A whiter, brighter smile can increase your confidence and self-esteem. With the popularity of social media and the immediacy of photography, every second of your life can be captured forever. Many people want to look back at important moments of their lives and see a dazzling white smile. If you are one of those people, you should talk to your dentist about your whitening options.
Whitening Options at the Dentist
While there are many different options that your dentist can offer, the quickest and most efficient choice is a professional teeth whitening treatment or tooth bonding.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Nowadays, it is easy to choose from any number of at-home whitening treatments. From the store to online shopping, you are one trip or one click away from whiter teeth. However, if you want faster, better results, you should consult your dentist. A professional whitening treatment can make your teeth whiter in a fraction of the time.
Most at-home treatments utilize chemicals to lift the shade of your teeth. Chemicals, such as hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, break down the stain. Once the chemical breaks down the stain, it will lift it off your teeth. However, this process can take several weeks or months to see significant results. Additionally, it would be best if you consistently use whitening strips, toothpaste, gel, etc.
With whitening toothpaste, the toothpaste can also contain small abrasive particles. This helps buff the stains out of your teeth by polishing the surface.
Yet, you can achieve better whitening results when you visit your dentist. In one session, the color of your teeth can lift between five to eight shades. When you use at-home treatments, it can take weeks before you see your teeth whiten up to four shades.
Tooth Bonding
Tooth bonding or dental bonding is an alternative method to whitening your teeth. Rather than chemically break down the stains on your teeth, tooth bonding physically covers or camouflages the discoloration on your teeth using a composite resin. This resin is tooth-colored, which allows the material to blend in with your teeth. You may need tooth bonding if you have severely discolored teeth or stubborn internal stains.
For some people, chemical whitening treatments are not an option. Some medications, medical treatments, or dental trauma can change the color of your teeth from within. These are called intrinsic stains. Unfortunately, chemical whitening treatments are not likely to be useful. Therefore, you need an alternative treatment. Tooth bonding can cover the permanent discoloration with a whiter shade.
Your dentist can easily manipulate the resin to cover your teeth and the stains. Then, they use a special light to harden the resin, completing the process. It is a simple procedure that can greatly benefit your smile.
In fact, tooth bonding is an incredibly useful technique. On top of teeth whitening, your dentist can use tooth bonding to fix chipped teeth or smaller-than-average teeth. In addition, your dentist can fill in small gaps with tooth bonding.