Your Cosmetic Dentist Can Make A Difference With Whitening

The whiteness of one's teeth can make the difference between a nice smile and a sparking smile.

We are a society that puts great value on the smile. Know that a pearly white smile is not just for actors on the silver screen anymore. A brighter, better smile is available to anyone through dentistry.

Aging, as well as stains from coffee, tea, cola, red wine and smoking can take the dazzle from your smile. Whitening agents available through a cosmetic dentist can take those stains and discoloration away and let you smile with confidence once again.

Having people remember a dazzling smile is a much better impression to leave than individuals left wondering just why your teeth are so discolored. You do not just make a better impression when talking to people when you have whiter teeth, but you have more confidence in yourself, smiling more during conversation. Whitening your smile is one of the easiest and most dramatic ways to improve your appearance that you can take. Plenty of over-the-counter whitening kits are out there, but few carry the power or are as far reaching as the steps prescribed by a cosmetic dentist. Prescribed whitening kits are fitted to the patient's mouth so that whitening agents are the most effective – not leaking out as the one-size-fits-all over-the-counter kits do. Whitening agents from over-the-counter kits can run to the gums and cause gum irritation as a result. Prescribed kits are much more effective and work much more quickly.

Through cosmetic dentistry, several options are available to brighten your smile. Which product is right for you depends on your dental condition, objectives with treatment and your commitment to the process. In a consultation with your dentist, he or she will be able to discuss which treatment is right for you and your next step in the process.

One of the common options is tray bleaching because it is fairly easy to do and costs less than other treatments. The treatment, in many cases, starts at around $500. In some cases, offices visits are included, but that is not always the case. The price also varies depending on the area of the country in which you are living. Know that whitening procedures are not normally covered by dental insurance.

A tray with bleaching gel inside it is worn over the teeth for a certain amount of time each day. To start the process, a dentist takes an impression of your mouth and creates a tray that is worn for an hour or two each day at home. The process is continued for up to two weeks for optimal whitening. The procedure is sometimes coupled with in-office laser bleaching for more extreme cases of discoloration. The gradual daily changes in teeth color are less noticeable than with other treatments. However, on the negative side, you will likely need to make from two to four office visits during the treatment. More office treatments by a cosmetic dentist normally come at an additional costs.

Another whitening procedure is laser bleaching where a laser and whitening gel are used in an in-office procedure.