Teeth Whitening

Natick, Dover, Newton, Sherborn, Framingham and Wellesley, MA

If your teeth are discolored, it can make you feel old or unattractive. In recent years, we have all been made more aware of the connection between age and the brightness of your smile. While teeth whitening procedures used to be available just to celebrities and the very rich, it has recently become more affordable and accessible to the average person. People like you are getting their teeth whitened on a regular basis, and you can see the results all around you. At the bank, the supermarket, and on the street everyone seems to have whiter teeth.

You no longer have to feel self-conscious about your discolored smile: you can have a smile you will be proud to show. If you are interested in teeth whitening, we can help you get the brighter smile you desire. Please call or email South Natick Dental to schedule your whitening appointment.

Teeth Whitening Is Everywhere

Everyone wants whiter, brighter teeth, so everyone offers it. Not just dentists, but spas in the mall and numerous over-the-counter products promise they can give you a whiter smile. However, whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, strips, and other systems are not as effective as professional teeth whitening because:

• You don't get a professional dentist's opinion about what procedure is best for you
• There is no one but you to monitor the results and you cannot adjust dosages or methods
• Some over-the-counter methods can be abrasive and if overused they may damage and even discolor teeth
• Over-the-counter methods are not professionally applied to prevent damage to gums and other tissues--to compensate and make them safe, they are limited in strength
• Trays and strips that come with over-the-counter treatments are not designed to fit your smile and may lead to uneven results

For all these reasons, professional teeth whitening is superior to over-the-counter treatments.

Combined Treatment for Best Results

At South Natick Dental, Dr. Svetlana Novak offers Zoom! teeth whitening to give you dramatically whiter teeth in less than an hour. In this treatment, Dr. Novak applies a special whitening gel to your teeth. Although the chemicals in the gel automatically begin working to whiten your teeth, a special light is also used that speeds the reaction and increases its effectiveness at removing the compounds that stain your teeth. Typically, the gel works so fast that it is more or less spent within fifteen minutes and needs to be re-applied. This is done three times in a row, and when it is done, you will be able to really see the difference.

Although dramatic, the results from Zoom! whitening do not represent the full whiteness your teeth can achieve. They may also fade more quickly than you would like. To overcome these limits of in-office whitening, we also use custom-made trays that you can take home with you to improve and maintain the results from Zoom! You wear these well-fitting trays with professional-strength whitening gel in them every night, and you will notice your teeth continuing to whiten. After a while, you can just use the trays intermittently to maintain your results.

Limits of Teeth Whitening

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for teeth whitening. In general, if your teeth are yellowed as a result of smoking or consuming staining beverages or foods, you will get better results than if they are grayed with age. Your enamel may also be slightly discolored, or, worse, thinned with wear, so that your results are limited by the exposure of the yellowish dentin inside the tooth. In this case, the best treatment for whitening your teeth is generally porcelain veneers.

Some people also experience tooth or gum sensitivity during or soon after treatment. If this occurs, we can adjust the compound we use. In general, sensitivity is short-lived. Whitening cannot change the color of restorations, so it is best to have your teeth whitened before getting cosmetic restorations like porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, or dental bonding so that these can be matched to your teeth's whiter shade. You may also not be a good candidate for teeth whitening if you have dental health issues that need to be addressed first.

To learn more about getting a white smile you will be happy to share, please contact South Natick Dental today for a teeth whitening appointment.