Do you have stained or discolored teeth? Dr. Jeffrey Bellisario offers KöR or Zoom teeth whitening treatment to patients in Ardmore, PA. Teeth whitening is one of our cosmetic dental treatments that removes years from the smile.
There are many causes of tooth discoloration, including, but not limited to, foods, beverages, and tobacco products. Foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, wine, tomatoes, and berries contain chromogens, pigments that attach to the tooth enamel, making the teeth appear discolored.
Tobacco products, including cigarettes and vape pens, easily stain and yellow the teeth. Nicotine in tobacco discolors the teeth and darkens the enamel over time. One of the best ways to address yellowed, discolored, and stained teeth is to receive professional teeth whitening treatment.
What Causes Discolored Teeth?
Many different things can cause tooth discoloration. A major cause is poor oral hygiene. If you avoid brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar build up. Bacteria find a home here and release acidic byproducts, weakening the tooth enamel and causing your teeth to yellow and discolor.
Over time, the enamel layer starts to wear down on its own. Underneath the bright white enamel layer is an off-white layer called dentin. Age and natural wear and tear on your teeth cause enamel to fade away, exposing more of the dentin layer. The more this is exposed, the more discolored your teeth are. Genetics can also just make you more predisposed to having teeth that are more discolored than others.
Your diet and lifestyle habits play a big part in how your teeth look. Tobacco products contain nicotine and tar, creating yellow and brown patches on your teeth. The heat from smoking can weaken the enamel on your teeth, making them more susceptible to further staining. Foods and drinks with dark pigments cause staining because these pigments adhere to the teeth. Coffee, dark cola, strawberries, and red wine can all cause tooth discoloration.
Trauma, certain medications, systemic conditions, and diseases all discolor teeth. Certain medications, especially tetracycline antibiotics taken when permanent teeth are still developing, cause deep staining. When trauma occurs, some of the blood from rupturing vessels may seep into the tubules of the tooth, darkening the color. Patients with liver disease and hepatitis can have teeth with a more yellowish hue due to bilirubin distribution.
Lastly, poor past dental restorations can impact the color of your smile. If you’ve had amalgam fillings that contain various metals, they darken over time and impact the color of the tooth enamel. It becomes grayish, taking on the pigment of the amalgam fillings. If you don’t take care of your teeth properly when you have braces, the brackets can form white spots, while the area around them remains discolored when they’re taken off your teeth.
KöR Teeth Whitening
KöR teeth whitening is a highly effective, long-lasting whitening treatment. To begin this treatment, Dr. Bellisario will first take dental impressions of your teeth to create a set of custom tooth trays. Your whitening trays seal out saliva, often lessening the whitening gel’s effectiveness. The whitening gel is sealed inside the trays to evenly deliver treatment to each tooth. You will wear their whitening trays each night for two weeks.
KöR Night uses a whitening gel that contains 16% carbamide peroxide. It can remove deep stains for more dramatic results. This treatment does not require bleaching or light to take effect.
Zoom! Teeth Whitening
Zoom! is a great option for patients who want faster results. To begin this in-office treatment, Dr. Bellisario will place a protective barrier on your lips and gums to isolate the teeth. Then, he applies whitening gel to the teeth. Dr. Bellisario uses a curing light to activate the hydrogen peroxide in the whitening gel. He exposes the teeth to the light in three 15-minute segments.
Patients receive immediate results within just 45 minutes. To maintain your results, we will provide you with a touch-up whitening kit, which includes a tray and whitening gel. We will take impressions to create your custom-made trays. Zoom! whitens teeth up to eight shades brighter.
Professional Vs. Store-Bought Teeth Whitening
When it comes to whitening your teeth, you have two main options: professional treatments at the dentist’s office or store-bought products. Both can work, but they have some big differences in how well they whiten, how safe they are, and how much they cost.
Which Works Better?
Professional whitening is stronger and faster because dentists use special bleaching gels with higher concentrations of whitening agents. These can break down deep stains inside your teeth, not just on the surface. Many people see results after just one visit, with teeth getting several shades whiter in under an hour. Some dentists even use special lights to speed up the process.
Store-bought whitening strips, gels, and toothpastes use weaker formulas, so they take longer to work and usually only remove surface stains. You might need weeks of daily use to see a small difference, and the results won’t be as dramatic as professional treatments.
Is Whitening Safe?
Professional whitening is the safer choice because your dentist checks your teeth first to make sure they’re healthy enough for the treatment. They also protect your gums from irritation and adjust the strength of the whitening gel to avoid sensitivity.
