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The summer season should be celebrated with a healthy dose of optimism and smiles. However, if you are in the habit of covering your smile with your hand because of discolored teeth, then it is time to fix that problem. Regardless of the reasons for your discolored teeth, you should know that what may have taken years to discolor can be reversed with minimal time and effort with Zoom! in-office whitening. You deserve to be proud of teeth. Let the world bask in your beautiful, bright smile with help from your Radcliff dentist and Zoom! whitening. Types and Causes of Stains There are two types of staining related to the teeth: extrinsic and intrinsic staining. Extrinsic stains are those that appear on the surface of the teeth as a result of exposure to dark-colored beverages, foods and tobacco, and routine wear and tear. Extrinsic stains are typically easier to manage than intrinsic stains as they result from things we have control over - things we voluntarily put in our mouths, like tobacco, red wine, sugary and acidic foods and drinks. Intrinsic stains are the result of staining within the dentin. It can result from a number of factors, including past tooth trauma, the use of tetracycline antibiotics when you were younger, over-exposure to fluoride, and even the natural thinning of tooth enamel from aging. In the past it was thought that intrinsic stains were too stubborn to be corrected with bleaching, but today's cosmetic dentistry experts believe that even deep-intrinsic stains can be removed with supervised take-home teeth whitening that is properly maintained over a matter of months or even a year. Zoom! Whitening and How it Works The complete Zoom! procedure takes approximately less than an hour, but a regular teeth cleaning is recommended prior to the actual Zoom! whitening session. Your procedure will begin with a short preparation to cover your lips and gums, leaving only the teeth exposed. Your dentist will then apply the Zoom! hydrogen peroxide whitening gel, which works together with the Zoom! light to penetrate the teeth and break up the stains and discoloration. The Zoom! gel will remain on your teeth for approximately 15 minutes while the light is activated. During this time you can sit back and relax while the whitening takes place. The whitening gel will be applied for three 15-minute sessions of light activation to provide the best results. Immediately after the process is complete, a sensitivity reducing fluoride paste gel is applied to the teeth. At-Home Whitening The key reason to at-home whitening success is their ongoing use and the fact that only small amounts of bleach remain within the tooth structure for up to 36 hours. When a new dose of bleach is applied to a tooth that is retaining the previous day's peroxide, the effect is greater. Even though you can get over-the-counter whiteners without a dentist's recommendation, if you over-use them or use them incorrectly, they can harm your tooth enamel and irritate your gum tissue. Over-bleaching can also produce an undesirable bluish hue, chalky whiteness, or uneven results. Supervision by your dentist can help prevent these problems. Before beginning your whitening process, consult your Radcliff dentist for a realistic idea of the results you are likely to achieve and how long it should take to achieve them. With the help of your dentist, you'll be smiling wider and brighter in as little as one appointment.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading Elizabethtown and Radcliff dentist at Dyer Family Dentistry, Dr. Marc Dyer. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Dyer graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Dyer Family Dentistry offers services in teeth whitening, veneers, and crowns in Radcliff.
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