Whitening - Schultz Family Dental

Professional teeth whitening procedures and home teeth whitening kits.

To Get That Pearly White Smile!

Good health is reflected in your teeth, and nothing says that you are healthy like a pearly white smile. There are several ways to keep your teeth clean and white, and these include brushing your teeth twice each day using dental toothpaste, mouth rinse, and ensuring that you floss well daily. It is also important to never miss an appointment with your dentist.

The Pre-Whitening Assessment

As with any cosmetic procedure, the area that you want to alter or enhance should be in excellent health. Dr. Schultz is happy to have you come to the office for a consult to see if you are a good candidate for whitening. At your pre-whitening assessment, you will undergo a dental exam to ensure that the health of your teeth, as well as your gums. However, if your dental health is not up to par, then the process may be put on hold until your teeth and gums as in a healthy condition.

The different whitening options

A video describing the science behind teeth whitening by Opalescene.

At Schultz Family Dental of Park Ridge, we offer 3 types of whitening options.
For those that want something quick and at home, there are two wonderful options. Here at the office we sell Opalescene Go trays in boxes of 5 or 10. These trays are the lowest percentage of bleach, which can be useful for patients with sensitivity issues. They are a wonderful one time use product that will brighten your smile at a gradual pace.

For patients that have maligned teeth, want a stronger bleach, or would like a tray that fits their own teeth, it may be best to have custom whitening trays created at the office. These can be re-used multiple times. The trays come with bleach, and extra bleach can be purchased through our office as well. With any take home whitening option, results may take 1-2 weeks.

Lastly there is in office whitening. This is a more intense whitening process with quicker results than take home trays or custom trays. This procedure lasts about 1.5 hours in the office, and result can be seen the same day.

For any of these options, results may very, and some people may not be good candidates for the bleaching process. During the bleaching consult appointment, Dr. Schultz will give you her professional opinion on your options.

Preparation

Before the procedure can begin, your teeth need to be as clean as possible. This means that they should have any debris and tartar removed. This is best done with a dental cleaning.

Every person who whitens their teeth will have different results. This is due to the genetic makeup of our teeth. Rather than attempting to go for a brilliant white, you should try to improve on the shade that you already have.

If having in office bleaching, it is best to take an over the counter pain medication that you would for a mild head ache prior to coming to the dental office. This allows for more comfort after the procedure is over.

After the Procedure

Following your whitening procedure, you need to take some steps to maintain your sparkling pearly whites. The first 48 hours are critical, as your teeth are going to be more porous and likely to be stained by dark food and drinks. You will need to avoid smoking or chewing tobacco, drinking beverages like coffee and tea, consuming acidic foods such as tomatoes and berries. You may experience increased sensitivity though this time as well. Any Whitening procedure will not be permanent, so it is important to speak to your dentist about maintaining your results.

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