Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Maybe you have reservations for a nice dinner out, or maybe you’ll be doing something more low-key at home. But whatever your plans, you certainly don’t want them marred by a dull and dingy smile.

At Edgewood Dental Care, we offer professional teeth whitening services that will wipe away those stains, perhaps take a few years off your appearance, and give you newfound confidence and joy. To book an appointment at our office in Edgewood, KY, call 859-474-7830.

Teeth Darken Over Time

What you eat, drink, and your oral hygiene habits can all contribute to your teeth becoming dark and discolored. Pearly whites do tend to become less white as we get older, but that doesn’t mean the process is inevitable, and isn’t reversible.

The most common (and most easily fixable) type of tooth discoloration is called extrinsic, and this refers to staining of just the enamel, or outer layer of the teeth. Extrinsic staining culprits include:

  • Cigarettes and chewing tobacco
  • Soda, coffee, and tea
  • Berries and dark-colored fruits
  • Tomato-based sauces
  • Alcoholic beverages (even light-colored ones affect the texture of the enamel and make your teeth more susceptible to stains)

Intrinsic stains affect the inner structure of the tooth, or the dentin. This type of discoloration tends to be more challenging to remove. Possible causes include:

  • Overexposure to fluoride as a young child
  • Use of certain antibiotics as a child (or exposure to them in utero)
  • Trauma to the tooth
  • A condition called dentinogenesis imperfecta

Drugstore Products Are Not the Same

You may be wondering why you should bother making an appointment with one of our dentists when you can buy an over-the-counter product. It’s simple: our professional systems work better. Drugstore whitening kits contain a far lower concentration of active ingredient, so they are not nearly as effective. You may be tempted to leave the gel on longer to get results, which puts you at risk for damaging your teeth and gums. The trays are not custom-made, so they fit poorly and may not distribute the solution evenly. These products are just not worth the money.

Three Solutions for Whiter, Brighter Teeth

KoR Deep-Bleaching System
If you want a take-home product that produces professional results, our KoR take-home system may make the most sense for you. KoR will make your pearlies up to 16 shades whiter, and is even effective against those deep intrinsic stains!
KoR whitening gel is refrigerated continuously from the manufacturing plant to our office, which ensures optimal freshness and potency. The trays are specially designed to seal out saliva, which in most products quickly dilutes the solution and diminishes its effectiveness. Unlike with in-office treatments, you will be able to monitor your progress and have total control over it. When your teeth reach your desired shade, you simply stop.
The process is simple:

  • One of our dentists — Dr. McMahon, Dr. Middendorf, or Dr. Peak — will create precise, custom whitening trays using molds of your mouth.
  • You will take the trays and whitening gel home with you. You will whiten your teeth while you sleep, over the course of about two weeks.
  • We will have you come in for a quick progress check.
  • You will be able to maintain your gorgeous smile with occasional touch-up treatments.

Zoom! In-Office System
If you are in a hurry or just want immediate results, Zoom! In-Office whitening will lighten your teeth up to eight shades in less than an hour. First, we will cover your gums and other tissues to protect them from the whitening gel. We will then apply the powerful whitening agent and activate it with a special laser light. Then comes the fun part. You can kick back and relax in the dental chair and, if you’d like, put on a pair of headphones and watch a show on one of our TVs. We have blankets to ensure you stay warm and comfortable. By the time you walk out of the office, stains and discoloration will be gone and you will have a beautiful white smile.

Laser Deep Bleaching
With our state-of-the-art dental laser, we can bring the white back to your pearly whites lightening fast. This process involves protecting your gums with a rubber-like gel. We will then apply the whitening solution to your teeth and activate it with the laser for excellent and quick results.

If you live in or around Edgewood, KY and are interested in lightening up your smile, contact Edgewood Dental Care to learn more about our teeth-whitening solutions. You may reach us via phone at 859-474-7830 or contact us online.