Tooth stains can affect how you see yourself. Without sparkling white teeth, you could feel less confident or self-conscious about your smile and appearance. Fortunately, our team at Spectrum Family Dentistry offers exceptional teeth whitening services for patients throughout Raleigh, NC, to restore your smile.
Causes of Dental Discoloration
Tooth discoloration occurs in many ways, but there are only two types of stains: intrinsic and extrinsic.
Intrinsic stains refer to discoloration that seeps into the tubules inside a tooth’s enamel. When pigments from food and beverages get inside those tiny channels, they can cause stains that you can’t remove by brushing your teeth.
Meanwhile, extrinsic or surface stains come from pigments that collect on the protein film that sits on tooth enamel. This staining gives teeth a darker or yellowish appearance.
Many people develop unsightly stains on their teeth by consuming highly pigmented foods and drinks, like red tomato sauce, red wine, cola, grape juice, and tea. You could also experience intrinsic and extrinsic stains due to the following reasons:
- Aging
- Consuming tobacco products
- Taking some antihistamines, high blood pressure, and antibiotic medications
- Not maintaining good dental hygiene practices
- Excessive fluoride exposure in childhood from tap water
Our Teeth Whitening Process
Teeth whitening at Spectrum Family Dentistry offers a simple, non-invasive way to improve your teeth’s appearance. Our in-office services can brighten teeth up to eight shades in one session, giving your smile a noticeable enhancement. The process is safe and produces long-lasting results.
Our dental office uses the Zoom! Whitening method. During this procedure, we apply a thin layer of protective gel around your gum line to shield the soft tissues from the whitening gels. Next, we cover your teeth with whitening gels with hydrogen peroxide as its primary active ingredient.
Once the gel is on your teeth, we activate the hydrogen peroxide by placing the Zoom! Advanced Power Chairside Lamp over your mouth. The curing light enhances the bleaching process, enabling the hydrogen peroxide to break down and let oxygen inside the tooth enamel to lighten the stained surfaces.
We also use custom plastic trays to brighten teeth at home. You can wear these trays at night with whitening gels to gently lift stains. Unlike store-bought whitening strips, our trays and gels fit comfortably inside your mouth to cover every tooth, whether they’re straight or misaligned.
Common Problems with Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening services are safe and have no side effects. A small percentage of people might experience mild tooth sensitivity after the procedure. Sensitive teeth can be uncomfortable when they encounter changes between hot and cold air, food, or beverages, but brushing with special toothpaste can remedy that problem.
Transform Your Smile with Spectrum Family Dentistry
When you want to transform your smile and boost your confidence, get teeth whitening services from Spectrum Family Dentistry. Our well-respected dental office in Raleigh, NC, promotes a warm, inviting atmosphere where you and your family can enjoy comprehensive dental care. Call our office today at (919) 278-7576 to schedule your teeth whitening appointment.
