Teeth Whitening – Ann Arbor, MI

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

If there are noticeable stains or discolored spots on your teeth, you may want to think about pursuing professional teeth whitening. When you visit our office, our team will be able to figure out what’s causing the discoloration on your smile and determine whether teeth whitening is a viable solution. We can also determine whether or not your mouth is currently healthy enough for a cosmetic dental treatment.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

At our practice, we help our patients achieve the brighter smiles that they deserve with personalized take-home whitening kits.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

Each take-home whitening kit comes with trays that have been personalized for your unique smile as well as special whitening gel. You will be instructed to fill the trays with the gel and wear them for a set amount of time each day. The ingredients in the gel will penetrate the teeth and break up the molecules forming stains and discolored spots, thus leaving your enamel looking whiter.

You can choose between Opalescence® and Venus White Pro whitening kits. Both come with gels that contain potassium nitrate, which can help reduce the sensitivity that’s often associated with teeth whitening.

Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening

As a cosmetic dentist in Ann Arbor, Dr. Olsen believes in the power of professional teeth whitening and can help you see a whiter, brighter smile in no time at all. No matter the reason for your treatment, you will discover many great benefits that come with choosing one of our take-home kits over the many store-bought brands available. These include:

• Improved safety: Unlike store-bought brands that leave you to decipher the instructions, Dr. Olsen will provide clear details on how to use the trays and high-grade bleaching gel. He will also provide a prescribed duration for you to use your whitening kit. By following these instructions, you can expect a safer, more reliable treatment that produces outstanding results.
• Even results: Many over-the-counter kits only whiten the most visible teeth; however, the trays provided to you will allow for a comfortable and complete fit, making sure each tooth is whitened and thus giving you a complete smile that is brighter all around.
• Enhanced aesthetics: Because our teeth whitening kits are designed to produce long-lasting results in just two weeks, you can quickly see a dramatic difference in your smile. As a result, you’ll feel more beautiful and confident in yourself, allowing you to embrace new opportunities and finally rid yourself of any insecurities.

Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile

With proper care and maintenance, your results can last quite some time; however, it is ultimately up to you to determine how long you are willing to extend the life of your whiter, brighter teeth. While you do have the option to return to drinking dark-colored beverages and smoking, you can expect to need touch-ups much sooner as a result of that choice. It is advised that you avoid certain lifestyle habits if you want to make sure your teeth whitening experience lasts longer than a few weeks or months.

A few tips to keep in mind include:

• Maintaining good oral hygiene with brushing, flossing, and rinsing regularly.
• Attending dental checkups and cleanings every six months.
• Minimizing your exposure to dark-colored beverages and foods.
• Using a straw to drink your morning coffee.
• Never using your teeth as tools to open packages and containers (which can wear down your tooth enamel over time).
• Quit smoking.

Teeth Whitening FAQs

Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?

No one likes to experience dental discomfort, so it’s normal to be anxious about any potential pain before committing to a procedure. That said, you don’t have anything to fear. Modern whitening agents are specially formulated to minimize the likeliness of any pain or sensitivity. If you have a history of tooth sensitivity, we may recommend using a special toothpaste prior to your treatment. It’s also best to avoid whitening your teeth too often to prevent discomfort. If you have any sensitivity after your procedure, it will dissipate within a couple of days. In the meantime, you may want to avoid overly hot or cold foods and drinks.

Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?

Unfortunately, teeth whitening doesn’t have any effect on restorations, including dental crowns. In some cases, whitening gels can weaken the bond between your tooth and the restoration. It’s important to inform your dentist about any previous dental work during your consultation to avoid unnecessary complications. If you’ve noticed your crown is discolored, we can replace it with one that better matches your smile. You can help maintain your restoration’s appearance by committing to your oral hygiene and limiting your exposure to stain-causing factors, like coffee, berries, or smoking.