer an ideal alternative for teeth that are discolored from medication or genetics. Veneers are made of a thin shell of high-quality dental ceramic that covers the front and sides of your tooth. They’re designed to be durable and stain-resistant.
To get veneers, a thin layer of tooth structure is removed from your tooth. This is to make room for the veneers and so they look and feel natural for you. Impressions are taken and the veneers are custom-made for your smile. Once they’re ready, we’ll do a fitting to make sure that they look good and feel comfortable. If you’re satisfied, they’ll be permanently bonded to the teeth and last for years to come.
Dental Bonding
If you’re looking for an economical option or aren’t ready to commit to a permanent restoration, dental bonding is a solid alternative to veneers. The bonding material is made of a composite resin that’s able to be shaped and molded. If you have any cosmetic chips in your teeth, they can be taken care of as well with this method.
The resin is color-matched to the rest of your teeth or made whatever shade of white you prefer. A small amount of the tooth structure is removed to make sure the resin adheres to your tooth. It’s applied to the front of your tooth and shaped to look natural. Once you’re satisfied, a special light is used to cure and harden the material. It’s then polished to match the sheen of your natural teeth.
Tooth Whitening at Your Sudbury, Massachusetts Dentist
We want to help you get a smile you want to show off. Call us or schedule an appointment online.
