Teeth Whitening in Canmore
Dr. Grant Moldenhauer & Dr. Piercy provide both take-home and in-clinic teeth whitening solutions in Canmore. We have Day White® and Zoom!® teeth whitening systems. Read below to learn more about these techniques. Feel free to contact Canmore Smiles if you need more information.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the colour of natural teeth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile. Teeth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up maybe needed every several years, and more often if you smoke, drink coffee, tea, or wine. Given below are the reasons for teeth whitening:
Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during teeth development)
Normal wear of outer teeth layer
Stained teeth due to medications (tetracycline, etc.)
Yellow, brown stained teeth
What Does Teeth Whitening Involve?
Teeth whitening usually requires two visits. At the first appointment, impressions (molds) will be made of your teeth to fabricate custom, clear plastic, trays. At your second appointment, you will try on the trays for proper fit, and adjustments will be made if necessary. The trays are worn with special whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight for a couple of weeks depending on the degree of staining and desired level of whitening.
Day White®
Day White® is a specialized take-home whitening treatment which has been designed for use during daytime hours. This offers an excellent alternative for people who would like to have a brighter smile, but do not relish the prospect of wearing strips or whitening trays all night long. In fact, this treatment will only take one hour per day, and is substantially less expensive than some in-office alternatives. Day White® is an extremely user-friendly home treatment which includes whitening gel, a patented syringe and special whitening trays. There is nothing complicated, messy or time-consuming about applying Day White® and it can whiten the teeth by as many as fourteen shades in as few as 10-14 days.
How Can Day White® Help Me?
Day White® utilizes proven technology to remove organic stains on the teeth and whiten yellowing dentin and enamel. It has been created with the wearer in mind, and comes in several flavors. Here are some advantages of the Day White® System:
Cost effective
Custom-fitted trays
Lower active ingredient concentration (means reduced sensitivity)
No radiation
Pleasant flavors in a viscous gel
Teeth whitened by as many as 14 shades
Two half hour treatments twice a day
Unchanged structure of teeth
What Are the Main Considerations before Using Day White®?
Patients who have teeth decay or gum disease need to have these conditions treated prior to applying the Day White® gel. Day White® may not remove inorganic or deep stains, so it is important to consult with the dentist to ensure that expectations are realistic, considering the current condition of the teeth. Here are some important points about using Day White®:
Once the gel is on the teeth, do not smoke, eat or drink.
Consult the dentist before ordering refills.
Pregnant and lactating women should not use teeth-whitening products.
How Should Day White® Be Used?
Day White® is a healthy way to whiten teeth. The combination of hydrogen peroxide and Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP) enables any imperfections in the surface of the teeth to be filled while the bleaching is underway. Day White® is available in two low concentrations (7.5% and 9.5%). Each syringe is filled with enough gel to treat the teeth three times daily, so the results are under the patient’s control.
To use Day White®, simply load the gel into the custom-made trays and apply to the teeth for up to 30 minutes twice daily. When the desired time expires, remove the trays and rinse the mouth. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse the trays after every application.
Whitening will occur gradually over the course of the Day White® treatment, and the end result will be a pearly white smile. If you have any questions about Day White®, contact us.
Zoom!®
Many people are opting for the Zoom!® Chairside Whitening System (Zoom!®) for fast, safe and effective teeth whitening. Zoom!® combines the newest advances in dental technology with proven chemical formulas. This ensures that the bleaching experience is painless, and the results are satisfying.
There are many reasons why teeth become stained or discoloured, including tobacco use, and drinking dark liquids such as red wine, coffee, tea and cola. However, the natural aging process and prescription medication use can also cause yellowing and graying. Zoom!® has many advantages over other treatments, including:
All teeth treated simultaneously
Faster treatment times
Longer lasting results
Reduced sensitivity
Removal of stains on crowns, veneers and other restorations
Safe procedure and treatment
Treatments are performed by an experienced professional
It is important to seek advice from the dentist prior to beginning a bleaching regime. Women who are pregnant or lactating should not seek bleaching treatment.
How Does Zoom!® Whiten the Teeth?
Zoom!® is a bleaching process that lightens the dentin and enamel of the teeth. Zoom!® contains a hydrogen peroxide component (25%), which is the active ingredient in the gel. When hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth, the peroxide component breaks down into tiny oxygen bubbles. It is these bubbles that eliminate yellowing and staining.
A mercury metal halide light is used to activate the gel and expedite the whitening process. This specialized light contains a unique infrared filter that works to reduce the amount of heat (and therefore sensitivity) on the surface of the teeth during the procedure. The internal structure of the teeth remains completely healthy and intact during and after the treatment.
As with any whitening system, the post-treatment results can vary according to the degree of staining and the condition of the teeth. A consultation with the dentist prior to treatment will provide information as to what kind of results Zoom!® can provide in specific instances. Zoom!® is only applied to healthy teeth and gums. If teeth decay or gum disease is an issue, these need to be controlled before the bleaching treatment is performed.
How Is the Zoom!® Treatment Performed?
Prior to treatment, there will be a consultation where the dentist will outline the exact procedure. On treatment day, a deep cleaning (prophylaxis) will be performed to rid the teeth of any debris and plaque. Then, special eyewear will be provided to protect the eyes from the halide light, and splashguards to protect the clothing from the bleaching agent. Here is a brief overview of the Zoom!® procedure:
Cheek retractors will be placed to expose the entire surface of the teeth
The gums will be painted or covered to reduce sensitivity
The dentist will apply the whitening gel to the teeth
The halide light will then be applied to activate the gel. This specialized Zoom!® light can be positioned to work on all the teeth simultaneously.
