Do you have yellowed, discolored, or stained teeth? Try professional teeth whitening treatment. At Hope Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer two options for teeth whitening. Take-home teeth whitening in our Tulsa, OK office enables you to whiten your teeth in the privacy of your own home.
KöR teeth whitening only requires one appointment at our office. Dr. Trace Bridges provides professional teeth whitening, a cosmetic dental treatment that improves the smile’s aesthetics.
What Causes Tooth Stains?
If you have yellow or stained teeth but don’t know the cause of your discoloration, you can stain your teeth in multiple ways:
- Foods and Drinks: Highly pigmented foods and drinks, including coffee, wine, tea, soy sauce, berries, and tomato-based sauces, can stain teeth. The dyes in these foods and drinks enter the tooth’s pores.
- Dental Trauma: If you chip or crack a tooth, it may change color. Injury to the blood vessels in the tooth can make it appear grey or brown.
- Tobacco: If you smoke, vape, or use other tobacco products, you’re likely aware of how tobacco can stain your fingers. Tobacco also easily turns the teeth yellow.
- Aging: Over time, natural tooth wear, medication side effects, and other sources stain teeth. As the outer layer of the tooth, called the enamel, wears down and exposes dentin. This underlayer appears darker than the enamel.
Benefits of Teeth Whitening
Store-bought teeth whitening kits, toothpaste, and other treatments are often not enough to change your tooth color. When they do work, over-the-counter whitening products can also deliver inconsistent results.
Professional teeth whitening offers many benefits over store-bought options:
- Effective Treatment: Whitening treatments like KöR take multiple steps to ensure you get the best results possible. Teeth whitening lifts stains from the enamel and changes tooth color up to sixteen shades.
- Long-lasting results: Professional teeth whitening can last many months. Touch-up treatments also extend whitening results.
- Comfortable treatment: Sensitive teeth and gums are concerns for many patients considering teeth whitening treatment. We use desensitizing gel to reduce the risk of negative reactions to strong whitening ingredients.
Professional Take-Home Teeth Whitening in Tulsa, OK
One of the simplest ways to quickly improve the beauty and youthful appearance of your smile is through professional take-home teeth whitening.
We generally start with an examination and cleaning to ensure everything is healthy and ready for the strong bleaching chemical. From there, we make an impression of your teeth to create snug-fitting trays that fit exactly.
When your trays are ready, we provide tubes of bleaching gel for you to take home. Simply place the gel in your trays and wear them at a convenient time at home for at least 20 minutes each day. Some people prefer to wear them overnight. Most people see the results they were hoping for in just a couple of weeks.
When you wear the trays with the whitening gel, your teeth absorb the gel, which contains peroxide. The peroxide releases oxygen. In turn, it oxidizes the stains and pigment molecules in your teeth. The more you use the gel, the more oxidation occurs, giving you a dazzling white smile.
This is a permanent process. However, life will continue to impart new stains on your teeth, especially if you drink coffee or smoke. But your teeth will always be whiter than they would have been. You may want to periodically do a “touch-up” every year or two to remove the new stains. If you keep your trays, this is a simple process of just picking up more gel.
KöR Deep Bleaching™
KöR can be one of the most effective teeth whitening systems that use in-office and take-home treatments. Your teeth can get up to 16 shades lighter with KöR. KöR does what other brands can’t—significantly improve fluorosis and tetracycline stains.
Before treatment, we’ll give you a rejuvenating gel to condition and hydrate your teeth and help the bleaching gel penetrate deeply.
Over the next few days, your teeth will get brighter, and the color will stabilize. We’ll give you a desensitizing gel to apply to your teeth daily to ensure you feel little or no sensitivity.
How Does it Work?
First, we will take digital impressions of your teeth and make custom bleaching trays. When the trays are ready, we’ll apply a rejuvenating and conditioning gel to your teeth.
For the next 14 days, you will use the trays, desensitizing gel, and bleaching gel at home. We will also give you instructions on how long to wear the trays daily.
After your at-home sessions, you’ll have an appointment for in-office treatment. Dr. Bridges will coat your gums with a protective gel and apply the KöR bleaching gel to your teeth for a blast of whitening.
