Monthly Archives: October 2014

Teeth Whitening

Can you over bleach your teeth?

I think I’m addicted to teeth whitening. I love having my teeth white. I was thrilled with how they looked after my zoom. I paid my dentist extra to make me trays so I could do touch ups, but I wonder if I’m overdoing it. My teeth are starting to feel a little chalky.  I do a touch up about once a week.

Amber A. – Little Rock, AR

Amber,

You are definitely whitening your teeth too much. Teeth whitening is perfectly safe. However, if you do it beyond reasonable recommendations, it can damage your teeth.

One of the ingredients is carbamide peroxide. Overuse of it can irritate your gums and even cause them to recede. Your teeth will also end up chalky, brittle, and gray.

If you want to touch up your teeth whitening, it shouldn’t be necessary more than once a year or so.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Cha.

Best Dentist in Tulsa

What can I do to get the best smile?

If I’m wanting to get a new smile, how can I ensure I get the best smile possible?

Sarah L. – Kansas City, MO

Sarah,

The only way to ensure you get the best smile possible is to get the best cosmetic dentist available to you.  Cosmetic dentistry requires a significant amount of technical training and artistry.  However, there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. Any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of their skill (or lack thereof).

There are countless horror stories about people who went to unskilled cosmetic dentists. At best, they wasted thousands of dollars on a disappointing smile. At worse, they ended up with a smile worse than the one they came to fix or even had their bite thrown off and ended up with TMJ.

The best dentist you can find will be accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). This is different from just membership with the AACD. To get accredited you have to pass stringent exams and demonstrate significant artistry. Only the top 1-3% of dentists in the world attain this level.  It would be worth it for you to even drive to another city. There is nothing that makes you feel better than a smile you are proud to show. Think of all the smiling you’ll do, which on it’s own will increase your natural feeling of joy.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.