Teeth Whitening Miami, FL
If you live in Miami or the local area, you can benefit from a teeth whitening procedure at our local dental office. At Dr. Rita The Smile Designer, we are known for improving the appearance of our patients' smiles. We are a cosmetic dentist and offer multiple ways for doing so. We often recommend a teeth bleaching procedure because it is by far the easiest way to transform your smile. After cleaning your teeth, we can complete this procedure in time for a special event or as part of your regular oral health routine.
Help Your Smile Shine Bright
People have their teeth whitened on a regular basis so as to look and feel great. As people age, it is common for teeth to become dull and yellow. This is, in part, due to age itself and also due to what a person eats and drinks. Drinking coffee, tea and wine, for example, can stain your teeth. Smoking and eating foods that contain food coloring can also stain your teeth. Brushing immediately after eating and drinking can help to prevent stains but is typically not enough to remove the risk entirely. Fortunately, stained and yellow teeth don't have to stay that way.
In-office whitening can brighten your smile up to 8 shades lighter. That's 6 shades lighter than store bought whitening products.
Types of Whitening
There are several types of teeth bleaching options that you can try. People typically start by using whitening toothpaste at home. This can help to brighten your teeth but is typically not enough to actually make a significant difference. We recommend toothpaste as part of an overall teeth whitening regimen, but not by itself. After professional whitening, the toothpaste can help your teeth stay bright.
Many people may try over the counter solutions like stock whitening trays or strips. These treatments work but not as well as professional and customized solutions. As with most things, what you buy in the store is simply not as strong as what you can get from a medical professional. Additionally, store bought whitening trays are designed to fit everyone's teeth, not your teeth specifically. This means that they can become loose, and the solution can leak, leading to gum irritation.
We recommend that people in Miami schedule an appointment with Dr. Rita Dargham instead of using over the counter modalities. Our professional tooth whitening solutions can transform the appearance of your teeth in a dynamic way. This is partially due to the strength of the solution that we use. Professional grade whitening gels can whiten teeth by eight shades or more vs. around two shades with store bought solutions. If you are looking for immediate and dramatic results, in-office whitening is a more effective and safe option.
Miami Tooth Whitening
At Dr. Rita The Smile Designer, we provide patients with information on two main types of dental whitening. Some dental offices provide whitening services in the office while others focus on treatments that can be completed at home. An in-office treatment can be done at the same time as a teeth cleaning or during a separate appointment. It is typically completed within an hour and produces immediately white teeth. For many people, this is an ideal solution because of how quickly it is rendered.
Dentists have coined the term "bleachorexia" for those people who overuse in-store bleaching which can lead to the destruction of enamel and dentin, turning the teeth to mush.
In our dental office, we also recommend home-whitening trays. This type of procedure is effective and puts patients in control over how white their teeth become and how often they are whitened. We start by taking an impression of a patient's teeth. We then use this impression to create customized whitening trays in a dental lab. They fit securely around teeth and will not leak solution into the mouth. This is an ideal way for patients to whiten teeth because once the trays are created, they can be used at any time. Patients are provided with a whitening solution to use at home. The trays need to be worn for about thirty minutes each day for two weeks. Once teeth have reached the perfect shade of white, a patient can stop wearing the trays. This portable solution can be taken anywhere, making it possible for people to whiten teeth while on vacation, business trips or after moving to a new city.
Check out what others are saying about our teeth whitening services on Yelp: Teeth Whitening Miami
The process
How It Works
When a whitening solution is applied to the teeth, the hydrogen peroxide, as the main ingredient inside of the solution, penetrates through the enamel. It then starts the oxidation process where molecules are transformed to reflect less or no light. This makes them appear colorless, and teeth appear white. This process is typically extremely effective for eliminating extrinsic stains and can be repeated once or twice annually.
On occasion, the stains are too deep for a teeth bleaching procedure to work. When this happens, we can provide an alternative treatment. One option for patients in Miami is to place dental veneers.These are porcelain laminates placed on the surface of teeth in order to cover dark stains. This is often preferable for patients that smoke since veneers are stain resistant and won't yellow quickly like natural teeth. Still, it is wise to try a teeth whitening procedure first, before starting a cosmetic one.
At Dr. Rita The Smile Designer, we also recommend that patients have their teeth whitened before having other dental procedures completed. Most of the materials that are used in dental restorations or for cosmetic purposes are stain resistant and bleach resistant. For example, a dental crown won't stain or bleach but should maintain its initial coloring with time. When a crown, veneer, bridge, or implant is created in a dental lab, they are created to match the shade of the surrounding teeth. If the surrounding teeth are yellow, these restorations will be created in a yellow shade. If the surrounding teeth are a brilliant white, the restoration will be as well. This makes the timing of teeth whitening procedures important. If you live in the Miami area and are interested in a dental restoration, schedule your teeth whitening procedure first.
