Why isn’t my smile white?

Stains can be caused by diet, smoking, defects in the tooth, aging and the use of certain antibiotics during tooth development.

What is tooth whitening?

A special whitening gel, usually made of a hydrogen perborate solution, is placed on a plastic film or in a tray and worn for several hours a day, usually in the evening, right before bed. Most patients see significant results after just a few weeks.

Advantages:

Most patients have a brighter smile after whitening. Touch-up applications can be used periodically to maintain your lighter smile.

Disadvantages:

Some patients report moderate sensitivity. However, this is temporary and goes away within a few days of discontinuing the whitening agent.

Other possible treatments:

Veneers or crowns are sometimes indicated to whiten teeth that have severe stains or large restorations.