Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening are perhaps the most popular and simple of cosmetic dentistry procedures. Having a bright smile is important because it is one of the first things people notice about you and can play a large part in the confidence you exude. With the many advancements in dental technology there are many teeth whitening options available ranging from a quick visit to the dental office or do-it-yourself kits you can use from the convenience of your home. You can learn more about the methods we use to help you get a bright, white smile below.

Why Do We Need Teeth Whitening?

Teeth Whitening is the process of getting rid of the stains on the surface of the teeth. The process refers to restoring a tooth's surface color by removing dirt and debris. Teeth contain a porcelain-like enamel surface that protects them from the effects of chewing, gnashing, trauma and acid attacks caused by sugar. Enamel can be worn down and becomes more transparent permitting the yellow color of dentin (tooth's core material) to become more visible. While we chew, dentin remains intact while millions of micro-cracks occur in the enamel. These cracks fill up with stains and debris and as a result the teeth eventually develop a dull or lackluster appearance. We use whiteners to remedy this occurrence by removing the stains and debris resulting in bright, white teeth.

A popular example of a tooth whitener is custom tray whitening or Deep Whitening, which allows you to have a brighter smile and only takes a one-time, one-hour visit to our office. For those who prefer to whiten their teeth at home, Sonoma Smiles offers professional teeth whitening kits. These kits come with mouth trays that are custom fitted to your mouth. By filling the trays with special whitening gels and wearing them at your convenience you can increase the radiance of your smile in about two weeks.

Teeth Bleaching

Tooth bleaching is the process of whitening teeth beyond their natural color. This is a common option for those who have severely stained teeth due to medication or other reasons. By far the most effective way to permanently whiten your teeth, bleaching involves products that contain safe levels of bleach such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

Types of Teeth Stains

There are two types of staining as related to teeth: extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining.

• Extrinsic Stains: Extrinsic stains appear on the surface of teeth and are caused by dark-colored food and drinks such as coffee or soda. They can also occur because of smoking. These stains can be reduced by frequent brushing or routine trips to the dentist. If not dealt with early extrinsic stains can penetrate into the dentin (tooth's core) and become ingrained.
• Intrinsic Stains: Intrinsic stains form on the interior portion of the tooth. These stains can be caused by aging, injury, and medication. With advancements in dental technology stains that were once thought too resistant to bleaching can be removed. A deep bleaching process can brighten intrinsically discolored teeth at a fraction of the cost of veneers.

Causes of Tooth Staining

• Age: As we get older, teeth darken as a result of everyday wear and tear and stain accumulation. As we continue to age any lack of maintenance may prove more difficult, but not impossible to remove.
• Starting Color: We are born with an inborn tooth color that ranges from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey, and these colors will intensify over time and without the right maintenance.
• Translucency and thinness: As with Starting Color, these are also genetic traits that become more pronounced with age. Thinner, translucent teeth will be more prone to showing yellow or duller colors.
• Diet: Red wines, coffee, tea, soda, some fruits and other deeply colored beverages and foods cause considerable staining over the years. Additionally acidic foods like citrus fruits and vinegar are contributors to enamel erosion, resulting in the surface of our teeth becoming more transparent and prone to yellowing.
• Smoking: As many of us know smoking is a great contributor to tooth discoloration. Nicotine leaves deposits that are brown in color that soak into our tooth structure causing intrinsic discoloration.
• Medications: Some medications or chemicals such as tetracycline or fluoride can cause stains that are difficult to remove. Consult with our office if you think the medication you are using may be contributing to your discolored teeth.
• Grinding: Grinding teeth can cause micro-cracking in the teeth and cause the biting edges to darken.
• Trauma: Cracks in the teeth as a result of a fall or injury can collect large amounts of stains and debris.

As you can see there are many causes of tooth discoloration that can happen to almost anyone. All these factors will play a part in how white your teeth will be. Sonoma Smiles can help you brighten your smile by one of our many teeth whitening options. Contact us for more information on the best teeth whitening remedy's for your situation. Some of our great options include:

• Take Home Tray Teeth Whitening
• Deep Whitening
• Dr. Rod Kurthy's Deep Bleaching

Contact us today for a smile evaluation 1-800-817-7078