Teeth Whitening
Custom trays will ensure that the whitening solution will stay on your teeth, not your gums.
You can brighten your smile in the comfort of your own home and on your time.
Get your teeth up to 10 shades whiter with professional, take-home whitening treatments.
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments. Sometimes all it takes to renew and refresh your pearly whites is a quick, simple whitening. Origin Dental offers professional-grade, take-home whitening so you can brighten your smile in the comfort of your own home and at your convenience. If you’re interested in sprucing up your smile with teeth whitening, give us a call today!
Many patients want to know the differences between professional-grade whitening and over-the-counter products. With professional whitening from Origin Dental, Dr. Tran will build a custom tray that fits your teeth perfectly and ensures that all of your teeth are whitened evenly. Other products come in one standard size and often only whiten your front teeth. Additionally, over-the-counter products can be harsh on your gums because the whitening agent doesn’t stay on your teeth. Professional whitening products are safer and more effective, and the Sorrento Valley dentists at Origin Dental are happy to guide you through the process!
There are a wide variety of different teeth whitening products on the market, but they all use the same basic active ingredients, which are called peroxides. Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are the most commonly-used peroxides in teeth whitening.
What makes these compounds unique is their molecular structure. They contain volatile oxygen molecules. When these molecules contact organic stains on the surface of the enamel, they destroy the bonds that hold them onto your teeth. This, in turn, “bleaches” your teeth and restores the natural white color of your enamel.
When performed in a dental office, teeth whitening is often accelerated using UV (ultraviolet) light. The wavelength of this light acts as a catalyst, which speeds up the reaction of the peroxide compounds contained in the whitening paste or gel, and helps provide better results more quickly.
Professional teeth whitening will never harm your teeth or gums, whether you choose in-office whitening or a take-home whitening kit from Origin Dental.
Dr. Victor Tran will plan your whitening treatment to ensure that your teeth are not over-whitened, and he will protect your gums with a special gel to prevent irritation. In addition, if you are using a take-home kit, you will get custom-fitted dental trays that will ensure that the whitening compound does not irritate your gums.
However, DIY teeth whitening with over-the-counter products can cause damage to your teeth and gums. Peroxide compounds can irritate your gums if they are in contact with the tissue for a prolonged period of time. This can even cause the inflammation of the roots below the teeth.
Your teeth could also be damaged by over whitening if you are not whitening your teeth under the supervision of a dental professional. Peroxide can cause demineralization which weakens your enamel, so you must avoid excessive whitening to keep your teeth healthy. If you over-whiten your teeth, they may become weak, chalky, brittle, and more prone to cavities.
If you have your teeth whitened professionally, there is no reason to worry about damage to your teeth and gums. DIY whitening is a bit riskier, so we recommend working with an experienced cosmetic dentist like Dr. Victor Tran if you’d like to whiten your teeth.
Dentists are still not sure exactly what the cause of whitening-induced sensitivity is, and there are a few possibilities. The most plausible explanation has to do with microtubules in your enamel and dentin.
These microtubules (also called dentinal tubules) are very thin, microscopic channels that lead from the surface of your tooth into the dental nerve. They are what allow you to feel sensations on the exterior of your tooth, which lacks nerves of its own.
It’s thought that, as the whitening compound bleaches away stains, it also demineralizes your tooth and weakens it slightly, making it porous. This exposes your dentinal tubules, which become much more sensitive and hyperactive, causing feelings of tooth sensitivity.
If this is the cause of sensitivity after teeth whitening, this would also explain why the issue stops a few days after whitening treatment concludes. As the teeth remineralize and become stronger, these tubules are sealed up, which causes sensitivity to stop.
The cost of teeth whitening depends on the state of your teeth and your brightness goals. During a consultation, Dr. Tran will assess your dental health and determine how much bleaching agent to use and how to best create your custom teeth whitening trays. We offer resources for all of our patients in order to keep your dental care within your budget. Give us a call today to speak with our friendly team about payment options, accepted insurances, and third party financing options.