Tag Archives: teeth whitening

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4 Ways Dentists Can Restore Your Smile

Are you unhappy with your smile? Have you been wanting to bring your teeth back to their former glory? Restoring your smile isn’t as hard as it may seem, especially with all the options available today. With veneers, teeth whitening, crowns, and orthodontics, there’s no shortage of options to help bring back a smile you’ll love.

Veneers

Porcelain veneers are customized specifically to fit your teeth. They can mask the look of broken, discolored, uneven teeth, and can even fill gaps between them. The porcelain material is durable and stain-resistant and is fitted to cover the front of each tooth. Receiving this smile makeover could help improve your confidence by leaps and bounds. Even celebrities choose this option to improve their smiles.

Teeth Whitening

Are you hiding your smile because of yellow teeth? According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, you’re among the 96% of adults who believe an attractive smile will improve your appearance. Instead of wasting hundreds of dollars on whitening products recommended by the latest Instagram influencer, look into options from certified dentists. 

A teeth whitening kit from Carolina Family Dentistry is easy to use from the comfort of your home. For best results, brush and floss prior to application. These kits can sometimes cause sensitivity but gradual use, with touch-ups every few months, will produce longer-lasting results. Dentist-recommended products like this will produce more dramatic results, leaving you with a dazzling white smile that you’ll be sure to show off. 

Crowns

A dental crown covers the entire visible section of a tooth that shows above the gum line. Your dentist may suggest a crown for a variety of reasons, including a cavity too large for a regular filling, a cracked or weakened tooth, a root canal, or even for teeth changing in color or shape. A crown will return your tooth to normal functionality.

On your first visit, your dentist will remove enamel to make room. They will take impressions of your teeth to send to a lab for the crown to be custom fit. Meanwhile, you’ll receive a temporary crown. Then, at your follow-up visit, the dentist will replace the temporary crown with the lab-created custom one. After it’s cemented permanently, you can go about your life as usual.

Orthodontics

Are you embarrassed by crooked, gapped, or overlapping teeth? Orthodontics could be the answer. With clear brackets and wires the same color as your teeth, your smile is just a few months away from looking its best thanks to the Six Month Smiles Cosmetics Braces System offered at Carolina Family Dentistry. This system has helped so many achieve the attractive smile of their dreams. Straightening teeth can impact the overall health of your mouth, reducing plaque, tooth decay, cavities, and even jaw pain.

Here at Carolina Family Dentistry, we not only care about the health of your teeth but also how you feel about your smile as well. With these restorative dentistry options, you’ll be proud to show off those straight pearly whites in your next selfie.

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Teeth Whitening: Optimizing Your Smile

One of the first things that people notice when they meet you is likely your smile. According to an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry study, 96% of adults believe having an attractive smile can make a person seem more appealing. Teeth whitening is one common elective procedure you can choose if you’re seeking to improve your smile and appearance. After all, having a bright and whiter smile can help you feel confident and enhance your career and social opportunities.

What Does Tooth Whitening Involve?

Teeth whitening treatments can fix the two main types of discoloration: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains occur on the tooth’s surface, are cosmetic, and rarely pose a serious threat to oral health, while intrinsic stains occur on the inside of the tooth and are usually harder to treat.

Reducing intrinsic stains involves using a chemical reaction to change the teeth’s color. The most common ingredients found in teeth whitening products include hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. The bleaching action comes from the carbamide peroxide, which releases about one-third of its content as hydrogen peroxide. Within 15 minutes of exposure, the hydrogen peroxide cuts through spaces in the enamel, giving you a whiter smile.

Differences Between In-Home and Dental Office Teeth Whitening

You have several options when selecting the best teeth whitening option for you. Whitening treatments include:

  • In-office whitening treatment: This option usually involves the application of a peroxide-containing gel or power bleaching, which uses concentrated solutions of hydrogen peroxide in water.
  • Over-the-counter whiteners: These products typically are peroxide-based and have lower concentrations of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide compared to doctor-prescribed whiteners. You can choose from toothpaste with the American Dental Association Seal of Approval, gels painted directly onto teeth, and whitening strips.
  • Dentist-supplied products: These whiteners include gels delivered in custom-made trays, which you can either use for in-office treatment or at-home use. 

Professional At-Home Teeth Whitening Systems

Even if you don’t have time to visit the dentist’s office to have a teeth whitening procedure done, you can have a dental-supplied at-home whitening kit. Often, these professional kits work better than the over-the-counter whiteners because they’re geared specifically for your teeth. The dentist makes a tray in the office that fits in your mouth comfortably and snugly, limiting the exposure to your sensitive gum (gingival) area.

To get a professional at-home whitening kit, your dentist makes an impression of your upper and lower teeth. These impressions become your tray, and when it’s ready in about a week, the dentist will show you how to place the whitening gel in the tray. Although results vary, as long as you follow the instructions carefully, you should notice a change within a week of using these types of systems.

To learn more about teeth whitening or to schedule an appointment, contact us at Carolina Family Dentistry. Led by Dr. Ron Banik and his team, Carolina Family Dentistry uses state-of-the-art technology to provide patients with the best care. Reach out today to discuss teeth whitening options, so you can be on your way to having confidence in your smile.

