Some medical conditions and medications can cause permanent staining, however, and that is more difficult to improve through whitening alone. Many of the stains produced on teeth from food and beverages can be lightened or removed though. Cosmetic dentists provide a range of teeth whitening treatments for both in-office and at-home use, designed to remove surface stains that have set into the tooth’s enamel.
Unlike store-bought, over-the-counter whitening treatments, professional-grade teeth whitening is only available from a cosmetic dentist and the results are significantly greater than those produced by store-bought kits. There is also a price difference, as one would expect, between store-bought whitening kits and professional treatments. Cosmetic procedures are rarely covered by dental insurance, but most patients find professional teeth whitening procedures affordable on their budgets.
Prior to professional whitening, patients might be instructed to have their teeth cleaned. A professional cleaning prior to whitening will yield the best results. For this reason, many patients coordinate their whitening treatment with their biannual dental cleaning and checkup appointments. Patients may opt for in-office whitening or they may prefer a take-home whitening kit with professional-grade stain removing ingredients.
Take-home kits are accompanied by specific instructions to ensure proper use for the best, most satisfying results. Patients who choose in-office whitening will be given aftercare instructions to maintain their whiter and brighter smile for as long as possible. Compared to the average over-the-counter teeth whitening kit, professional treatments, whether done in-office or at-home, yield noticeably whiter results that last much longer.
To learn more about your options, contact Howl Dental at 918-749-1626 and schedule your informative consultation today.