Many problems can cause undesirable changes in tooth color. Whether your interest in whiter teeth is a personal choice, or you’d like to manage the effects of other oral health issues, teeth whitening may be the best solution. If you want the best results for bright teeth, you should consider trying a professional treatment with Opalescence® Boost.
At Hillsdale Dental Care in San Jose, California, Dr. Roge Jacob, Dr. Magdalena Azzarelli, and our team can help you get the whiter, brighter smile you’re after — in no time flat.
Let’s take a closer look at what leads to tooth discoloration, how professional teeth whitening helps correct the problem, and what to expect during your Opalescence Boost session.
Tooth color is a common factor in dental health, but not always in the way people think. Teeth are made up of several parts that affect their natural color, such as the amount of enamel that covers them (which is usually white), and the layer of dentin that sits just underneath (which is yellow).
So, off-white or pale yellow teeth can be completely normal and healthy — although these colors aren’t the aesthetic choice for most people.
Tooth color changes come in two basic types: external (extrinsic) and internal (intrinsic) discoloration. External staining is typically due to diet (i.e., coffee, red wine) or bad oral health habits like smoking. With internal dental discoloration, factors like medication use and dental trauma are often at play.
Specific factors that affect tooth color include diet, poor oral hygiene (not brushing and flossing properly), tobacco use, and age-related enamel wear. Various conditions can also affect your risk of discoloration, including calcium deficiency and liver, metabolic, and celiac diseases.
The various teeth whitening methods that are available aim to lighten the color of your teeth to get them as close to a bright, luminous white as possible. Many teeth whitening products are available over the counter and in dental offices, ranging from whitening toothpastes, strips, and mouthwashes to custom whitening kits with dental trays.
Whitening kits can be used at home or in the dental office, with the main difference being the amount of bleaching solution that’s in each product.
In-office whitening kits have a higher concentration of bleaching agents, as your dentist can better control the concentration of bleaching for the appropriate amount of time to minimize your risk of enamel damage and post-treatment sensitivity.
Opalescence Boost is a unique teeth whitening solution. Unlike the kits that immerse teeth in bleaching trays to remove stains, we apply its clinical-grade whitening formula directly to your teeth with a specialized brush.
First, we place a barrier along your upper and lower gum line to shield your gums from the whitening solution. Next, we apply the Opalescence Boost whitening agent to your teeth and let it sit — and actively lift stains from your enamel — for about 20 minutes.
You can expect to see immediate whitening results when we remove the solution — and we can repeat the process a few times to progressively make your teeth several shades whiter, as desired.
Ready to get a whiter, brighter smile? We’re here to help. Call 408-404-8385 to schedule a visit with our cosmetic dentists at Hillsdale Dental Care in San Jose, California, today.
