Teeth Whitening - Torrance, CA

Who Needs Teeth Whitening?

While you can take some steps to slow the discoloration of your teeth over time, there’s no way to completely prevent it. Teeth darken from exposure to highly pigmented foods and beverages, like coffee, wine, chocolate, pasta sauce -- all of our favorite things. But it’s not only food that causes teeth to darken. Certain medications may result in teeth that look gray, and genetic factors also mean that some people’s smiles are just whiter than others. No matter what caused your teeth to look less than white, professional teeth whitening can help.

Your Options for Professional Teeth Whitening

At Blue Coast Dental Group, we are happy to offer two choices in professional teeth whitening: in-office and at-home whitening. Both offer the same dazzling results, they are just achieved at a different pace.

In-office whitening is preferred by patients who need immediate results, perhaps in preparation for a big event. Busy adults also appreciate the fact that in-office whitening is completed in just one appointment.

But not everyone wants to change the shade of their teeth so quickly -- and at-home whitening offers a more gradual alternative. Every night for two weeks, you will fill a custom-fitted tray with a special bleaching gel and wear it for about half an hour.

Why Choose Professional Teeth Whitening?

You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to how you can whiten your teeth, and we know it can be tempting to swing by the pharmacy on your way home from work to pick up those one-size-fits-all whitening strips. Why is professional teeth whitening better? Because nothing offers brighter results! The kits you buy over-the-counter will never be as strong as what you can get through your dentist -- and your mouth is certainly not one-size-fits-all. When you partner with your dentist for teeth whitening, you receive a whitening treatment that’s customized just for you.

The benefits of professional teeth whitening include:

• In-office whitening offers the fastest results.
• Our professional-grade bleaching solution whitens better than anything else.
• A customized treatment protects your sensitive soft tissues.
• Your dentist can make adjustments for sensitivity.

The conclusion? It’s simple. For the best, safest, and whitest results, you should partner with your dentist and benefit from professional teeth whitening.

Maintaining Your Results

Once you have completed your teeth whitening treatment, you will want to make sure you are protecting your smile with excellent dental hygiene and reduced exposure to the things that caused your teeth to stain in the first place. Kick the tobacco habit and rinse your mouth out with water after consuming red wine, coffee, and other well-known offenders. And, once you start to notice your results are beginning to fade, a quick application of the touchup kit you’ll receive after the initial treatment is all that’s needed to refresh your smile.

Frequently Asked Questions about Teeth Whitening

Even with all this helpful information about teeth whitening, you may be wondering whether it’s the right treatment for you. In fact, you may have questions about it—that’s okay! Below we’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions that we’ve heard from patients. We hope our responses help you feel confident moving forward and contacting our team for a consultation. If we didn’t answer your questions here, you can always call our Torrance office and ask! We’ll be happy to meet with you to discuss any concerns you may have.

Can Crowns or Tooth-Colored Fillings Be Whitened?

Once a crown, veneer, or tooth-colored filling has been placed and set, the color of the restoration cannot be changed. If you would like to alter its coloration, you’ll need to get a new one entirely. If you know you’d like to have your teeth whitened, but you need to get a restoration first, tell us about your goals. That way, we can give you a restoration that will fit in with your brighter smile.

Does Teeth Whitening Cause Sensitivity?

Not many patients report experiencing tooth sensitivity after the in-office procedure. However, any discomfort usually doesn’t last long and is nothing to worry about. We may be able to give you a fluoride treatment to fortify your enamel before you leave our office, and we recommend using a sensitive toothpaste for a few days. With our at-home treatments, you shouldn’t have tooth sensitivity afterward, but you may use a sensitive toothpaste if necessary.

Am I a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

When it comes to qualifying for teeth whitening, there are few requirements. You need to have a healthy mouth, meaning no cavities or infections like gum disease. If we find an impediment, we can postpone your whitening treatment until after we address the issue. For those who have dental crowns, veneers, or bonding, whitening through this treatment may not be the best way to achieve the results you’re looking for because bleaching does not change the color of these restorations.

Do I Need to Do Anything Before Teeth Whitening?

Whether you have your teeth whitened in our office or at home with our kits, your teeth need to be as clean as possible. For the in-office procedure, we’ll remove plaque and tartar before we get started to make sure your teeth are whitened evenly. Likewise, at home, you’ll need to brush and floss your teeth before wearing the trays every night. Be sure you follow our instructions so that you can enjoy the best results.

Let’s Get Started On Your Brighter Smile!

Are you interested in achieving your whitest, most dazzling smile? We want to help! Contact your cosmetic dentist in Torrance to get started today!