Recently, demand has grown for whiter teeth to light up a room with a smile - whether on a date, in the office, or just looking in the mirror. While considered an aesthetic procedure, a whiter smile can have a massive impact on one’s quality of life. That’s why, at Pinadella Dental, Dr. Anthony Pinadella and Dr. Victor Terranova are proud to offer teeth whitening services in Clifton, NJ. While many treatment options exist, how exactly does a dentist whiten your teeth?
Types of Stains and Different Whitening Treatments
While any discoloration of your teeth can feel unsightly and unwanted, there are two distinct types of stains a dentist can treat - intrinsic and extrinsic.
Extrinsic stains are more common and usually a result of diet or behavioral factors. For example, drinking coffee or red wine, smoking/chewing tobacco, and high consumption of other dark foods can discolor your teeth. Once stains start, they can be made worse with poor oral hygiene, such as infrequent tooth brushing. But if caught early, extrinsic stains can typically be whitened with over-the-counter treatments such as whitening toothpaste or strips.
Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, require a stronger approach. That’s because they’re a result of transformation within the body itself. Aging, for example, tends to thin out the enamel and allow for the dentil, a yellow layer underneath, to show through. Other causes include genetic disorders, fluorosis, issues with tooth development, and necrosis.
How Teeth Whitening Works In Clifton, NJ
Treating unsightly stains requires either a chemical bleaching agent, typically a combination of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide, or microabrasion of the exterior. The former results in chemical oxidation of the internal tooth, while the latter is designed to remove more isolated stains that may result from fluorosis.
Our treatment utilizes a bleaching agent to restore your natural smile across the board. When these special peroxides are applied, the oxygen molecules within react with the stains, severing the chemical bonds that make discoloration stick. Similar to bleaching your clothes (except with much safer chemicals), this process bleaches your enamel to restore its natural whiteness. From there, we apply special lighting to lock that shine in. Our offices can also provide you with custom-made gel trays to take home so that you can maintain a tailor-made smile.
Ready to whiten your smile? Schedule your teeth whitening in Clifton, NJ today
Your dentists in East Hanover and Clifton, NJ can determine which teeth whitening treatments are for you. Just call Pinadella Dental at (973) 594-1050 to schedule an oral examination with Dr. Pinadella or Dr. Terranova, and determine which method is the right fit for your needs.