KöR provides brilliant but natural-looking results. You’ll keep your smile bright with periodic touch-ups at home.
Alternatives To Teeth Whitening
Tooth stains are intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic stains collect within the tooth. Typically, tooth damage or medication side effects can cause these stains.
Extrinsic stains lie on the tooth surface. These stains occur when you smoke or eat and drink foods and beverages that stain your teeth.
If you have tooth intrinsic stains, we may recommend restorative and cosmetic treatments that change your tooth color. Our office can color-match these treatments to the shade of your natural teeth:
- Veneers: Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain to cover the front of teeth. We can cover a single discolored tooth or all teeth that show when you smile.
- Bonding: Teeth bonding treatment uses tooth-colored composite to change the color and shape of teeth. Bonding can cover chipped, cracked, and stained teeth.
- Crowns: Dental crowns are caps that fully cover teeth. We recommend crowns if you have worn and discolored teeth. Crowns add structure to your natural teeth while changing your tooth color.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Learn more with answers to common patient questions about teeth whitening in Tulsa, OK:
Is KöR Deep Bleaching painful?
KöR Deep Bleaching is usually not painful, but some people might experience temporary tooth sensitivity while using the treatment. This sensitivity can happen when your teeth are exposed to the bleaching gel, especially if you already have sensitive teeth. The sensitivity should go away once you finish the treatment.
How long does KöR deep bleaching take?
KöR can take two to three weeks. Throughout this in-office and take-home treatment, you must follow instructions for the best results. Because treatment is longer, some patients may prefer other methods. But the results are worth the treatment time.
Can I whiten my teeth if I have braces?
We may not recommend teeth whitening if you have braces. The brackets on your braces can block the whitening gel from reaching all areas of your teeth, so only the parts of your teeth that are not covered will get whiter. This can lead to uneven coloring.
Once your braces come off, our dentist may suggest a professional whitening treatment to ensure all your teeth are the same color.
What foods and drinks should I avoid after teeth whitening treatment?
After teeth whitening treatment, you should avoid foods and drinks that can stain your teeth. These can include:
- Coffee and tea: These drinks are known to stain teeth, especially right after whitening.
- Red wine: It can cause discoloration due to its strong color.
- Berries: Foods like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries can stain your teeth.
- Soy sauce: This dark sauce can easily leave marks on teeth.
- Curry: The spices and color can stain your teeth over time.
- Dark sodas: These are high in acids and dark in color, making them potential stain culprits.
Can medication stain my teeth?
Yes, some medications can stain your teeth. Certain antibiotics, like tetracycline, can cause discoloration, especially if you’re younger and your teeth are still developing. Other medications, like antihistamines, blood pressure drugs, and antipsychotics, can also lead to staining. They can also make your teeth more prone to stains over time.
Some medications cause dry mouth. This decreases saliva production and makes your teeth more prone to plaque and stains. If you’re concerned about medication causing stains, talk to our dentist.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Yes, teeth whitening is generally safe when done correctly. Professional treatments done by a dentist are safe because they are monitored closely. Our office uses products approved by dental health organizations.
Can children get teeth whitening treatment?
Teeth whitening treatments are usually not recommended for children, especially those under 16. Children’s teeth are still growing, and their enamel is softer, making them more sensitive to whitening products. We recommend that you wait until their teeth are fully developed before considering any whitening treatments. Safe alternatives like a good oral hygiene routine and a healthy diet can help improve the appearance of their smile.
Can you whiten crowns or veneers?
No, you can’t whiten crowns or veneers. These dental materials do not change color like natural teeth do when you use whitening products. If you want your crowns or veneers to match your whiter smile, you may need to replace them with new ones that are a lighter shade. It’s best to talk to your dentist about your options if you’re considering whitening your teeth.
Brighten Your Teeth Today
Do you want a brighter, whiter smile? Call Hope Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry for teeth whitening in Tulsa, OK, today at 918-347-1114. Feel free to schedule a dental appointment in our office today.
If you have questions about whitening treatment, let us know at your next visit. We’ll be happy to help.