Teeth Whitening

What is it?

Teeth whitening lightens the shade of your natural teeth while helping to remove stains and discoloration. It can be a great way to brighten your smile!

It is important to note that teeth whitening will need to be repeated from time to time if you want to maintain the brighter color. The required time span between treatments will vary based on the individual and their diet.

What’s it Used for?

The outer layer of your natural teeth is called the enamel. Its color is created by the combination of the light reflection on the enamel along with the color of the dentin underneath it. The dentin holds a natural yellow shade. Therefore, thinner enamel allows more of  the dentin color to show through. In the same regard, rougher or smoother enamel also affects light reflection and therefore the color. As we age, our enamel gets thinner and our dentin gets darker thus making our teeth look less white.

In addition, tooth enamel contains pores that can hold stains. There is also a thin film that forms on the enamel every day which picks up stains.

The most common reasons for the discoloration of teeth and staining are:

• Smoking
• Drinking dark beverages such coffee, tea, red wine & soda
• Consuming certain foods with dark pigments
• Poor oral hygiene

It is also possible to have stains form within the inside of our teeth called intrinsic stains. There are many factors that can cause these type of stains such as: medication, too much fluoride as a child, tooth trauma or if a pregnant woman takes tetracycline antibiotics. Unfortunately, intrinsic stains cannot be lightened with traditional external tooth whitening.

How it’s Done

Vital tooth whitening is offered in various forms. We offer take-home whitening kits containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. We first take impressions of your upper and lower teeth to create custom whitening trays for you. It is important for the trays to fit properly, a snug fit allows the whitening gel to remain in direct contact with your teeth.

At home, you’ll fill each whitening tray with a bit of whitening gel provided by us. You’ll then wear the whitening trays for a specified amount of time every day. Many people will achieve the amount of whitening they’re seeking within a week or two. However some individuals may need to whiten for longer to obtain their desired results.