Welcome to Dr. Tejas Patel's Blog

Give us a call at 512-263-8337 and schedule your appointment today. Visit us on our main Austin Cosmetic Dentistry website or if you have snoring problems visit Stop Snoring Austin
Powered By Blogger

Friday, July 16, 2010

Teeth Whitening 101

Today, there's so many options for getting whiter teeth in Austin. Whitening is a great and affordable way to brighten up your smile and make your smile look younger! From over the counter products to Laser Whitening at the Dental Office, here's a summary of some good options!
1. Over the counter products - Whitening toothpastes are great, just make sure they're not too abrasive or gritty in texture. This can slowly abrade the enamel over time. Crest White Strips work well for lightly stained teeth and also for younger individuals. Treatment time is usually 30 minutes each day over a course of 2 weeks. White strips are usually around $50 or below. We highly recommend Sonicare Toothbrushes (a little over $100), they're great at keeping stain off your teeth!
2. At the Dental Office- Custom made whitening trays are based off of a mold taken at your Dentist's office. From the molds, models are made and thin plastic trays are molded over the models. You're given a whitening gel to fill the trays with and then place the tray over your teeth. The tray is worn for about 60-90 minutes. Depending on the level of stain, you may have to use the trays for up to 2 weeks. Results are usually very good with the trays if they're worn consistently for the recommended treatment time. Price of trays can vary with each office, but range from $100-250 for both upper and lower trays. You can expect your teeth to get several shades lighter with proper use.
3. Laser Teeth Whitening- Zoom is the most popular Laser Whitening Treatment available. Upon your visit to the Dentist office, your teeth are first polished and cleaned. Then a barrier is placed over the lips, gums, and cheeks as protection. Whitening gel is then placed over your teeth and then activated by a Laser Light that shines on your teeth. The procedure usually takes about 1.5hrs. Laser Whitening definitely has the most dramatic effects, because the results are instant. We usually see teeth getting many shades lighter, just after 1.5hrs. Price of Zoom can vary from $400 up to $700.

1 comment:

George said...

One of my (Myrtle Beach) dentists recommended some really effective teeth whitening products. I saw the positive results in juts two weeks. I had stained teeth because of drinking coffee. My dentist said it's one of the usual causes of teeth discoloration.