Why Should I Have My Teeth Whitened and What Does the Teeth Whitening Process Entail?
Teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment that restores the natural white color of your tooth enamel and enhances the overall beauty of your smile dramatically, often in just two appointments!
Since teeth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, during your initial appointment Dr. Arnold and his team will evaluate any old fillings, crowns, etc. and perform replacements on any restorations that are beginning to fail. Following any necessary restorative dental work, precise impressions (molds) of your teeth will be taken and sent to a dental laboratory to aid in the fabrication of a set of custom, clear plastic whitening trays. Once your custom-made whitening trays are received back from the laboratory, your second appointment will be scheduled.
During this second visit you will try on your teeth whitening trays so that Dr. Arnold can ensure a proper fit and, if necessary, make any adjustments. You will then receive detailed instructions on how to best care for your custom-made teeth whitening trays, as well as how to safely and correctly use the professional-grade, specialized whitening solution that is placed in the trays during the whitening treatment. Depending on the degree of staining, and the desired level of whitening, these teeth whitening trays will be worn either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for a couple of weeks.
It is important to keep in mind that teeth whitening is NOT a permanent solution. A touch-up may be necessary every couple of years, especially if you smoke or drink coffee, tea or wine frequently. It is strongly recommended that you continue with regular dental appointments so that Dr. Arnold can aid in helping you keep your beautiful, healthy, brilliantly white smile looking its very best.