Store-bought products don’t come with professional guidance, so it’s easier to use them wrong. Overusing them or applying them incorrectly can cause gum irritation, tooth sensitivity, or even patchy whitening. People with cavities, gum disease, or sensitive teeth should especially avoid these without talking to a dentist first.
Convenience and Cost
Store-bought whitening is easy to find at any drugstore, and you can do it at home on your own schedule. But since the results are weaker, you’ll need to keep buying more products to maintain your smile.
Professional whitening requires a dental visit, but just one or two sessions can give you long-lasting results. The upfront cost is higher, but you’re paying for better, faster whitening that won’t need constant touch-ups. Over time, the cost of buying store products over and over might end up being just as expensive.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Read answers to common questions about teeth whitening in Ardmore, PA:
How long do Zoom teeth whitening results last?
Zoom teeth whitening results can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. How long the whitening lasts depends on how well you take care of your teeth. We can also provide touch-ups to help maintain your results
How long does KöR teeth whitening last?
KöR teeth whitening can last from 1 to 3 years, depending on how well you take care of your teeth. If you avoid foods and drinks that stain teeth, like coffee or wine, and keep up with good oral hygiene, your results can last longer. Regular touch-ups with a whitening kit can also help maintain the bright smile.
This whitening treatment lasts so long because it uses custom trays. These trays ensure saliva doesn’t impact the active ingredients in the gel.
Can I get Zoom teeth whitening if I have sensitive teeth?
In-office Zoom whitening can work if you have sensitive teeth, but you’ll need to take some precautions. First, you can use desensitizing toothpaste for 2 weeks before whitening to help strengthen your teeth. Our dentist can also use a gentler formula or break the treatment into shorter sessions. After treatment, avoid cold or hot drinks because your teeth might be extra sensitive for a day or two.
Can I get teeth whitening if I have crowns or veneers?
Teeth whitening works on natural teeth, but not on crowns, veneers, or fillings. Whitening products bleach natural enamel, but crowns and veneers are made of materials that don’t change color. If you want veneers or crowns, whiten your teeth first. We can match the new crowns or veneers to your brighter shade. If your restorations look too dark, we can make new ones.
How soon before a big event should I get my teeth whitened?
You can get your teeth whitened about 2 to 4 weeks before a big event. This gives your teeth time to reach their brightest shade and allows any sensitivity to go away.
If you’re using in-office whitening like Zoom, you may see results in just one visit, but it’s still smart to plan ahead in case you need a touch-up. For at-home treatments like KöR, you’ll need to wear trays for a couple of weeks. Starting early helps make sure your smile is ready in time.
Can teens get professional teeth whitening?
We only recommend whitening after the permanent teeth have fully come in. Whitening baby teeth or newly erupted teeth can cause uneven results.
If a teen has healthy teeth and gums, we may suggest professional whitening for things like stains from braces or discoloration from food or drinks. But first we’ll check to make sure your teen has all their permanent teeth.
How can I keep my teeth white?
Keeping your teeth white isn’t too hard if you follow some simple steps. Here’s how to maintain teeth whitening results after treatment in our Ardmore, PA, office:
- Brush Twice a Day: Use a whitening toothpaste to help remove stains and brush gently for two minutes each time.
- Floss Daily: Remove food stuck between teeth that can cause stains and yellowing.
- Limit Stain-Causing Foods: Avoid or drink some drinks with a straw like coffee, tea, and soda.
- Avoid Smoking: Smoking turns teeth yellow and harms your gums.
- Visit our Dentist: Regular cleanings remove plaque and stains better than brushing alone.
How can I treat deep tooth stains?
Sometimes, patients have intrinsic stains or stains caused within the tooth. Intrinsic stains may be caused by wear or injury to one or more teeth. Tooth wear and dental injuries expose the dark underlayer beneath the tooth enamel. This underlayer, called dentin, cannot be brightened with professional whitening treatment.
We can cover these stains with porcelain veneers, tooth bonding, or dental crowns. Veneers are shells that cover the front of the teeth. Dental bonding uses a biocompatible material cured to the enamel. Tooth crowns fully cover teeth like a cap and benefit patients with severe tooth wear or damage.
Contact Our Dental Office
Do you want to whiten your smile? Call Dr. Bellisario for teeth whitening treatment in Ardmore, PA, today at (610) 839-8967. Feel free to request a dental appointment with our dental team online. Please ask us any questions about whitening treatment. We’ll be happy to help!