Is Professional Teeth Whitening Right for Me?

Louisville, KY

Are you unhappy with the way your smile looks? Rest assured, you are not alone. One of the quickest and most dramatic ways that you can change the appearance of your smile is by whitening it. Is it any wonder, then, that teeth whitening is the most popular type of treatment offered in cosmetic dentistry? If you are considering a whitening procedure to improve the appearance of your smile, you might be wondering if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Your cosmetic dentist in Louisville explores that very topic, today on the blog.

The advantages of professional whitening

Our teeth are made to last a lifetime with proper oral care but they are going to lose their luster as time passes. It’s one of the inevitable consequences of aging. The discoloration process can accelerate if you do not practice proper oral care – with brushing twice a day and flossing daily – or if you frequently eat and drink things that can stain teeth: coffee, tea, red wine and dark colored fruits, just to name a few examples.

A dental whitening procedure provides a solution. These treatments are superior to any over-the-counter kit or method that promises a brighter smile. Moreover, at Exceptional Dentistry, our whitening treatments are administered under the supervision of one of our dentists, lowering your risk of experiencing enhanced sensitivity. Our whitening treatments also produce more dramatic results that last longer, because they employ bleaching agents more powerful than any store-bought product or treatment.

What makes someone a good candidate for a professional whitening treatment?

A whitening procedure is suitable for most adults and teenagers. However, certain factors may dictate whether you are right for this procedure.

These factors include:

• Your current oral hygiene – If you’re diligent about your at-home regimen of care, you have a lower risk of extrinsic tooth stains, as well as oral problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Any oral health issue that may disqualify you from a whitening treatment right now can be treated through consultation and a treatment plan composed with your dentist.
• Sensitive teeth – As mentioned, when you choose to have your teeth whitened by a professional, you face a lower risk of enhanced sensitivity. However, if your teeth already have sensitivity issues, a whitening treatment may not be right for you at this time. This is why it’s best to undergo an oral examination before any whitening procedure begins.
• Dental restorations – A whitening procedure will not have any effect on the shade of any porcelain or composite restorations that already are in your mouth. This means that, once a whitening procedure is complete, the treated teeth could have a different shade than your restorations.

Get whiter teeth in Kentuckiana

At Exceptional Dentistry, we work with the Zoom whitening system. This entails placing a whitening gel on the teeth you are treating. That gel then is activated under an LED accelerated light. The results are dramatic and last longer than any store-bought whitening method. To learn more about our whitening procedures or any of the other treatments we offer in our program of cosmetic dentistry, schedule a consultation with Exceptional Dentistry today. Just call (502) 423-7868 or visit us online.