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How to Choose the Best Teeth Whitening Option for You

If you’ve ever tried whitening your teeth in the past, you probably know that the options are endless. Pastes, strips, and gels rule the shelves, plus in-office procedures. A new product seems to launch every week, promising quick whitening results. But how can you be sure you are choosing the most effective products for whitening? Here are the most common forms of whitening and information on which ones may work for you. 

Whitening Toothpaste 

The easiest method to implement into your daily routine is using a toothpaste with a whitening agent. This also happens to be the most affordable method as well. To see results, brush your teeth for at least two minutes, twice daily. This regime will help to fight stains and promote the whitening of your teeth. However, the results won’t be as strong as those of other options. To see the best results with whitening toothpaste, use it in conjunction with another recommended whitening solution.  

Whitening Strips 

The next option for teeth whitening and achieving a bright smile is to use over-the-counter whitening strips. Whitening strips contain a thin layer of hydrogen peroxide and bleach the surface stains of your teeth. They are a step above whitening toothpaste, but won’t give you the full whitening results you might be seeking. Depending on the kind you buy, the instructions will recommend you wear them anywhere from daily to once a month. Be sure to follow directions on the package for best results. 

Something to keep in mind is that whitening strips can cause tooth sensitivity. If you feel extreme sensitivity, stop using the product and speak with Dr. Banik about anti-sensitivity options. 

Take-Home Whitening Kits 

The last and most effective teeth whitening method that we recommend here at Carolina Family Dentistry is our take-home whitening kits. If you want a dramatic difference, this is the option for you. Plus, you can use other methods like whitening toothpaste and strips in conjunction with your kit. 

For best results, you should brush and floss before each treatment. You should be aware that you may feel sensitivity in your teeth from whitening. If you are using all three methods and are experiencing severe sensitivity, stop treatment and speak with Dr. Banik. 

Longing for a perfectly white and bright smile? You can achieve it — and quickly! Contact our office today to discuss whitening options and to schedule an appointment. We are here to make you feel confident in your smile.

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Teeth Whitening Options

Is your smile as bright and white as you want it to be? Many of our patients are not happy with the color of their teeth. The good news is that there are many teeth whitening options available. Here are some of them.

Over the Counter Strips and Gels

One of the easiest and fastest ways to whiten your teeth a shade or two is to use the strips and bleaching gels available at your local pharmacy. These are inexpensive and easy to use.

There are a few caveats to keep in mind, however. First, if you experience any gum irritation, stop using it right away and see your dentist. Because the trays don’t fit your teeth perfectly, there’s a greater chance that the solution will irritate your gums than if you were using custom trays. Secondly, follow the directions carefully; some of these products are not meant to be used for more than a week or two.

Teeth Whitening Toothpastes

If you’ve got some staining on your teeth that regular brushing isn’t removing (and you’ve seen your hygienist for a professional cleaning within the past six months), whitening toothpaste can smooth out those stains and restore your white teeth. This product will not whiten all of your teeth or make a noticeable difference if you don’t have staining, however; they really only work by removing stains.

Custom-Designed Bleaching Trays

For the most effective teeth whitening option, you’ll need to see your dentist for a custom-fit bleaching tray and solution. This is a more expensive option than using the type bought at your local pharmacy, but it’s also usually a more effective option. It also tends not to be as irritating to the gums because the solution fits into the trays, which fit your teeth perfectly.

If you want to explore teeth whitening options, give us a call to make an appointment. We want your smile to shine as brightly as you do, and we can help. Call today!

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Improve Your Smile in 2018

Are you happy with your smile? When you look in the mirror, does your grin make you want to, well, grin? Too many people make it a note to smile with their lips closed or talk with a hand in front of their mouths because they aren’t happy with the way their teeth look. If this sounds familiar, we don’t want you to feel that way anymore! Check out some of the ways you can improve your smile in 2018.

Veneers

If your front teeth are chipped, misshapen, or otherwise making you hesitate to smile, porcelain veneers might be the right option for you. Veneers can also close up a gap, called a diastema, between the front teeth in some cases. These fit over the outside surface of your front teeth, much like an artificial nail fits over your natural fingernail. The tooth will be prepared for a veneer, so it’s a permanent restoration; if it were to fall off, which is uncommon, you’d need to have it replaced.

Braces

Many people think that their chance for having braces has passed once they exit their teen years. This is not the case! Many adults have orthodontic treatment, including braces, throughout their 30s, 40s and beyond. You can have the metal type that most teens get, or you can use one of the options available for adults, such as lingual braces, porcelain braces, or Invisalign. Talk to your dentist about whether a referral to an orthodontist is needed.

Teeth Whitening

If you aren’t happy with the shade of your teeth, then teeth whitening might be on your list of smile-brightening new year’s resolutions. Today’s bleaching agents are gentle, safe, and effective. You can use the type you find in your local pharmacy or you can have a tray fabricated by your dentist. Your dentist can help you decide what option is right for you depending on your budget, how much whitening you are looking for, and whether you are prone to hypersensitivity or gum irritation.

Give us a call today to schedule an appointment. We’d love to help you have a brighter and smile-inducing 2018!