Rejuvenate Your Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening

At River Forest Dental Studio in River Forest, IL, Dr. Gina Piccioni and Dr. John Hartmann have committed themselves to staying current on the latest in dental technology, treatments, and trends. Cosmetic dentistry continues to be a popular and beneficial way for dental patients to improve the way their teeth look, and whitening is one way to make dramatic improvements to your smile. Below, our dentists have answered a few questions about whitening from patients who are interested in cosmetically enhancing their teeth.

Why are my teeth discolored?

Although the surfaces of your teeth look glossy and even, they are actually covered in very small indentations that collect particles from food, drinks, and tobacco products. Although these "pores" on your teeth are tiny, they are deep enough to prevent the trapped particles from being brushed or rinsed away. When enough of these particles build up, they can change the color of the teeth from white or ivory to a brown or yellow hue.

How does whitening work?

The whitening solution your River Forest cosmetic dentist uses contains concentrated peroxide. When this solution - typically in the form of gel or paste - is applied to your teeth, it creates a natural chemical reaction that causes tiny, oxygenated bubbles to develop and then burst, breaking up the stain-causing particles and driving them out of the grooves in the enamel. In-office whitening is typically finished in about an hour; at-home professional whitening kits take a week or two for results to emerge because the concentration of peroxide is lower for safety reasons.

Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?

Some people report some temporary sensitivity after whitening; this is often due to patients leaving the whitening gel on longer or more frequently than recommended. Working with your River Forest cosmetic dentist can help prevent sensitivity since the products we use also contain fluoride to help strengthen the enamel during the whitening process. We can modify the formula of whitening chemicals for you and monitor the amount of time it stays on your teeth for the best and most comfortable results.

Interested in trying whitening for yourself? Contact River Forest Dental Studio in River Forest, IL, today for a consultation with Dr. Piccioni or Dr. Hartmann about this or any other of our cosmetic dentistry offerings.