Teeth whitening can provide the quick, economical and painless smile makeover that you are looking for. Quickly improve your smile for that special event, wedding, reunion, or just to boost your confidence! As part of our cosmetic dentistry services, professional teeth whitening can enhance your smile’s brightness and overall appearance.
Dr. Dechter and Dr. Moy offer in-office and take-home professional teeth whitening in Silver Spring Maryland. We can brighten your smile and take years off your overall appearance in just a few sessions.
When starting with a healthy clean smile, teeth whitening can remove stains and tooth darkening from lifestyle habits and aging. Our patients often boost the whiteness of their smiles 6-8 shades brighter with a single treatment. A professional whitening treatment at our dental office offers a safer, more effective, and lasting result than over-the-counter options.
We offer both in-office and custom take home teeth whitening treatments near you. You can chose to do them separately, or you can combine them to suit your dental health needs and cosmetic goals. Our dentist will make recommendations for you after a dental exam and reviewing your cosmetic dental goals.
Professional Teeth Whitening at Dechter & Moy Dentistry
The first step towards a whiter, brighter smile is to evaluate the overall health of your teeth. Our Silver Spring dentists will meet with you to perform an exam and discuss your cosmetic goals. We will find the source of your stains or discoloration during this exam.
Our cosmetic dentists will make an appropriate recommendation for your needs. We will only recommend appropriate treatments for your unique smile and budget. We are transparent about associated costs and the results you can expect. Any dental work that our dentist performs on you will support your long term dental health.
At-home Teeth Whitening
The at-home process is simple. If you are using a take home teeth whitening kit, we will take dental impressions during your first visit. We will use these to make your custom fit bleaching trays for at-home use.
The bleaching trays will fit over your teeth like a mouthguard. They will minimize gum irritation while delivering a consistent result. We will instruct most patients to wear the bleaching trays with the whitening gel daily for a specific amount of time. Treatment time varies, but patients typically wear them for a couple of weeks.
You will slowly get a whiter smile as the bleaching products penetrate the tooth enamel. Unlike over the counter options, these bleaching trays contain professional grade bleaching products. They will minimize sensitivity while providing the best results. Lastly, you can keep the trays and use them for touch ups down the road.
In-office Teeth Whitening
An affordable in-office teeth whitening procedure at our practice will take about an hour. First, we will place mouth protection to minimize irritation and sensitivity, especially in soft tissues in your mouth.
Next, our cosmetic dentist will apply a bleaching gel to your teeth and then activate it with a special light. He will aim this light at the teeth at 20 minute intervals, and may reapply the gel between those intervals. Our dentist may also use a laser to speed up the whitening process instead of bleaching gel.
We will also provide you with eye covers to protect them from the light during treatment. Next, we will place a protective barrier in your mouth. The barrier will keep the gel from getting on your lips, tongue, and gums. For the best results, our dentist may provide you with whitening trays to help you do follow-ups at home.
Once the whitening process is complete, our dentist will remove any residue with a special wash. We will make sure that you leave our office with a much brighter and whiter smile.
In-office whitening often yields the best results. Your new smile will be evident before you leave our dental office! You’ll continue to see results over the span of 24 hours. Don’t delay, request an appointment online today.
Alternative Whitening Treatments
There are certain types of tooth stains that do not respond well, or at all, to a professional teeth whitening system. For patients with stains that are the result of medical conditions, medications, or genetics, we can offer alternative cosmetic treatments. We can improve the color and appearance of your teeth with a dental crown, tooth bonding, or dental veneers.
Dental Crowns
More and more people are choosing dental crowns to enhance the appearance of their smile. Dr. Dechter can place a porcelain dental crown on a tooth to change its color and create a more seamless look.
Our skilled cosmetic dentist can customize the crown with different shades of porcelain to match your natural teeth. Dental crowns not only offer aesthetic benefits but also provide protection for damaged or weakened teeth. They are also great for covering up chips, cracks, and other imperfections. To learn about our dental crowns, visit Dental crowns.
Tooth Bonding
Tooth bonding is a minimally invasive and cost-effective way to change the color of your teeth. This cosmetic dental procedure can address darkening, yellowing, and bleach-resistant stains. A dentist cannot remove certain stains using traditional whitening treatments.
Our dentist will apply a composite resin compound to the affected tooth. Then he will shape and mold the resin to match the surrounding teeth. To learn about what dental issues we can address using bonding material, visit Tooth bonding.
