Teeth whitening has become such an attractive and favored treatment that almost everyone does it. Teeth whitening with over-the-counter options can help remove signs of discoloration and yellowing easily and provide drastic changes to your smile that last. However, not everyone can benefit from these at-home treatments, hence why our team at Elite Dental Group provide professional teeth whitening services that help remove stubborn stains and leave behind a whiter smile.
Professional vs. At-Home Teeth Whitening
Having stubborn stains and harsh discoloration along the front and sides of your teeth can cause a huge hit to your confidence and self-esteem. Over-the-counter options attempt to remove these stains through the use of hydrogen peroxide. The options you’d normally find at your local supermarket will contain lower percentages of hydrogen peroxide, alongside other ingredients, to remove stains for a limited time. However, even these treatments don’t remove stains completely, and for some types of stains, these treatments don’t work at all.
Professional teeth whitening treatments offer a higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide that moves beyond the enamel and into the dentin of the teeth and work to remove any leftover food debris and bacteria particles from the grooves in your teeth. Tooth discoloration and yellowing, however, can be caused by different sources. When performing a teeth whitening procedure, the type of stain we’re dealing with will help determine your treatment outcome. These stains include:
- Extrinsic: Extrinsic stains are stains that sit along the surface of the enamel, and these types of stains often result from food debris, such as tea, coffee, and wine, typically due to its tannins. However, poor oral hygiene can also contribute to these stains.
- Intrinsic: Intrinsic stains can occur from the existence of extrinsic stains. These types of stains are embedded into the dentin layer of the tooth. Sometimes these stains can appear as white spot lesions, dental fluorosis, and tooth decay. Intrinsic stains can not be removed by at-home whitening treatments and often need professional whitening services to remove these stains.
- Age-Related Stains: In other cases, tooth stains can also occur from aging. Aging is often one of the largest proponents of tooth stains due to the dentin and inner pulp dying off over time. This most often occurs due to the lack of vitamin D and calcium within the body and can impact bone health over time.
How Elite Dental Group Can Help With Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a great cosmetic procedure that can help remove extrinsic, intrinsic, and age-related stains and can keep your smile gleaming for months. Our team in Poughkeepsie, NY, can work with you to maintain your oral health through our state of the art, powerful teeth whitening services. At our practice, we will work with you to schedule appointments, offer treatment plans, and provide preventative measures to keep your teeth and stay healthy for life. For more information, schedule a visit to our office today to learn more about what Elite Dental Group can provide for you.
