A white smile can significantly boost one's self-esteem. However, before your teeth can be whitened, your dentist must examine them to determine their health and suitability for the procedure. Our team at South Granville Dentistry - Dr. Melissa Lin & Associates has outlined the criteria we use to determine if teeth whitening is a good option for you.
Whitening your teeth is an excellent way to improve your appearance. A more confident grin can be revealed with a brighter, whiter smile. That being said, there are a few things you should know before applying the first whitening strip. Our Vancouver dental team will need to examine your smile to ensure that your teeth are in good enough health to undergo whitening treatment. We'll discuss the criteria for determining whether teeth whitening is right for you in this post.
Am I a good candidate for teeth whitening?
If you're considering teeth whitening, schedule an appointment with your South Granville Dentistry - Dr. Melissa Lin & Associates dentist. Your dentist will examine your teeth for signs of enamel weakness or decay that could impair the whitening treatment's outcome. If you have periodontal disease or extremely sensitive teeth, we may recommend porcelain veneers instead of bleaching.
Individuals who have yellow tones in their teeth but have healthy, unrestored teeth (no fillings) and gums are the best candidates for teeth whitening.
What should I expect from teeth whitening treatment?
While bleaching should be safe and effective in the majority of patients, some may experience mild tooth sensitivity or gum irritation during treatment. Once the procedure is complete, these symptoms should subside. Dental teeth bleaching has a limited effect in terms of changing the colour of your teeth from grey to a lighter shade of grey.
Bear in mind that each patient's results will vary, and visible restorations such as a crown or bridge will not whiten and will retain their original shade.
Following your initial course of treatment with one of our cosmetic kits, you should have at least one vial of bleaching gel remaining. This can be used to "refresh" your smile, and additional bleaching gel vials can be purchased as needed to use with your custom mouthguard.
Consistent Oral Hygiene Preserves Smiles Best
Regardless of how healthy your teeth are, our dentists always recommend visiting the dentist once every six months for a checkup and cleaning (the frequency of your visits depending on the general condition of your teeth and gums and your at-home oral hygiene routine). The most effective way to maintain a white smile and avoid oral health problems is to combine an effective at-home oral care routine with routine dental visits.