Genetics, aging, and consumption of staining substances (smoking, coffee, tea, and sodas) are just a few reasons why teeth appear dark.
The procedure itself should not cause any discomfort and is relatively easy to complete. Temporary and light sensitivity to cold, air, and sweets may arise during treatment, a sensation easily controlled with over the counter analgesics as needed. Before getting started, we simply recommend that patients schedule a dental exam with our Miami dental office. We will then examine your teeth and gums to ensure that they are healthy enough for whitening. If cavities or infections exist they can be treated first. To learn more or to get started, call (305) 858-0505 to schedule your appointment.
Teeth Whitening FAQ
Q. Does tooth whitening cause permanent tooth sensitivity?
A. Sensitivity from tooth whitening is always transient. If there is any sensitivity caused by the whitening, it goes away within one to two days after the treatment is completed. The patient then returns to the state of sensitivity he or she had prior to starting the whitening process.
Q. Can I get my teeth whitened?
A. Most people are candidates for tooth whitening, but again, each situation is unique. It is best to contact your dental professional to schedule a dental examination and cleaning prior to initiating the whitening process.
Q. How long does tooth whitening last?
A. Typically you can expect whitening to last from six months to two years, although some studies report results lasting up to 10 years. Avoiding red wine, coffee, and smoking — all of which can cause staining — helps preserve the results.
Q. Is tooth bleaching safe?
A. Yes, many studies have proven that tooth whitening is safe. You can protect your tooth enamel by using calcium sulfate and fluoride during the treatment period.
Q. How much does tooth whitening cost?
A. Prices vary widely for tooth whitening. Over-the-counter kits can cost as little as $20, with extensive in-office procedures approaching up to $1,000. If you want professional whitening, expect the price to be around $300 to $800. If you want an at-home bleaching kit from your dentist, expect to pay between $300 and $600. Ask your dental office for specific information.
Q. Does tooth whitening affect fillings, veneers, or crowns?
A. Tooth whitening has little or no effect on restorative materials such as porcelain resins, but it may temporarily reduce the bond strength between enamel and composite restorations. This is why it is a good idea to check with your dental professional before beginning any course of tooth whitening.
Q. Is the agent used in tooth whitening toxic?
A. Products developed from carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and urea (substances found in every human cell)should be used cautiously to alleviate concern. Those who have issues are the ones who do not follow instructions and overuse the products for months or years.
There is more residual sensitivity with store bought teeth bleaching products due to the "one-size fits all" trays that come in the kit vs the custom fit trays fabricated by your dentist.
Questions Answered on This Page
Q. What types of teeth whitening do you offer?
Q. How does teeth whitening work?
Q. Will teeth whitening cause any sensitivity?
People Also Ask
Q. Can teeth whitening truly remove stains off of my teeth?
Q. Does whitening toothpaste really work?
Q. Are at-home teeth whitening kits better than dentist procedure?
Definition of Cosmetic Dentistry Terminology
- Bleachorexia
- The obsession with having whiter teeth can lead to bleachorexia, or over bleaching, causing significant damage to the tooth enamel and gums in the process.
- Carbamide Peroxide
- Carbamide peroxide is a solution that contains hydrogen peroxide and can help to whiten teeth.
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Cosmetic dentistry combines comprehensive dental principles with artistic sensibility to design and create optimally healthy and beautiful restorations intended to enhance the appearance of one’s smile while preserving ideal function and form.
- Deeper Teeth Stains
- Deeper teeth stains are discolorations that require professional oral health services such as professional cleanings, teeth whitening procedures, or porcelain veneers for improvement. They can result from consumption of certain foods and beverages, improper oral hygiene, smoking, use of childhood tetracycline antibiotics, among other causes.
- Dentin Hypersensitivity
- Dentin hypersensitivity is noted when the outer protective enamel layer of the tooth becomes thin or worn, causing mild to advanced sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimulants.
- Dentist
- A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound in teeth whitening solutions that patients use to whiten the shade of their teeth.
- Relief ACP
- Relief ACP stands for a gel form of amorphous calcium phosphate. This is used to alleviate the discomfort associated with dental hypersensitivity.
- Stained Dentin
- Stained dentin can result from certain foods and beverages. The lack of proper brushing and flossing may worsen the appearance of stained teeth. Dental professionals can provide whitening treatments to brighten the smile.
- Surface Enamel
- The surface enamel is the hard outer shell that protects the dentin and pulp of the teeth. The enamel is the surface that people see when one smiles.
- Surface Teeth Stains
- While surface teeth stains can be inevitable with age, certain foods and beverages will only promote discoloration and yellowing of teeth.
- Teeth Whitening Concentrate
- Teeth whitening concentrate is the bleaching agent that whitens the shade of teeth. That provided by a dental professional is more effective than those found over the counter.
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