A brilliant, white smile is often associated with youth, health, and confidence. However, even with diligent brushing and flossing, it is common for teeth to lose their brightness over time. Factors like age, diet, and lifestyle choices cause the enamel to become stained and discolored.
Suncreek Dental Group offers professional teeth whitening solutions that are powerful, safe, and effective. Unlike the generic, over-the-counter products found in stores, our professional treatments use clinical-strength agents applied under professional supervision. This ensures you get dramatic, long-lasting results with minimal sensitivity.
Why Teeth Get Stained
Understanding the causes of discoloration is the first step toward getting a brighter smile. Teeth staining is generally categorized into two main types:
1. Extrinsic Stains (Surface Stains)
These stains affect the outer layer of the tooth, called the enamel. They are typically caused by what you eat and drink.
- Food and Beverages: Highly pigmented items are the biggest culprits. Red wine, coffee, black tea, dark sodas, and certain berries contain chromogens, which are compounds with strong color pigments that stick to the enamel.
- Tobacco Use: Nicotine and tar create stubborn, yellowish-brown stains that are difficult to remove without professional help.
- Poor Hygiene: Inconsistent brushing and flossing allow plaque to build up, which can absorb pigments and make the teeth look dull.
2. Intrinsic Stains (Internal Stains)
These stains are much deeper, occurring within the inner structure of the tooth, the dentin. They are usually more resistant to surface treatments.
- Aging: As you age, the outer layer of enamel naturally thins, which allows the yellowish dentin underneath to show through more clearly.
- Medication: The antibiotic tetracycline, if taken during tooth development, can cause permanent gray or brown banding in the teeth.
- Trauma: An injury to the tooth can cause the dentin to darken as a protective measure.
- Excessive Fluoride: Overexposure to fluoride during childhood (known as fluorosis) can lead to white or brown spots on the enamel.
Why Choose Professional Whitening Over Store-Bought Kits
Many people start their whitening journey with gels, strips, and trays purchased from a pharmacy or supermarket. While these products may offer minor improvements, they cannot deliver the dramatic, long-lasting results of professional treatment.
The difference comes down to strength, application, and safety.
Over-the-counter (OTC) kits use low-concentration peroxide gels, typically ranging from 3% to 10%. This weak concentration can only achieve subtle, temporary results, often lightening teeth by only one or two shades after weeks of use. In contrast, professional whitening from Suncreek Dental Group uses high-concentration carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, sometimes up to 40% strength, powerful enough to break down deep stain molecules quickly and achieve significant whitening, often five to eight shades lighter in a single visit.
The method of application is another key differentiator. OTC kits rely on generic strips or one-size-fits-all trays. This means the whitening agent may not cover every tooth surface evenly, leading to blotchy results. More importantly, the generic fit often allows the potent gel to leak out onto the gums and soft tissues, causing painful irritation or chemical burns.
Professional treatments eliminate this risk. We use either custom-fit trays created from impressions of your teeth or, for in-office treatment, we apply a protective barrier to shield your gums completely. This controlled, precise application ensures even coverage and maximum safety.
Our Professional Teeth Whitening Options
At Suncreek Dental Group, we offer two main paths to achieving a brighter smile, allowing you to choose the option that best fits your schedule and desired speed of results.
1. In-Office Power Whitening
For patients seeking immediate, dramatic results, in-office power whitening is the fastest and most effective solution. This treatment is ideal if you have a special event coming up, like a wedding or graduation, or if you simply want instant gratification.
The Process:
- Preparation: We start by conducting a quick exam to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy enough for whitening.
- Protection: A protective barrier is carefully applied to your gums and soft tissues to prevent irritation from the strong whitening gel.
- Application: A professional, clinical-strength hydrogen peroxide gel is applied directly to the surface of your teeth.
- Activation (Optional): Sometimes, a special light or laser is used to enhance the gel’s effectiveness and accelerate the stain removal process.
- Rinsing and Reapplication: The gel is typically applied in multiple 15 to 20-minute cycles.
- Final Result: The total appointment takes about one hour to 90 minutes. You leave the office with teeth that are noticeably several shades whiter than when you arrived.
2. Professional Take-Home Whitening Kits
If you prefer to whiten at your own pace from the convenience of your home, our professional take-home kits provide excellent results over a short period.
The Process:
- Custom Trays: We take impressions of your teeth to create custom-fitting, clear plastic whitening trays. These trays fit snugly over your teeth, ensuring the gel stays in contact with the enamel and prevents it from leaking onto your gums.
- Professional Gel: You receive a supply of professional-strength whitening gel, which is much stronger than anything you can buy over the counter.
- Use at Home: Your dentist provides specific instructions on how much gel to use and for how long. Typically, the trays are worn for an hour or two daily, or overnight, for a period of one to two weeks.
- Gradual Results: You will see your teeth gradually whiten each day, achieving outstanding final results. The custom trays can be kept and used for touch-up applications later on.
Longevity and Maintenance
Professional whitening results are long-lasting, but they are not permanent. The results typically last anywhere from six months to two years, depending on your habits.
To maintain your bright smile for as long as possible:
- Avoid Stain-Causing Items: Limit your intake of coffee, tea, red wine, and dark sodas. When you do consume them, try using a straw to minimize contact with the front surfaces of your teeth.
- Practice Good Hygiene: Brush twice a day and floss daily to remove plaque before it can absorb pigments.
- Regular Cleanings: Maintain your twice-yearly dental cleanings and checkups at Suncreek Dental Group to remove surface stains before they set in.
- Touch-Ups: Use your custom take-home trays for occasional touch-up treatments, which are much quicker and require less gel than the initial treatment.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe for Everyone?
Professional teeth whitening is safe for most healthy adults. However, it is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Before undergoing any whitening treatment, we conduct a thorough examination. Whitening gel works best on natural tooth enamel and will not change the color of existing dental work, such as fillings, crowns, or veneers. If you have visible restorations, you may need to plan for these to be replaced after whitening to ensure your entire smile matches.
Temporary tooth sensitivity is the most common side effect, especially with the in-office treatment. This sensitivity is mild and usually disappears within 24 to 48 hours. We can recommend special toothpastes or treatments to help minimize this effect.
Take the First Step Toward a Brighter Smile
A whiter smile can change your whole outlook and greatly enhance your overall appearance. If you are tired of dull or stained teeth and are ready for a noticeable, professional transformation, Suncreek Dental Group has the solution for you.
Call us today at (303) 933-2522 to schedule a professional whitening consultation with your local dentist in Littleton, CO. Let us help you achieve the dazzling smile you’ve always wanted.
You will receive care instructions for your teeth and trays, and be encouraged to visit your dentist regularly to help maintain a beautiful, healthy, white smile.