Professional teeth whitening not only brightens your smile, it can improve your confidence. At our Clinton, NJ practice, Drs. Carson Ferris-Zeolla and Victoria Uryniak offer both in-office and take-home professional solutions that are approved by the American Dental Association. If you have healthy teeth and gums but are looking for options to improve the appearance of your smile, you may be a good candidate for professional whitening treatments. Through an in-person consultation, Drs. Ferris-Zeolla and Uryniak can help you decide which method is best for you.

If you’re ready for a whiter, brighter smile, contact Quality Dentistry at Walnut Pond. Dr. Carson Ferris-Zeolla and Dr. Victoria Uryniak offer cosmetic dentistry services, including professional teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and dental bonding, and can help you achieve a smile up to eight shades lighter than your natural tooth color! Reach a member of our staff at 908-200-7007.

How does professional teeth whitening work?

Teeth whitening refers to procedures that lighten the color of teeth and remove discoloration or staining. Teeth stains fall into one of two categories:

  • Extrinsic Stains: This refers to surface stains, or stains on the outer layers of a tooth. These stains occur from eating and drinking, and don’t penetrate the deeper tooth structure.
  • Intrinsic Stains: These stains are inside the tooth structure, penetrating the deepest layers. Often, intrinsic stains are caused by trauma, certain medications, or aging.

Extrinsic stains respond well to teeth whitening, but intrinsic stains usually don’t. For these types of stains, porcelain veneers are usually a better option for achieving a whiter, more uniform smile. Drs. Ferris-Zeolla and Uryniak use a bleaching technique for both in-office and take-home procedures. Bleaching agents (containing either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide) remove extrinsic stains, with results lasting about a year.

Who is a good candidate?

When determining a patient’s eligibility for professional teeth whitening, our doctors identify whether a patient’s tooth stains are intrinsic or extrinsic. If the staining is mainly extrinsic, they’ll also consider the following factors:

  • Pregnancy: As a precaution, women should wait to receive treatments until after they are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Restorative Procedures: Dental crowns, veneers, and composite bonding or fillings do not whiten with bleaching products. Patients with visible restorations in their smile will have uneven coloration. Usually, these patients can achieve better results from porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
  • Tooth and Gum Health: A patient’s teeth and gums should be in good health before undergoing any whitening procedures. Your dentist should ensure any worn enamel, cavities, receding gum lines or periodontal disease is treated before beginning cosmetic dentistry treatments.
  • Sensitivity: Patients with sensitive teeth may have increased sensitivity or discomfort from bleaching products. Your dentist may recommend other options that will be more comfortable for highly-sensitive teeth.
  • Age: Patients should be over the age of 16. Until then, most children’s teeth are still developing and whitening products can cause uncomfortable sensitivity.

Contact us for more information!

If you want to enhance your smile, schedule a consultation with Dr. Carson Ferris-Zeolla or Dr. Victoria Uryniak at Quality Dentistry at Walnut Pond. They provide cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry techniques that offer less invasive, yet dramatic results. Call 908-200-7007 now to schedule your consultation!