Cosmetic Dentistry
Teeth Whitening
Brighten Your Smile
with Professional Whitening
Enjoy your favorite beverages and foods without worrying about teeth stains. Dr. Wiitala offers safe and effective teeth whitening in Scottsdale to restore your bright smile. Our treatments, including 30-minute in-office procedures and custom take-home trays, can significantly improve tooth color.
How does teeth whitening work?
Hydrogen peroxide has the ability to penetrate the tooth enamel, which is somewhat porous. Once it penetrates the enamel, the peroxide breaks down the stain. Peroxide can also break down stains in the dentin layer of the teeth, but it takes longer.
Benefits of teeth whitening
You could phrase that question to ask, “What is the benefit of confidence?” A bright white smile can give you a boost of confidence when you’re dealing with other people. In a study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 48 percent of people say a person’s smile is the most memorable feature they remember when meeting someone new.
As we age and with the stains that occur with drinking coffee, red wine, even eating raspberries, our teeth can become dingy and dull. Our various whitening options, whether in-office or at home, whiten your teeth by many shades and make them bright, white, and something to smile about.
What is the best way to whiten my teeth?
That depends on your preferences. Some people like to come in and have either our Boost or GLO in-office treatments. They’re in and out in an hour, leaving with teeth that are up to five shades whiter than when they came in. Other people prefer to use our at-home whitening program. We make custom trays for your teeth, and then you put the gel in the trays and wear them while watching TV or reading for 30 minutes each day, usually for two weeks.
Ask us about our whitening options, and we’ll help you decide the best option.
What is Boost teeth whitening?
Opalescence Boost is the most powerful chemically activated teeth whitening option available. First, we protect your gums and lips. Then we apply the Boost hydrogen peroxide bleaching solution onto your teeth, painting it on by hand. We activate the gel with a mercury metal halide light; this opens the pores in the enamel of your teeth to allow the bleaching agent to penetrate more deeply. We then remove the gel and repeat the process three more times in about one hour. Your teeth will then be several shades whiter.
What is GLO teeth whitening?
GLO is a new in-office teeth whitening option at Dr. Wiitala’s. GLO uses a mouthpiece that the patient places in his or her mouth. The mouthpiece delivers LED light and heat to activate the GLO professional-grade whitening gel. It whitens teeth several shades in just one hour.
Will whitening work on my teeth?
Generally, teeth whitening will work on teeth that are discolored or stained due to these factors:
- Age
- Genetics
- Coffee, soda, tea, and certain foods
- Tobacco use
- Poor home hygiene
The teeth can also become discolored by trauma, gum disease or tooth infection, medications such as tetracycline, and fluorosis (excessive use of fluoride). When this is the cause of your tooth discoloration, topical whitening solutions don’t work. In these cases, Dr. Wiitala may recommend porcelain veneers, bonding, or dental crowns to cover the staining.
Frequently asked questions about teeth whitening
The degree of whitening that can be achieved varies by the patient. However, all of the whitening options we use at Dr. Wiitala’s are proven to be effective for removing stains and whitening teeth. The goal is to bring your teeth back to their natural whiteness.
This depends on your eating and drinking habits, along with your age and, to a degree, your genes. Some people have enamel that is more porous (and prone to accumulating stains) than others. Generally, most of our patients expect their teeth to stay white for about a year. Touch-ups will prolong your results.
If you selected at-home whitening, you can simply get more of the whitening gel from our office and touch up your teeth as you like moving forward. If you had Boost or GLO in-office treatments, we provide home touch-up materials to keep your teeth as white as possible for as long as possible.
Whitening can make the teeth a little more sensitive for a brief period of time after the application, but that passes quickly. If you have particularly sensitive teeth, be sure to tell us because we can desensitize your teeth before we perform the whitening.
No. There are no recorded instances of irreversible or structural damage caused by tooth whitening. Any effects, such as sensitivity, are temporary.
In-office teeth whitening is a safe procedure, but it can increase sensitivity in the teeth. For this reason, it is recommended that patients have in-office whitening performed once yearly or every few years, with in-home touch-ups throughout the year. This helps keep your smile white without causing excess sensitivity.`
There is no recovery process involved with teeth whitening. With that being said, there are several aftercare tips you must follow to see the best results from your teeth whitening procedure. This includes the following:
- Avoid stain-causing foods and beverages
- Do not eat acidic foods, such as lemons or pickles
- Avoid tobacco products
- Do not use colored dental products, such as mouthwash
These aftercare tips apply primarily to the first few days after your procedure when your teeth are the most susceptible to staining and discoloration. About one week after your teeth whitening treatment, you can resume these activities in moderation. To experience prolonged results, you should try to consume stain-causing food and drinks as little as possible.
To maintain the results of your teeth whitening procedure, you can seek minor touch-ups throughout the year. In-home teeth whitening with dental trays is a simple way to keep your teeth white between in-office sessions.
You should also avoid foods and drinks that cause staining. Some examples of what to avoid include:
- Coffee
- Chocolate
- Berries
- Tea
- Sodas
- Dark sauces
- Colorful juices
- Anything containing artificial coloring
These foods and drinks should be avoided altogether in the 48 to 72 hours following your teeth whitening. After these first three days, they can be consumed at a minimum. To avoid any potential staining, rinse your mouth with water immediately after having any of these stain-causing items.
Practicing good dental hygiene will also prolong your whitening results. Brushing and flossing twice daily and rinsing with an appropriate mouthwash will keep harmful plaque from discoloring the teeth.
You will see the results of your teeth whitening treatment the same day as your procedure. Most patients see the outcome immediately after their treatment. Others see their results about 30 minutes to one hour after their procedure.
Your teeth will be especially vulnerable to staining in the hours immediately following a whitening treatment. You should avoid eating or drinking for about three hours after treatment. You can then resume drinking clear liquids and pale foods for 24 to 48 hours. After this point, you can begin eating and drinking as normal, but keep stain-causing foods to a minimum.
With our different teeth whitening options, you can find the method and price that fit your needs. Dr. Wiitala has options ranging from $199 – $400.
In-office teeth whitening usually takes about an hour. We can make custom whitening trays in as little as 15 min.
Don’t wait to brighten your smile! Contact Dr. Wiitala today!
To schedule a teeth whitening session at our Scottsdale office, call (480) 657-6981 or submit an appointment request form. You can also read more about the various services we offer by visiting Eric Wiitala, DDS’s blog! Our practice looks forward to serving you.
Kind Words From Proud Patients
Great staff and Dr. Wiitala is very professional and personable
Dr Wiitala and his staff are the best – friendly, professional and knowledgeable. My family has been going to Dr Wiitala for a decade or more. It’s the best dental office ever.
Professional, excellent experience as always. Dental hygienist, Andrea thoroughly cleaned my teeth and Dr. Wiitala identified filling in need of repair before it would become a major problem down the road. This is reason I’ve been a client of Dr. Wiitala for 15+ years.
I had not been to the Dentist in quite awhile but broke a crown. Dr. Wiitala and his staff were tremendous! They were able to get me in quickly. At the appointment, everyone was friendly and professional. They communicated to me every step of the way and were able to perfectly correct my issue in a quick and painless manner! I would highly recommend Dr. Wiitala and his staff. They all were terrific!
Thank you again to Dr Wiitala and his great staff for their skilled dental care. I had my teeth cleaned by Lindsey who does a superb job, keeping my comfort in mind. I highly recommend this dental office for all your dental needs.