Do you wish your smile was brighter?
It’s a fairly common desire and one I hear in the office all the time.
After all, there are so many things that can cause your teeth to become discoloured. From drinks like coffee and red wine to ageing, and genetics, it’s nearly impossible to keep your teeth from getting a bit yellow over the years.
But, that’s no reason to hide your smile!
Here at Hometown Dental, we’re committed to helping you achieve your best smile…one you’re proud to show off! That’s why we offer 3 teeth whitening or “bleaching” options. Take a look and see which fits your needs best:
1. ZOOM IN-OFFICE TEETH WHITENING:
Want impressive, out-of-this-world results? This is the whitening system for you!
The Phillips Zoom Whitespeed system can lighten teeth up to 8 shades in one visit with the use of a blue LED light and hydrogen peroxide. Zoom Whitening is an in-office tooth whitening procedure designed to lighten the colour of the teeth using a specially designed visible LED lamp and hydrogen peroxide gel.
Before starting, we determine the current shade of the teeth and take photos. Next, we use retractors, cotton, and a liquid dam to isolate the teeth and protect the soft tissues from the peroxide. Then, the whitening gel is applied to the teeth and exposed to the ZOOM lamp for three or four, 15-minute sessions. Once the sessions are completed, we remove the isolation material and determine the final shade and take more photos. Whitening up to 2-8 shades can be expected! The results can be dramatic but, patients should be aware that there is always a risk of tooth sensitivity.
For this whitening service, you should expect a 2-hour office visit.
Curious to see what this treatment is like? Watch our receptionist, Jericho, as she gets Zoom!
2. IVERI IN-OFFICE TEETH WHITENING:
Have sensitive teeth? We have a great alternative for you.
The Iveri system can lighten teeth 2-4 shades in 40 minutes. The gel with this system is safe for people who have sensitive teeth as the formula includes potassium nitrate (specifically combats tooth sensitivity) and xylitol (which rehydrates the teeth). The Iveri light also has a combination of red and blue light which activates the bleaching paste and protects the gums without using heat or UV rays.
The process involves checking the starting shade of the teeth with a shade guide and then applying vitamin E oil to the lips for moisture. We then place a cheek retractor and dry the gums with gauze.
Once dry, we protect the gums with the liquid dental dam material that will harden with the light (it keeps the peroxide from touching the gum tissue). Once the gums are protected, the pre-filled tray that looks similar to a mouthguard is placed in the mouth to have the patient bite on. The light is then turned on for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes mark, the tray is removed and a second (fresh) pre-filled tray is inserted in the mouth. The light is activated for another 20 minutes. Once completed, the tray is removed and the patient can rinse with water to remove any residual whitening gel. At this time, we check the shade with the shade guide again to see the result. The patient can then take one of the trays home with a small touch-up tube of peroxide to use if needed at a later date.
3. AT-HOME TEETH WHITENING:
Want to whiten your teeth from the comfort of your home? We sell gel refills for people who have custom-fit trays. In addition, we have an iLED Whitening Kit that allows you to whiten without the hassle of having custom trays made. Although these kits can achieve great results, the bleaching gel is not as strong as the in-office gel and therefore requires more time to whiten (often 1-2 weeks with daily whitening).
The iLED Whitening Kit contains whitening pens that allow you to paint the whitening gel on the desired teeth and then place the LED light (in the shape of a mouthpiece) in your mouth to activate the gel. The light has multiple adaptors that can be plugged into mobile devices (both Apple and Android) as well as any USB socket. We recommend sessions of 15-25 minutes and that you do it every day for a minimum of 4 days for best results. Once you use all the gel from your kit, we also sell the refill pens in the office.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TEETH WHITENING
Teeth whitening is a fantastic way to improve your smile. However, it is important to note that fillings, crowns, veneers and bonding do not respond to the whitening and therefore will not change colour. So make sure you whiten prior to major anterior restorative work so we can match crowns or veneers to the new shade of your teeth after that. For any whitening treatment, it is important that the teeth be professionally cleaned prior to bleaching to ensure the bleach can reach the tooth surface.
Are you ready to get started on your journey to a brighter, sparkly smile? Call 403-982-3100 to set up your appointment today!
Have questions? Call or contact us and we’d be happy to help!
We look forward to seeing you and your beautiful smile soon!
