Professional Whitening
At Downtown Dental Assocaites we can brighten the appearance of your smile with professional tooth whitening, by far one of our most popular treatments.
We offer teeth whitening treatments at our office to fit in with your schedule and individual goals. Our in office treatment offers a one day solution, with instant results and minimal aftercare removing sub surface staining, and dramatically brightening your smile. Alternatively, our at-home tooth whitening system provides an effective, inexpensive, and long-lasting technique that can brighten your smile in just few days. Find out how we can brighten your smile today!
Contact our office today to learn how we can improve the appearance of your teeth with tooth whitening. Dr. Frankel and Fogerty welcome cosmetic and whitening patients from across Ontario and beyond!
"Let your smile dazzle! A dramatic makeover - and a fantastic first impression!"
Is Whitening Right For You?
Research has shown that you have less than 10 seconds to make a good first impression on someone you're meeting for the first time. And clean, white teeth go a long way in helping you make that initial, positive first impression, both in your personal and professional life. Manufacturers have recognized this, and are now advertising home bleaching products for your teeth … but what is the right method for you?
As people age, their teeth age too, and years of coffee, tea, red wine, certain fruits and smoking can add up on your teeth to dull the color. Bleaching can lighten teeth that have been stained or discolored by food or age, or darkened as a result of injury. If you're interested in restoring your not-so-pearly whites to their former lustre, you'll be interested in these tooth-whitening tips:
- Your first stop should be to your dental office, to make sure that you have a healthy mouth and are a good candidate for the bleaching process;
- Step 2 involves a discussion between you and your dentist on your tooth whitening expectations. While whitening works in most cases, the level of success depends on what you're starting off with. For example, yellow-ish hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownish-coloured teeth not as well, and grayish-hued teeth less well. Be aware also of bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth, as the whitener will not affect the colour of these materials, possibly making them stand out after the bleaching process is complete. In this case, you may want to discuss other options such as porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
-
Once we determine that bleaching will work for you, we can talk about the methods available for bleaching, and which one suits you best. Different products have different benefits, risks and side effects:
- Some whitening toothpastes, as sold in your local drugstore, use abrasive ingredients that are really not bleaching products at all, as they work on surface stains only. Be aware of the damaging effects that these abrasive ingredients could have on your teeth.
- Bleaching kits sold in stores stay on your teeth longer than toothpaste and are comprised of stronger bleaching chemicals. Kits that include a "one-size-fits-all" tray to hold the "bleach" should be used with caution as the tray may not fit your mouth precisely, increasing the possibility of gum irritation. There is also the risk that chemicals may leak from the tray into your mouth. Tooth and gum irritation is a real concern with any bleaching program, and as such should be monitored by a professional.
- A professional teeth-whitening program issued and supervised by your dentist uses a program custom-made to your needs. While it may not be your cheapest option, it is certainly your best bet for safe treatment and long-lasting, professional results. If you're interested in immediate results, we can provide in-office whitening. However, a more inexpensive option is dentist-supervised, at-home whitening, which involves a bleaching tray that's custom-made for you, that fits over your teeth and can be worn at home to whiten your teeth in as little as 2 weeks. We will supervise the teeth whitening process each step of the way, ensuring that it is proceeding safely while monitoring any sensitivity to your teeth or gums.
Take the first step to whiter, brighter teeth by discussing all of your options with us. At Downtown Dental Associates, we will ensure that you have all of the information on whichever program you decide to follow, and give you something to smile about when it's over!
Maintain Your White Smile!
Once you've gotten that bright smile, here's a few tips on the best ways to maintain it with simple everyday suggestions. These suggestions, in addition to regular visits to our office will enable you to have your smile for life!
To keep your teeth as white as possible, the AACD offers a list of "White Smile Diet Foods and Tips" to follow:
- Avoid drinking coffee, dark syrup sodas, red wine and blueberries - these all stain teeth quickly, as does tobacco use.
- Drink from a straw (whenever possible), to allow food dyes to bypass teeth completely.
- Eating raw vegetables, especially the crunchy ones (celery for example) will help clean your teeth and remove surface stains.
- Believe it or not, dental organizations also recommend chewing gum (sugarless, of course!) after a meal if you can't brush right away. The mechanical action of chewing sugarless gum can stimulate saliva and help clean teeth surfaces.
If you are not happy with the colour of your teeth, please ask us about the teeth-whitening options we offer here in our practice. Whether you want a brilliant white smile or simply want to brighten up your existing teeth by a few shades, our dentist-supervised techniques will customize the program to suit your individual needs.
Depending on the cause of discoloration, some heavily stained teeth may not respond to whitening, in which case there are various cosmetic dental options available! Contact our office to schedule a consultation about your cosmetic options and be sure to look at our cosmetic dentistry section online!
For definitions or descriptions of terms - click here for our DENTAL GLOSSARY.
