Professional Teeth Whitening at Leesburg Family Dental in Leesburg
When you look in the mirror, are you happy with what you see? Are your teeth yellow, discolored, dingy or just not as attractive as they used to be? If you have decided it’s finally time to do something about those discolored teeth, Dr. Talib Salim Ali and the staff at Avatar Dental can help with professional teeth whitening!
Why shouldn’t I just whiten my teeth at home?
If your teeth aren’t as white as you would like them to be, it may be tempting to head over to the drug store and get one of those whitening kits off the shelf.
However, you should know that the American Dental Association (ADA) has not given their Seal of Acceptance to any of these over-the-counter whitening products. The ADA has, however, given the Seal of Acceptance to many of the whitening products that are professionally applied in your dentist’s office. This means that these products are proven to be safe and effective.
Another reason you should see Dr. Ali when you want whiter teeth is because he will give your teeth a thorough dental exam. It is important to find the cause of discolored teeth to make sure whitening will help. Sometimes a discolored tooth is a sign of a problem with the tooth or the result of a medical problem. Medications can cause tooth discoloration, such as blood pressure medications, antihistamines, antipsychotic drugs and some antibiotics. It can be caused by a medical treatment, such as chemotherapy. Teeth might even be discolored because the patient is getting too much fluoride.
What are some teeth whitening products and techniques Dr. Ali might use?
Before trying any teeth whitening product, Dr. Ali and his staff will give your teeth a thorough cleaning and polishing. They may try abrasion as well. If stains still won’t come off, he may recommend an in-office whitening or a whitening treatment he will give you to use at home.
In the procedure for in-office whitening, Dr. Ali will put a powerful whitening gel on your teeth, and then shine a laser or a special light on your teeth to activate the gel. It can take a few appointments to start seeing results with in-office whitening, but these results are very impressive and dramatic!
If Dr. Ali recommends at-home whitening instead, he will make custom-made trays for you to take home. These trays will fit precisely and comfortably over your teeth. Every day for two to three weeks, you will use these trays after placing a special whitening gel into them. If these methods aren’t effective in getting your teeth white, Dr. Ali may recommend dental bonding. Bonding is made from a resin material that is easy to mold. It can be colored to look just like a patient’s other teeth.
Applying dental bonding is a very simple procedure, and it doesn’t even require the tooth to be numbed. The tooth is etched with a special acid to make the bonding material adhere to it. An adhesive is applied to the tooth, and then the bonding material is put on the tooth. When the bonding has been sculpted to look natural, Dr. Ali will harden the material quickly with a special ultraviolet light.
Why should I get my teeth whitened?
There are many reasons to get your teeth whitened. Whitening:
- Is a relatively inexpensive way to get the smile you want
- Is safe
- Is quick — much quicker than other self-improvement methods like going on a diet, going to the gym, or having plastic surgery
- Lasts for a long time. Many people don’t have to have another teeth whitening procedure done for three years or so. You can make sure your teeth stay their whitest by not smoking and staying away from foods and drinks that stain teeth, like coffee and tea.
- Can help you feel better about yourself. If your teeth are discolored because of sickness, trauma, or an accident, you can do something about it! You have recovered from the trauma. Why continue to suffer with dingy teeth?
- Can help you feel younger! As we get older, the enamel on teeth wears away. This reveals the dentin underneath, which is yellow and unattractive. Whitening can take years off your smile!
What will teeth whitening cost?
The cost of teeth whitening will vary depending on what exactly the procedure entails. Leesburg Family Dental takes many different types of insurance, and our staff would be happy to help you determine how much, if any, of the tooth whitening procedure your insurance will cover.
Leesburg Family Dental also has financing options available, and we offer discounts to senior citizens and veterans. You don’t have to live with dingy, yellow teeth. You deserve the gorgeous smile you’ve always wanted, and Dr. Ali and Leesburg Family Dental can help you get it! Call (571) 577-8457 today!