When you have stained or discolored teeth, it’s understandable that you’d want to get them whiter as fast as possible. So, why then does your dentist insist on giving them a dental examination before whitening treatment? After all, should you require any fillings, won’t that just delay your results even longer? The truth is, exposing damage like cavities and tooth decay to teeth whitening can be very dangerous. Here’s why it’s so important to repair your teeth before beginning professional whitening!
How Does Professional Whitening Work?
Professional whitening from your dentist is a safe and effective way to remove up to eight shades of stains and discoloration from your smile. First, you’ll need to visit your dentist to have impressions made of your teeth. They will use these to make custom trays to hold the personalized concentration of whitening gel in place during your treatment. Then, you’ll simply follow the product instructions from the comfort of your own home, and you’ll see noticeable results in about two weeks. Best of all, should you ever require a touch up, your trays can be used over and over again with refills of gel from your dentist!
Why Can’t I Whiten My Teeth if I Have Untreated Cavities?
The whitening gels used in these kits are very powerful and work by traveling into the pores in your tooth enamel to break up stains. Because things like veneers, dental implants, and crowns don’t have pores, whitening gels won’t work on restorations, but they can yield amazing changes in healthy biological teeth. Unfortunately, however if you have any untreated cavities, attempting to whiten them can be extremely dangerous. Whitening gels are strong, and there is a risk of them causing sensitivity to even the healthiest smiles. The problem with untreated decay is that this sensitivity can be much more intense and last much longer when the tooth is damaged. Worse yet, whereas the sensitivity from whitening healthy teeth is temporary, with teeth that have cavities or decay it could become permanent.
The Importance of Your Pre-Treatment Consultation
To prevent permanent damage to your smile, your dentist will schedule you for a whitening consultation before you get the green light for treatment. During this appointment, he or she will examine your teeth and gums for any abnormalities and customize a formula to make them as white as possible. If you are diagnosed with any untreated cavities or decay, you will need to repair them before undergoing whitening to ensure that the bleaching agents do not cause irreparable damage. Once given a clean bill of health, you will be free to bring home your kit and begin your amazing smile transformation!
Remember, your pre-whitening consultation isn’t designed to slow down your results. Your dentist wants to ensure that your teeth are healthy and strong before beginning treatment. This is essential in helping you avoid painful damage like permanent tooth sensitivity. So, don’t despair. Professional whitening can easily remove up to eight shades of discoloration in about two weeks, but your results will be even more enjoyable when done on a strong, healthy set of teeth!
About Our Practice
At Dental Group West, our team of talented and caring dentists is proud to offer a variety of dental treatments to give you a healthy, beautiful smile. If you’re ready to remove up to eight shades of discoloration from your teeth, a professional take-home kit is the safest and most efficient way to get noticeable results. To schedule a consultation for professional whitening, visit our website or call us today at 419-539-2168.