Teeth Whitening in Prairie Village, KS

When I ask people what would change most about their smiles, the most common response is whiter teeth. If you are thinking about whitening your teeth, here are common questions and answers most people have. Let’s face it—you want that Denzel smile, but yes, you have questions.

What Causes Teeth to Yellow or Stain?

Food and Drink

These can be major culprits in changing the color of your teeth. Examples like coffee, tea, and red wine have intense color pigments called chromogens. These cling to the enamel of your teeth, changing color or leaving stains.

Tobacco

Chemicals like Tar and Nicotine are both surface-staining substances.

Age

Over time, the outer enamel layer gets thinner, and the yellow dentin layer (under enamel) shows more.

Trauma

Injuries to teeth can change color because damage to the teeth (such as blunt trauma to a tooth) makes teeth react by laying more dentin (a darker layer under enamel).

Medications

Darkening can be a side effect of antihistamines, antipsychotics, high blood pressure medications, antibiotics, and chemotherapy.

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to make them look lighter. You can whiten with a take-home kit from Dr. Gordon or come and get your teeth whitened chairside at our office. Teeth whitening can lighten teeth several shades. This depends on your dedication to whitening, and the degree of whiteness varies from person to person, depending on the health of the teeth and the stain on the teeth.

What Types of Teeth Whitening are Available?

Our office offers three types of teeth whitening/procedure treatments:

Custom Whitening Trays

A consultation with Dr. Gordon will be your first step to teeth whitening. Teeth have to be in a healthy state to whiten. Next, we will make impressions of your teeth to make custom trays to fit your unique smile. You will return to the office to pick up your trays and whiten the bleach gel. You will wear these trays daily for one to two hours for two weeks with bleach placed in them, as Dr. Gordon will instruct you how to do it. After that, you will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Gordon to check your progress. Depending on your progress, you will continue the daily use or go to a maintenance plan. This is a popular choice and a very successful one. Many patients are already on this plan and are overjoyed with their results. It is also a good idea and recommended to be updated on your hygiene appointments for better results.

ZOOM in Office Teeth Whitening

With Zoom, your first appointment will be a consultation with Dr. Gordon, as with the take-home option, to ensure your teeth are healthy. You will also receive a prescription toothpaste to make the ZOOM treatment a comfortable experience.  Your next appointment will be the Zoom treatment. In a two-hour session, you will come into the office and receive the Zoom treatment with a special LED light to brighten your smile. You should notice that your teeth will be several shades lighter upon completion. Impressions of your teeth will also be made at this appointment because, with ZOOM, you get the take-home maintenance program to maintain the bright smile that Zoom and Dr. Gordon help you achieve.

Colgate White Professional Take-Home Kit

Colgate Optic White Professional Take-Home Whitening product gives our patients a new, safe, and proven approach to teeth whitening in the comfort of their homes. This kit contains everything necessary for the whitening treatment. Dr. Gordon takes pretreatment photos of your existing tooth color. We will have you return after completing the ten-day treatment to have Dr. Gordon check the results. This could be a good option for those who want whiter teeth but are sensitive to traditional bleaching products.

Does Teeth Whitening Damage Your Teeth?

Research by the ADA shows that peroxide-containing whitening products are completely safe for tooth enamel and tooth nerves.

Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?

Teeth whitening can cause sensitivity, however. This does not happen to all people who whiten. If this occurs, we can give you a lower percentage of whitening bleach. You can also be prescribed toothpaste to help with sensitivity. Over-the-counter products Dr. Gordon can also be suggested to help with sensitivity. The desensitizing gel is another option for sensitivity that Dr. Gordon can give you.

 How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?

This can depend on your dedication to your specific whitening plan. Follow Dr. Gordon’s maintenance instructions, and you will have great, long-lasting results. You can continue a maintenance whitening plan for as long as desired. The food and drink you consume are big factors. Daily brushing and flossing hygiene will improve your whitening results and last longer.

Does Insurance Cover Teeth Whitening?

Most of the time, dental insurance companies do not cover this procedure because they consider it cosmetic. However, you can always check with your dental insurance provider. We can even do that for you at our office.

What are the Benefits of Teeth Whitening?

• Corrects brown, yellow, and spotted tooth staining
• Works on people of any age
• It is a near-permanent solution for a dull smile, restoring brightness and bringing a smile alive