Teeth Whitening: Brighten Your Smile & Boost Your Self-Esteem!
At Charles Ashley Mann, DDS & Associates, we are known for providing innovative treatments to help you achieve the beautiful and bright smile of your dreams. We offer both in-office and take-home options for whitening your teeth. In our Cary and Fuquay-Varina offices, we use Opalescence products and in our Garner office we use Zoom products; both are very effective at helping you achieve the Smile Makeover that you’ve always wanted!
When considering your Smile Makeover, it’s important that your questions are answered…
1. What are my whitening options and how long does it take?
It is important to have your teeth examined by a dentist prior to any whitening. We check for decay, gum health, and any other areas of concern prior to whitening so we can be sure that you will achieve optimal results.
In-Office: A one-and-a-half to two-hour procedure where we whiten your teeth in the office, carefully protecting your gum tissue, using a 25%-35% hydrogen peroxide whitening gel. Our in-office whitening also includes custom take-home trays for future touch-ups!
Take-Home: Custom fabricated trays that are reusable/refillable with take-home whitening gel (14%-15% hydrogen peroxide). This option requires 2 short visits so your trays can be fabricated. The application time is dependent on the whitening gel percentage but usually, 30 minutes, once a day for up to 2 weeks.
Opal Go15% 10 pack: Prefabricated whitening trays loaded with whitening gel. Application time is 30 minutes for 10 days straight to achieve optimal results. Trays are thrown away after each use (Cary and Fuquay locations).
KOR: This is a series of in-office and take-home applications to whiten the most stubborn stained teeth. Must be compliant with take-home applications to achieve optimal results (Cary and Fuquay locations).
2. Does teeth whitening hurt?
The whitening gel is very safe and effective when used correctly. Although some patients may experience slight tingling or sensitivity during and after the procedure, teeth whitening does not hurt. The sensitivity can last from a couple of days up to a week and is managed with Advil or Tylenol if your teeth are extremely sensitive. We also recommend using a prescription fluoride toothpaste for 2 weeks prior to your whitening procedure. Our take-home kits include a desensitizing gel.
Gum irritation can occur as well if the whitening gel gets on your gum tissue and stays on for too long; the gums turn white temporarily but will completely heal within 1-2 days.
3. Does teeth whitening affect composite restorations: fillings, veneers, or crowns?
Tooth whitening has little or no effect on restorative materials such as porcelain or crowns, but it may temporarily reduce the bond strength between enamel and composite restorations. This is why it is a good idea to check with your dental professional before beginning any course of teeth whitening. If you have fillings, veneers, or crowns; you might need to have them removed after the teeth whitening procedure and have new ones put in to match your whiter teeth.
4. What is the best way to care for my teeth after a whitening procedure?
After your whitening procedure, the dentin tubules; small, hollow microscopic channels are more open and susceptible to staining. Foods & beverages like curry, berries, tomato sauce, coffee, tea, and red wine cause teeth to stain and darken. We recommend that you stay away from these highly staining foods & beverages and habits like smoking for at least 48 hours. Regular brushing and good oral hygiene are also important. Try using a tooth whitening toothpaste with a high concentration of fluoride to help keep the stains away.
5. How long does professional teeth whitening last?
It is important to keep in mind that teeth whitening is not a permanent solution and everyone’s teeth are different; so results will vary. Lifestyle choices and habits are also contributing factors as to how long your teeth whitening will last. However, professional teeth whitening should last anywhere between six months to one year. We recommend touch-up home applications to maintain your teeth whitening results.
In conclusion, you have many options when it comes to teeth whitening. However, visiting and consulting with our Smilemann team will ensure that the option you choose will provide the safest, most effective results you desire.
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Call our office today to schedule your whitening appointment!
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We have three locations: Cary, Garner, and Fuquay-Varina. We also serve Morrisville, Apex, Durham, Holly Springs, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Holly Springs, Wendell, Raleigh, Angier, and Buies Creek.
