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
Both professional whitening and store-bought whitening solutions have pros and cons. However, professional whitening is safer and more effective than drugstore treatments.
Effectiveness: The Professional Edge
Professional teeth whitening is renowned for its effectiveness. Dentists use high-concentration bleaching agents, such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which can penetrate deep into the enamel to remove surface and deep stains.
The results are often noticeable after just one session, and some professional treatments can make teeth several shades whiter in under an hour. Specialized equipment like laser lights or UV lamps, which can accelerate the whitening process, further enhances the effectiveness.
On the other hand, store-bought whitening products, including whitening strips, gels, and toothpaste, contain lower concentrations of bleaching agents. These products are designed for safety and ease of use at home, often meaning they work more slowly and are less potent. While they can help remove surface stains and improve tooth color to some extent, the results are generally less dramatic and require more consistent, long-term use to achieve noticeable whitening.
Safety Considerations
Safety is a critical factor to consider when choosing a whitening method. Professional teeth whitening takes place under the supervision of a trained dental professional. Dentists carefully assess the condition of your teeth and gums before proceeding with any whitening procedure. They can customize the treatment to suit your needs, ensuring the process is safe and effective. Dentists also protect the gums and other soft tissues from the bleaching agents, minimizing the risk of sensitivity or irritation.
Store-bought whitening products, however, do not offer this level of oversight. Without professional guidance, users may misuse these products by overapplying or not following instructions correctly, leading to tooth sensitivity, gum irritation, or uneven whitening. Additionally, individuals with existing dental issues, such as cavities, gum disease, or tooth sensitivity, may experience worsened symptoms if they use over-the-counter whitening products without consulting a dentist first.
Convenience and Accessibility: Weighing the Options
Store-bought teeth whitening products offer significant convenience and accessibility. They are readily available at most drugstores or online and do not require an appointment with a dentist. Users can apply these products at home, fitting the treatment into their schedule. This accessibility is a major draw for individuals who prefer a more hands-on approach or have time constraints that make visiting a dentist challenging.
However, professional whitening treatments also offer convenience. While they require an appointment, the procedure is quick, often lasting about an hour. The immediate and long-lasting results mean fewer repeat treatments, saving time in the long run. For those seeking a one-time solution to achieve a brighter smile, the convenience of professional whitening can outweigh the need for multiple, less effective at-home sessions.
Cost Considerations: Upfront vs. Long-Term Investment
Cost is often a deciding factor between professional and store-bought teeth whitening. Depending on the method and location, professional whitening treatments are more expensive upfront, ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. However, these highly effective treatments can provide long-lasting results, making them a worthwhile investment for many.
In contrast, store-bought whitening products are much more affordable, with most options costing between $20 and $100. While this lower price point is attractive, the trade-off is often in effectiveness and the need for continuous use to maintain results. Over time, the costs of repeated purchases can add up, potentially approaching the cost of a single professional treatment without delivering the same quality of results.
Treating 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.
However, 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 treatment 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 will be happy to help!