Dental Veneers
We can place custom porcelain veneers to enhance the color and appearance of your smile with permanent results. Porcelain veneers are a great alternative to teeth whitening if you have just one or two stained teeth. Our veneers are very thin shells of ceramic material that we apply to the front surfaces of your teeth. We can also fix the color of teeth with stains that are too deep to fix with teeth whitening.
We can make porcelain veneers in any color and shade. Our dentist can provide them to cover deep stains on the front of your teeth. To learn more about our veneer services, visit Porcelain veneers.
How to Maintain Your Teeth Whitening Results
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment, which means it makes your teeth look better, but it doesn’t last forever. It also doesn’t change how your teeth work or how strong they are. That’s why it’s important to take care of your teeth every day. Whitening is not a replacement for brushing, flossing, or visiting the dentist.
To help your smile stay bright, brush your teeth twice a day and use mouthwash. This helps remove food and plaque that can stain your teeth. Make sure your toothpaste and mouthwash have fluoride in them. Fluoride helps protect your teeth from cavities and keeps the enamel strong.
Try to avoid hard foods like popcorn kernels, hard chips, and nuts. These can wear down the enamel on your teeth and make them more likely to stain. You should also stay away from sugary and acidic foods, which can damage your enamel and make your teeth lose their whiteness faster.
If you follow the care instructions from our dentist, your whitening results can last a long time. Taking care of your teeth the right way every day will help you enjoy your bright smile even longer.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
teeth whitening in Silver Spring, MD
Can whitening cause teeth and gums to become sensitive?
Teeth whitening may cause tooth sensitivity and sensitive gums after treatment. In most cases, the sensitivity goes away in a few hours. You can manage tooth sensitivity after a whitening treatment by using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Also, avoiding very hot and very cold drinks and food will help the enamel recover faster.
How long will my gums stay white after teeth whitening?
Gums may become “bleached” and appear white after having professional teeth whitening treatment. However, this is not common and only temporary.
Your gums should return to normal in a few days. Soft tissue flaking off your gums is no cause for alarm. This is just a part of the healing process. So follow proper dental care practices and avoid habits that can stain your teeth to maintain your new whiter smile for longer.
How often should you go in for professional teeth whitening?
Most patients who have professional teeth whitening treatment go in every three to six months. Whitening your teeth too often can cause harm to the enamel of your teeth. So it’s important to give them a break to rest and recover between treatments. Patients typically create a dental appointment schedule to clean and whiten their teeth after every dental visit.
When do you see the effects of whitening?
Patients typically see the effect of whitening 24 hours after their first treatment. Results take approximately 2 weeks to become fully apparent but most patients notice a difference in their teeth after 1 to 2 days. You will see immediate results the same day, but your teeth will continue to get whiter for a couple of hours after you leave our dental office.
Can teeth whitening damage your teeth?
Teeth whitening does not damage teeth. There is no evidence showing that whitening your teeth at the dentist causes any harm to tooth enamel. It does not negatively affect the natural sheen of your teeth. However, too much whitening and whitening too often can have a negative effect to your teeth and gums.
There are many different types of teeth whiteners available out there. But they don’t all have similar effects. Products with hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide will break down stains on the surface of your teeth.
Some worry that this process can damage their tooth enamel and remove some or all the natural color. But this is just not true because these chemicals are safe in low dosages.
What causes stained teeth?
Many things can stain or yellow your teeth over time. Drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, and dark sodas can leave stains on your teeth. Foods like tomato sauce, soy sauce, and berries can also cause discoloration because of their dark colors and strong pigments. If you have these foods and drinks often, they can slowly change the color of your teeth.
Smoking or using tobacco products is another big cause of yellow or brown stains on your teeth. These habits can make it harder to keep your smile white and healthy.
Certain medications, like some antibiotics, can cause teeth to stain if they were taken when your teeth were still developing. Some allergy and blood pressure medicines can also affect tooth color over time.
Even aging can lead to tooth discoloration. As you get older, the enamel on your teeth wears down, and the yellowish dentin underneath can start to show through.
Get The Brightest Smile in Just One Treatment
Teeth whitening treatments are a great way to get that perfect smile you dream of. You can get faster and better results from our treatments with the help of our family dentists near you.
Dechter & Moy Dentistry will provide you with a range of safe and effective teeth whitening treatments. From in-office laser teeth whitening services to take-home trays, we will have the right treatment for your needs. Call us today at (301) 508-9755 to visit our Silver Spring Maryland office for a teeth whitening consultation.