Cincinnati Teeth Whitening Services

Professional Teeth Whitening Services by Cincinnati Dentists

Get Whiter Teeth at Beckham Square Family Dental in Blue Ash, Ohio

Teeth whitening is a wonderful procedure to help restore your teeth to a beautiful, snowy white. It is a painless and noninvasive cosmetic dentistry procedure performed by cosmetic and family dentists alike. It’s simple, safe and effective.

However, since it’s a cosmetic dentistry treatment, some people don’t realize that dental problems need to be treated before a teeth whitening dentist can safely perform the treatment. As an example, cavities need to be removed and filled first. Otherwise, the whitening solution will reach the inner parts of the tooth, which will be damaging and extremely painful.

Whitening material will not work on any dental bonding, ceramic or porcelain veneers, or crowns. So if you’ve had a chipped tooth repaired at some point, the dental bonding will need to be removed, and a new one color-matched and applied after the teeth whitening. Keep in mind that if the exposed roots of your teeth appear to be yellow, whitening products will not make them white. But that also means you have receding gums, so if that sounds like you, you should give us a call now for a dental cleaning and checkup – receding gums should not be ignored, as they could be a sign of gum disease.

Okay, but let’s get back on track. Once your family dentist or oral surgeon has gotten your dental health together, they’ll talk to you about the different teeth whitening procedures so you can both decide what’s best for you.

The Teeth Whitening Procedure

The procedure for teeth whitening is best performed in a dental office by a dentist who is trained in teeth whitening. The dentist will probably photograph your teeth so the whitening progress can be monitored. The dentist will also thoroughly examine your teeth, and ask questions about what has led to the need for whitening.

The next step is to clean your teeth thoroughly in order to remove any substances that have built up on your teeth, and that may have contributed to staining. So you get a whole dental cleaning and whiter teeth in one appointment!

Types of Teeth Whitening Treatments

There are two primary types of teeth whitening: vital and non-vital. Vital teeth whitening is done on teeth that have nerves (read: are alive), while non-vital whitening is done on teeth that have had a root canal (read: not alive), because these teeth no longer have live nerves.

Vital Tooth Whitening Procedure for Live Teeth

In vital teeth whitening, a whitening gel containing a form of hydrogen peroxide, is applied to the vital teeth surfaces. A special light causes the gel to activate, and as a result, the whitening action works more quickly. The process usually requires 1 to 3 appointments of 30 to 90 minutes each. Different stain types will respond differently.

Vital teeth whitening is done with utmost attention to the health of the gums, inner teeth, tooth roots and nerves, so it can’t be too harsh, which is why it uses hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach, and why it isn’t performed on damaged teeth. What good are pearly white teeth if they’re damaged?

Non-Vital Teeth Whitening for Teeth Post-Root Canal

In non-vital teeth whitening, the whitening treatment affects the entire tooth. This is perfectly safe because the tooth is no longer connected to a nerve or blood supply. Usually, your cosmetic dentist will drill a small hole in the tooth and place a bleaching agent in it, and the tooth is whitened from the inside out.

This procedure usually takes two appointments, because after the bleaching agent is inserted, it stays in over a few days until the patient notices the whitening. Then, they have to go back to the dentist to have the bleaching agent removed and the hole filled.

Making the Most of Your Teeth Whitening Procedure

Teeth whitening should not be considered a permanent solution – especially if you smoke or consume a lot of foods and drinks that contain staining agents. If you smoke or eat foods that are known to easily stain teeth, then you will find that another whitening treatment will be required before 12 months has passed.

Things you can do to extend the results of your teeth whitening treatment include:

• Don’t smoke.
• Limit dark drinks like coffee and wine. Or use a straw. It might seem strange to other people, but it means anything you drink won’t have contact with your front, visible teeth.
• Get regular dental cleanings.
• Practice comprehensive at-home dental care: brush, floss, mouthwash. And use a whitening toothpaste to boost the effects of your daily oral health routine.
• Limit or avoid foods that stain or cause enamel weakening: sugary drinks with dye, dark red fruits like cherries, balsamic vinegar, etc.

Cosmetic Teeth Whitening isn’t Just Cosmetic

A cool byproduct of the vital teeth whitening process, is that between the dental cleaning, the hydrogen peroxide gel and the activating light, your whole mouth is essentially sanitized. Your teeth look better, and they actually are also in better condition, after the teeth whitening is done.

Teeth Whitening Safety

Receiving a teeth whitening treatment in a dentist’s office is a very safe procedure that’s extremely unlikely to have serious side effects. Some people’s teeth may be more sensitive for a short period, and mild gum irritation can also occur. Overall, getting this treatment from a teeth whitening dentist instead of an over-the-counter kit is safer for the health of your teeth because it’s done in a controlled way by a professional.

Are You Looking For A Cincinnati Dentist Who Can Help You Get Whiter Teeth?

Dr. Scott Malavich and Dr. Andrea Schmerler of Beckham Square Family Dental in Blue Ash, Ohio have the necessary expertise to properly, safely and effectively whiten your teeth. Providing premiere family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and emergency dentistry services, patient comfort and safety are a major focus in everything we do. Call our office at 513.489.7800 or use our contact form to schedule an appointment.