Cosmetic Dentistry
Teeth Whitening in Sarasota
One of the most popular, safe and effective cosmetic treatments. It can be done in as little as one appointment, and can lighten your natural tooth color by several shades.
- Treats
- Stain and dullness
- In the chair
- About 1 hour
- Shade
- Chosen with a guide
- Your teeth
- Shape unchanged
Whitening is one of the most popular, safe and effective cosmetic dentistry treatments, and it changes exactly one thing: the color of your natural teeth. Shape, spacing and position all stay as they are.
Why teeth darken
Over time, teeth collect stains that build up one on top of another, from the foods we eat and the liquids we drink. Berries and beets are among the worst, and so are coffee, tea, red wine and soda. Soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and tomato sauce leave their mark too.
At home, or in the chair
At-home whitening products work through gentle abrasion or low levels of hydrogen peroxide. They can be effective over long periods of time.
For the biggest change in the least amount of time, professional treatment is the better route. Dr. Back uses Opalescence Pro. Your shade is recorded first, a protective barrier goes over the gums, and the gel works for roughly fifty minutes. You see the result the same visit, in about an hour. How the appointment runs, start to finish.
Choosing the shade
This is the part most people get wrong on their own. Going too white is not always the best choice, because it can look unnatural. The shade guide exists so the result is picked against your lip, hair and skin color rather than against the brightest tab available.
Causes
Where the stain comes from
Stains build up one on top of another, from what you eat and what you drink. The practice names these as among the worst.
- Blackberries, blueberries and beets
- Coffee, tea and red wine
- Soda
- Soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and tomato sauce
I am a returning patient and love Dr. Becks professional staff and state of the art equipment. I came in for a cleaning with Lee who probably was one of the best hygienists ever. The atmosphere is so relaxed that you feel like you are in a spa. I actually fell asleep during my whitening treatment. That's never happened to me!
Before you whiten
What has to happen first
Whitening works on healthy teeth and a clean surface. These are the steps the practice asks you to take before treatment.
- Treat any fillings, decay or gum disease first
- Crowns, bridges and veneers do not whiten, so plan around them
- Choose a shade with the guide, against your lip, hair and skin color
- Have your teeth thoroughly cleaned, or the result comes out blotchy
The process
4 stages, start to finish
- 01
Shade
Your teeth's initial shade is determined as a starting point, picked against your lip, hair and skin color rather than against the brightest tab on the guide.
- 02
Barrier
A protective barrier is applied to shield your gums from the whitening gel. This is the part a drugstore kit cannot do.
- 03
Gel
Dr. Back applies Opalescence Pro whitening gel, which is far stronger than anything sold over a counter. It works for roughly fifty minutes.
- 04
Result
You see the result in about one hour, the same visit.
Step photographs: Opalescence Pro, Ultradent Products, Inc. Sarasota Smile Design uses Opalescence Pro for in-office whitening.
Answers
Teeth Whitening: questions patients ask
How white should I go?
Going too white is not always the best choice. It can look unnatural and off putting. Choose a shade that complements your lip, hair and skin color.
Will my crowns and veneers whiten too?
No. Dental crowns, bridges and veneer work will not whiten with the treatment, so the plan has to make sure whiter natural teeth do not make existing restorations obvious. Restorations can be updated to match.
How much whiter will my teeth get?
Several shades, with professional treatment and repeated use. How far depends on what stained the teeth in the first place and how deep it sits, so the honest answer comes from looking at your teeth rather than from a number on a website.
Do the drugstore products work?
They attempt to remove stain through gentle abrasion or low levels of hydrogen peroxide, and can be effective over long periods. For the biggest change in the least amount of time, a dental professional is the better bet.
Why do my teeth need cleaning first?
Plaque, bacteria or debris on the surface stops the tooth underneath whitening evenly, and the result comes out blotchy or spotty.
How long does it take?
About an hour in the chair, in a single appointment. The gel is on for roughly fifty of those minutes.
Does the gel hurt my gums?
A protective barrier goes over the gums before any gel is applied, which is the main thing an over-the-counter kit cannot do for you.
More on teeth whitening
Related care
3800 Clark Rd., Sarasota, FL 34233
Ask about teeth whitening.
Open Monday to Thursday, 8:00a to 4:00p. Call (941) 927-5411. Financing through CareCredit.