Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment that brightens your teeth by several shades for a more youthful, vibrant look. The benefits of whitening you’ll appreciate most are that it's an affordable procedure that dramatically improves your smile without costly or invasive treatment.
At Fontenot Family Dentistry, you can choose in-office whitening for immediate results or a custom whitening kit you use at home at your convenience. Both options will enhance your appearance and boost your confidence by giving you a noticeably brighter smile.
Why Is Teeth Whitening Popular?
Having a bright, confident smile has benefits that go beyond a simple aesthetic improvement. Business and social interactions are more comfortable because your appearance looks polished and put-together. You’ll also make great first impressions when others see your bright smile and see you as more attractive, friendly, and approachable.
What Causes Tooth Stains?
Several factors cause teeth to stain and discolor, including poor oral hygiene, smoking, drinking coffee or tea, certain foods, and even some medications. If you enjoy any of the following foods and drinks, you should know they all contribute to tooth discoloration that leaves you with a dull, stained smile.
- Red wine
- Colas
- Dark berries
- Tomato sauce
- Soy sauce
- Curry
- Balsamic vinegar
- Dark fruit juices
Even sports drinks, which are highly acidic, can corrode tooth enamel and make it more prone to staining.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Before your whitening treatment at Fontenot Family Dentistry, we’ll examine your teeth and gums to ensure the procedure is safe for you.
We place a protective gel on your gums to protect them from irritation, then apply the bleaching agent to your teeth to remove stains and discoloration. You’ll sit and relax with the gel on your teeth for about 15 minutes, and we’ll use a special light to further enhance the whitening results.
We’ll repeat the process several times until we’ve achieved the desired results. It takes a little over an hour to whiten teeth to the desired brigthtness, and the brilliant results are visible immediately.
Custom Take-Home Whitening Kits
If you don’t have time for an in-office procedure or like the idea of controlling the results, we also offer take-home whitening kits. We take impressions of your teeth to create custom trays you use at home with the provided bleaching gel.
Wear the trays with the gel for 15–30 minutes daily for about two weeks or until you see the level of brightness you want. Keep your custom trays and continue to use them with the leftover gel for monthly touchups to keep your smile bright and beautiful!
Who is a Good Candidate for Professional Whitening?
Teeth whitening supervised by a dental professional is a safe procedure for most people with healthy teeth and gums. If you have any existing issues like cavities or gum disease, they should be resolved before whitening.
Patients with sensitive teeth should talk to our dentists to see if whitening is safe or what steps should be taken to prepare for the procedure.
Schedule a Teeth Cleaning to Get Started
Professional teeth whitening is a fast and affordable way to improve your smile’s appearance and boost your confidence and self-esteem. Schedule your next teeth cleaning appointment at our Scott or Carencro, LA, dental office to get started!
