We all want healthy white teeth, but maintaining a glowing smile is harder than it initially sounds. Even when you brush and floss daily, some foods and drinks may stain your teeth, leaving you with a smile you’d rather hide than flash.
At Evolve Dentistry & Aesthetics, we want you to be proud of your smile, which is why we offer teeth whitening in Craven County.
But is teeth whitening really that effective? How long will your results last? And how can you maintain them?
If you’re considering a teeth whitening treatment from our team, read on below for the answers to all our patients’ most frequently asked questions.
What causes teeth staining?
Many factors contribute to stained or yellowed teeth. Dietary choices are among the most common reasons. Dark foods and beverages, like coffee, wine, or cola, can have a negative impact on your smile’s shine and brightness.
Smoking is another contributing factor. The tar found in cigarettes sticks to the teeth, creating a darker, yellower appearance.
But even if you don’t drink coffee or smoke cigarettes, you may notice tooth yellowing as a result of the natural aging process. Over time, the outer layer of your teeth, the enamel, wears down, revealing the yellow layers below.
How can I prevent stained teeth?
You can prevent yellow teeth by keeping a close eye on what you eat and drink. If you’re committed to preserving your whitest teeth, then cut out any foods and beverages that may stain your smile, like coffee or blackberries.
If you smoke or chew tobacco, then you should also cut out these habits for the healthiest, brightest teeth.
Regardless of what you do or don’t eat, drink, or smoke, you also need to follow a strict oral health regimen to maintain oral health and prevent staining.
Tooth decay results in yellowed, discolored teeth, so brush at least twice a day, and floss often. But even with consistent oral care, yellowing is still possible. For the brightest smile, consider teeth whitening.
Do I need a consultation for teeth whitening?
In Craven County, we require consultations for many of our dental treatments, like Invisalign and veneers, but current patients don’t need consultations for teeth whitening.
If you are a current patient and think you could benefit from a teeth whitening treatment from our team at Evolve Dentistry & Aesthetics, give us a call and we can see which option is the best fit. You can also let our team members know during a standard teeth cleaning appointment, and we can start the process before you leave.
If you’re a new patient, we ask you to come in for an exam, so we can take a look at your teeth and determine the best treatment for your smile.
Should I receive whitening treatments in-office or at home?
At Evolve Dentistry & Aesthetics, we offer multiple options for teeth whitening in Craven County. When you come to our clinic for teeth whitening, we can provide you with pre-loaded whitening trays so you can perform your own treatment at home.
For in-office care, we can make impressions of your teeth and create custom trays to fit your exact smile. Then, you’ll receive a specialized bleaching agent, like an Opalesence Syringe. This process allows you to experience full bleaching coverage that you can apply at home. We’ll go over all of the instructions in the office so that you’ll feel confident applying the bleach at home.
The trays only take about an hour to make, so you can wait in our clinic or go run an errand or two, and we’ll let you know when they’re ready.
You can experience quality results regardless of which method you choose—it all depends on your preferences. During your appointment, our providers can explain the benefits and differences of our options, so you can decide which of these teeth whitening methods is the right choice for your goals.
How do at-home whitening treatments work?
If you’d prefer to perform your own teeth whitening treatment, our providers will explain how the process works during your appointment.
For at-home teeth whitening in Craven County, we prefer Opalescence Home. Depending on your needs, sensitivity, and the severity of your teeth stains, we can give you a 10% hydrogen peroxide solution or a 15% solution. Regardless of your solution’s intensity, the whitening method is the same.
Each day, you’ll insert 2 trays—the first is labeled “U” for “upper tray,” and the other, “L” for “lower tray.” Each tray contains 2 layers—an inner layer and an outer layer. These specially designed trays allow the solution to coat your teeth evenly for more uniform whitening.
First, place the upper tray between your teeth, bite down, and suck on it for 2 seconds to conform the pre-loaded tray to your teeth
Afterward, insert the lower tray and repeat the process.
Depending on the solution you choose, you’ll need to leave these trays in for different spans of time. For the less intense 10% solution, you should keep them in for 30 to 60 minutes. For the 15% solution, you should wear them for 15 to 20 minutes.
Do this each day for 10 days, and you can experience unmatched results.
What kinds of results can I expect?
Following your treatment, you can expect to see noticeable whitening and brightening on the treated teeth. If you’ve chosen at-home teeth whitening in Craven County, then you likely won’t see results immediately.
You may notice a slight change in your tooth color at first, but you’ll need to wait until the entire 10-day treatment plan is complete to see the height of your results.
With regular maintenance, you can enjoy the results of your teeth whitening treatment for months or even years.
How do I maintain my results after teeth whitening?
To get the most out of your treatment for teeth whitening in Craven County, continue daily maintenance. You want to enjoy your bright, shining teeth for as long as possible, so continue to avoid food, drink, and any other habits that may cause tooth decay and yellowing.
Another way to maintain your results for longer is to use a whitening toothpaste. Our team members can make recommendations for an effective whitening paste.
Some whitening products, such as charcoal-based toothpaste, are harsher than others, and they can damage your tooth enamel. You don’t want to harm your teeth in the process of making them look their best, so talk to your provider about their preferred whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes.
Can I whiten a single tooth?
While technically it would be possible to whiten a single tooth, we do not offer this service at Evolve Dentistry & Aesthetics. For teeth whitening in Craven County, we use techniques that bleach the smile uniformly, treating the entire mouth at once. We don’t want to brighten a single tooth and leave your smile looking uneven.
That said, if you do have a tooth that is yellower than the others, we can place a custom veneer over a single tooth to match the appearance of the rest of your teeth for a more even look.
How do veneers work?
Veneers work like a shell to protect your teeth and change their appearance. We may recommend veneers if you have a cracked tooth, but they also make an excellent choice for patients with purely cosmetic concerns.
Veneers aren’t a short-term fix, either. Our providers attach these artificial shells with a special dental cement, so you can enjoy an improved smile for years to come. If we determine that this treatment could help you meet your cosmetic dental goals, we examine your smile closely and make a mold of the affected tooth.
We then send this mold to an outside lab so they can create a veneer that matches your tooth’s color and shape. This helps the veneer fit seamlessly into your natural smile.
How can I pay for my treatment?
Most insurance companies will not cover veneers due to them being a cosmetic procedure. That said, we believe everyone should be able to get a smile they love, so we partner with CareCredit and Sunbit.
You can use CareCredit to pay for teeth whitening in Craven County. After your treatment, use CareCredit like a normal credit card, and pay back the balance over time.
Sunbit allows patients to receive approval for a loan online in just a few minutes. Establish a flexible payment plan and cover your teeth whitening treatment in installments.
How can I learn more about teeth whitening?
If you’re interested in learning more about teeth whitening or one of our other dental treatments, take a look at our free online blog. This digital resource contains a wealth of information about everything we do at Evolve Dentistry & Aesthetics.
Everyone needs to go to the dentist, but many people still have questions about the quality, considerations, and different types of oral care.
When you read through this blog, you can discover tips from the experts on how to achieve and maintain the healthiest smile
How can I get started with teeth whitening?
If your teeth have lost their luster, don’t hide them behind a closed-mouth smile. At Evolve Dentistry & Aesthetics, we can perform a teeth whitening treatment to bring a healthy glow back.
To get started, contact our team and schedule an appointment online. You can also receive a free treatment recommendation with our online tool. Talk to our experts and get a smile that shines like new.