After 15 minutes, gel will be removed from the teeth and the mouth will be rinsed
More gel will be applied for another 15 minutes
Again, the gel will be removed and the mouth will be thoroughly cleansed
The final treatment of gel will be applied for 15 minutes
The gel will be removed for the final time
What Happens After Treatment?
The same external factors that caused the discolouration in the first place can quickly work their way back onto the teeth. For this reason, the dentist recommends flossing once a day, thorough cleaning with anti-sensitivity toothpaste twice a day, and occasional retreatment with Zoom!® Weekender. These post-treatment measures will ensure that the smile stays at its whitest for a long time.
FAQ
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What Can I Do about Stained or Discoloured Teeth?
Since teeth whitening has become the number one aesthetic concern of many patients, many products and methods are available to achieve a brighter smile.
Professional teeth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the colour of natural teeth enamel. It is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile. Over-the-counter products are also available, but they are much less effective than professional treatments and may not be approved by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA).
As we age, the outer layer of teeth enamel wears away, eventually revealing a darker or yellow shade. The colour of our teeth also comes from the inside of the teeth, which may become darker over time. Smoking, drinking coffee, tea, and wine may also contribute to teeth discolouration, making our teeth yellow and dull. Sometimes, teeth can become discoloured from taking certain medications as a child, such as Tetracycline. Excessive fluoridation (fluorosis) during teeth development can also cause teeth to become discoloured.
It's essential to have your teeth evaluated by your dentist to determine if you're the right candidate for bleaching. Occasionally, tetracycline and fluorosis stains are difficult to bleach, and your dentist may offer other options, such as veneers or crowns, to cover up such stains. Since teeth whitening only works on natural teeth enamel, it is also essential to evaluate the replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. before bleaching begins. Once the bleaching is done, your dentist can match the new restorations to the shade of the newly whitened teeth.
Since teeth whitening is not permanent, a touch-up may be needed every several years to keep your smile looking bright.
The most widely used professional teeth whitening systems:
Home teeth whitening systems: At-home products usually come in a gel form that is placed in a custom-fitted mouthguard (tray), created from a mould of your teeth. The trays are worn either twice a day for approximately 30 minutes, or overnight while you sleep. It usually takes several weeks to achieve the desired results depending on the degree of staining and the desired level of whitening.In-office teeth whitening: This treatment is done in the dental office, and you will see results immediately. It may require more than one visit, with each visit lasting 60 to 90 minutes. While your gums are protected, a bleaching solution is applied to the teeth. We use a Philips Zoom Whitespeed light to enhance the action of the agent while the teeth are whitened.
Some patients may experience teeth sensitivity after having their teeth whitened. This sensation is temporary and usually subsides within a few days to one week.
Teeth whitening can be very effective and can give you a brighter, whiter, more confident smile!
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How Can Cosmetic Dentistry Help Improve the Appearance of My Smile?
If you’re feeling somewhat self-conscious about your teeth, or just want to improve your smile, cosmetic dental treatments may be the answer to a more beautiful, confident smile.
Cosmetic dentistry has become very popular in the last several years, not only due to the many advances in cosmetic dental procedures and materials available today, but also because patients are becoming more and more focussed on improving their overall health. This includes dental prevention and having a healthier, whiter, more radiant smile.
There are many cosmetic dental procedures available to improve your teeth and enhance your smile. Depending on your particular needs, cosmetic dental treatments can change your smile dramatically, from restoring a single tooth to having a full mouth make-over. Ask your dentist how you can improve the health and beauty of your smile with cosmetic dentistry.
Cosmetic Procedures
- Teeth whitening: Bleaching lightens teeth that have been stained or discoloured by age, food, drink, and smoking. Teeth darkened as a result of injury or taking certain medications can also be bleached, but the effectiveness depends on the degree of staining present.
Composite (teeth-coloured) fillings: Also known as “bonding”, composite fillings are now widely used instead of amalgam (silver) fillings to repair teeth with cavities, and also to replace old defective fillings. Teeth-coloured fillings are also used to repair chipped, broken, or discoloured teeth. This type of filling is also very useful to fill in gaps and to protect sensitive, exposed root surfaces caused by gum recession.
Porcelain veneers: Veneers are thin custom-made, teeth-coloured shells that are bonded onto the fronts of teeth to create a beautiful individual smile. They can help restore or camouflage damaged, discoloured, poorly shaped, or misaligned teeth. Unlike crowns, veneers require minimal teeth structure to be removed from the surface of the teeth.
Porcelain crowns (caps): A crown is a teeth-coloured, custom-made covering that encases the entire teeth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. Crowns protect and strengthen teeth that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations. They are ideal for teeth that have large, fractured, or broken fillings and also for those that are badly decayed.
- Dental implants: Dental implants are artificial roots that are surgically placed into the jaw to replace one or more missing teeth. Porcelain crowns, bridges, and dentures can be made specifically to fit and attach to implants, giving a patient a strong, stable, and durable solution to removable dental appliances.
- Orthodontics: Less visible and more effective brackets and wires are making straightening teeth with orthodontics much more appealing to adult patients. Also, in some cases, teeth may be straightened with custom-made, clear, removable aligners that require no braces.
Thanks to the advances in modern dentistry, cosmetic treatments can make a difference in making your smile shine!
Whitening with Bleaching Tray
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