Do you want a whiter smile? Daily activities can cause wear and tear on our enamel, resulting in discolouration or dulling of our natural tooth shade. The foods and beverages we consume, as well as lifestyle factors, can have negative effects on smile appearance. ZOOM teeth whitening is a simple smile improvement option that can have dramatic benefits to the overall look of our smile.
There are two types of tooth stains:
How to whiten your teeth will depend greatly on which of these stains is being addressed. Contact our cosmetic dentistry team today to determine if ZOOM teeth whitening is right for you, or if veneers or dental bonding would be a better option.
At Southcentre Dental Clinic, we use a laser tooth whitening process that is safe to use. Even if your smile only needs to go a few shades lighter, the effects of our ZOOM whitening process will be noticeable.
First, for maximum effect, a cleaning is recommended prior to whitening to remove any surface stains or tartar that may reduce the whitening effect.
At the whitening appointment, our trained dental assistant will isolate and protect your gums and apply the whitening agent to your teeth. You will then sit with a UV light on your teeth for a 15-minute session. We typically do 4 15-minute sessions, so we will book a total of 2 hours for your whitening appointment.
We will compare the shade of your whitened teeth to the shade they originally were so you can see the improvement. Most patients experience a minimum of 2 shades whiter with our professional whitening system.
Have your teeth look up to 10 shades whiter in just two hours!
Book An AppointmentDr. Jennifer Silver will let you know your limitations and suggest a shade based on your current appearance and tooth characteristics.
Appointments for teeth whitening last about one hour where you’ll enjoy immediate results! Generally, the ZOOM whitening process will give you more intense results in a shorter amount of time than take-home whitening systems.
The special light-activated gel is specially formulated to penetrate the enamel to remove deep stains. It’s also pH balanced and easy on teeth and gums, making the process more comfortable than other whitening alternatives for people with sensitive teeth.
After your first appointment, results continue to improve up to 2 weeks and can last for years! You can extend your results by coming in for regular touch-ups.
Tooth whitening may be a good option for people who:
If you’ve tried tooth whitening with little or no success, porcelain veneers may be the solution for you.
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Tooth whitening is amazingly effective; however, some staining continues to be resistant to the whitening process. This is what we call resistant discolouration. Staining on the inside of your teeth is called intrinsic staining. Intrinsic staining can be caused in childhood while your teeth are developing, or it can happen in adulthood.
Even if whitening works on your teeth, it is not the best solution for discolouration that is caused by damage to your teeth. Chipped teeth and eroded tooth enamel will darken quickly, but these teeth need to be sealed, not just “bleached.”
Porcelain veneers can be an alternative to tooth whitening, but it not always an “either, or” situation. If you only have one or two teeth that do not respond to whitening and do not have other teeth with flaws you would like to correct, you may want to have a combination of tooth whitening and porcelain veneers. Contact us today for more information!
Tooth whitening isn’t permanent, and if you’re especially lax on caring for your teeth at home after your procedure, you can find the results fading quickly. However, there are a few general steps you can take to keep your teeth shining after their whitening:
Everyone’s teeth darken to some extent over time. Some of this darkening and dulling is a part of the natural aging process. Staining, on the other hand, is partly under your control. Over the years, your teeth will naturally start to appear more yellow as the enamel thins. The dentin under the enamel is yellow in colour and starts to show through. Fortunately, the teeth whitening process can lighten the outer enamel layer and mask the yellow dentine.
Good dental hygiene can also help slow the darkening process. Keeping your teeth clean, smooth, and free from tartar will help them stay their whitest and stain-resistant. Good dental hygiene starts at home with proper brushing and flossing but requires regular professional cleanings as well. If you have your teeth whitened, proper dental hygiene is a must for maintaining the results.
To put it simply, your teeth can be darkened by what you choose to put in your mouth. Some foods and beverages or even medications that can darken your teeth include:
Darkening From The Inside
Your teeth can be dark on the inside for many reasons too. Staining of the inside of your tooth is called intrinsic staining. A common form of intrinsic staining is the discolouration caused by tetracycline use during childhood. Trauma to a tooth can also cause it to darken from the inside.
In some cases, tooth whitening can be effective for intrinsic darkening, but intrinsic staining is often resistant to whitening. If tooth whitening cannot lighten your teeth to your desired shade, Dr. Silver can offer other solutions, such as porcelain veneers, to give you a beautiful, white smile.
There are two basic categories of teeth whitening procedures used to whiten enamel. They are:
In-office techniques typically take just one office visit, after which there will be a very dramatic, sudden change of colour. In-office techniques involve a translucent bleaching gel that is applied to the teeth, followed by the application of a special activating light. The teeth whitening procedure typically takes about two hours, although times may vary based on the degree of discolouration you may have.
The at-home technique is a more gradual process than in-office procedures, with results usually finalizing in about one to two weeks.
One of the most popular tooth whitening questions our patients ask us is, “How long will the whitening last?” Patients wonder whether tooth whitening is permanent. Unfortunately, ZOOM teeth whitening is not a permanent procedure, and you need to remain vigilant to maintain your newly acquired lustre. However, a few simple steps and the basic dental hygiene that every dentist recommends can help keep your teeth whiter for longer.
Yes, ZOOM teeth whitening is proven to be very safe and effective! To learn more about the safety of tooth whitening, book a consultation.
Teeth whitening can have a very positive effect on your smile appearance — and your overall appearance! Of course, we cannot guarantee you will look younger, but as a population we do tend to attribute whiter teeth with youth.
Age, lifestyle, and everyday use can eventually lead to tooth enamel discolouration. The effects of whitening last different lengths of time for each patient, depending largely on your habits, home care, and whether or not you use touch-up whitening treatments.
During your cosmetic dental consultation, Dr. Silver will discuss all of the details with you and share tips on keeping your smile bright for a long while.
Dr. Jennifer Silver has been helping patients in Calgary achieve brighter, whiter smiles for the past 15 years! She understands the unique cases between each patient and will work closely with you to help develop the right shade and ongoing maintenance plan that works for your teeth’s unique characteristics.
About Us
Have you always wanted a straighter, brighter smile without braces? Dental veneers can give you a perfect, natural looking smile in a just a few easy visits.
Enjoy a smile you never had before with smile makeover! Create a custom smile enhancement plan to include everything form simple tooth whitening to porcelain veneers.
Whether you’re looking for whiter teeth or a straighter smile, our cosmetic dental procedures can help you achieve your dream smile.