Teeth Whitening Specialist
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Cary Smiles
Rahee Shah, DMD
Family & Cosmetic Dentist & Certified Invisalign Provider located in Parkway Professional Park, Cary, NC
Teeth whitening provides a safe and effective way to eliminate stains caused by tobacco use, coffee consumption, or poor oral hygiene. At Cary Smiles, family and cosmetic dentist Jeffrey LaMura, DDS, and his team offer several types of teeth whitening, including in-office whitening with Philips Zoom! and custom take-home whitening trays. To make an appointment at the practice in Cary, North Carolina, call the office, or book online today.
Teeth Whitening Q&A
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a type of cosmetic dentistry. It uses medical-grade bleaching solutions like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to remove stains from the surface of your teeth.
When applied to your tooth enamel, whitening solutions oxidize the molecules within. The oxidation process causes brown and yellow stains to lighten, making your smile appear brighter and more aesthetically pleasing.
What causes teeth to change color?
Your teeth naturally change color as you age. Over the years, your enamel wears down, revealing more of the yellow dentin underneath.
You might also experience tooth discoloration due to:
- Drinking beverages with tannins, like coffee, tea, or red wine
- Tobacco use
- Eating foods like tomatoes or berries
- Oral trauma
- Taking medications with tetracycline
You might also experience tooth discoloration due to poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss twice daily, stains can quickly build up on the surface of your teeth.
What are the types of teeth whitening?
The team at Cary Smiles offers several types of teeth whitening, including:
Philips Zoom! in-office whitening
Philips Zoom! is an outpatient procedure that can make your smile up to eight* shades lighter in a single visit. First, your Cary Smiles provider applies a whitening gel to your teeth.
While it sits for 15-20 minutes, your provider points a blue light at your teeth, triggering a whitening reaction. Your provider repeats this process a few times until you achieve your desired results.
Custom take-home whitening trays
Take-home trays allow you to whiten your teeth on your own schedule. Each mouthpiece fits comfortably over your teeth. You line them with a medical-grade whitening solution and wear them for several hours at a time, whenever is most convenient.
How long do the results of teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening results typically last 4-6 months*, but it’s possible to extend them by practicing good oral hygiene. The team at Cary Smiles recommends brushing and flossing twice daily and visiting the office every six months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning.
To minimize the buildup of stains, quit using tobacco, and use a straw to drink dark beverages like coffee or cola.
If you want a brighter smile, make a teeth whitening appointment at Cary Smiles by calling the office or using the online booking tool.
*Individual results may vary.