Teeth Whitening
Tooth enamel is an incredibly hard and durable substance, but it has its weaknesses. Among them is the propensity to stain when we eat and drink certain foods and beverages: coffee, tea, red wine, various berries, even Texas’s own Dr. Pepper! Plus, simple aging yellows our teeth. This combination can make our teeth dingy and yellow — it can get to the point where you may subconsciously avoid smiling or otherwise showing your teeth.
At Clear Lake Dental Care, we offer in-office teeth whitening to put the gleam back in your smile, call us at 281-557-8097 to schedule a consultation with us.
Teeth Whitening in Webster, TX
The concept behind teeth whitening isn’t all that different than removing stains from laundry. Stains work their way into the enamel, which is somewhat porous. The active ingredients in whitening gels penetrate the enamel and break up the pigment in the stains. Our in-office whitening lightens your teeth anywhere from five to seven shades, depending on your degree of staining.
Causes Of teeth to become stained
It may not appear so, but your tooth enamel is unique to you. The color varies slightly for every person. Some enamel starts a little bit darker, and some seems to stain more easily. The good part about this is that most staining occurs in the enamel, the outer layer of the tooth. These stains can be removed with whitening agents.There is another type of staining that occurs in the dentin, the inner portion of the tooth. This staining usually is the result of a drug reaction — tetracycline is the main culprit here — and it cannot be whitened. The way to cover this type of staining is with porcelain veneers, which cover the front portion of the teeth.
These are typical reasons your teeth become stained:
- Foods — Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, even dark chocolate all contain pigments that can make their way into tooth enamel.
- Drinks — Coffee, tea, red wine, darker fruit juices, and cola drinks leave stains.
- Smoking — Nicotine makes the enamel yellow.
- Genes — Darker enamel tones are usually passed on from your parents.
- Drugs — Tetracycline, a popular antibiotic used especially in the 60s, was found to make the dentin in teeth grey. There are now recommendations to not use tetracycline with children due to this problem.
- Fluorosis — If a person has too much fluoride, or if it is ingested, it can cause fluorosis, which stains the teeth a grey color.
How Is in-office Teeth whitening done?
See What Our Patients Are Saying!
“My new smile has completely change my life! I can smile without have to worry about my yellow teeth showing. When I smile now, I feel more confident than ever before. I can wear lipstick that shows of my new smile were before I wouldn’t dare wear it. I feel pretty and complete. My whole self image is ten times better! I’ve struggled my whole life, being teased and feeling bad about myself because of my smile. Now I’ve found that all those years have made me stronger and more appreciative of my new smile. I don’t have to worry anymore about the way my teeth look. I didn’t have white teeth for my graduation from nursing school but I will have a beautiful smile for my upcoming wedding! I can’t thank you enough for my new smile and my new life!” – Jennifer M.
To read more patient testimonials, click here!
Our Whitening For Life Program
When you come to our office for your initial examination and cleaning; we will provide you with custom bleaching trays and materials for a one-time fee of $75. After that, at each six-month preventative cleaning visit, we will provide a complimentary touch-up supply of bleaching gel.
All we ask in return is:
- You keep your six-month preventative visits current. We recommend having your preventative cleanings at least one time every six months and we will give you a one month leeway to schedule while still being eligible for Whitening For Life. Your longtime dental health is our top priority and patients have found that keeping their six-month cleaning appointments current has decreased the amount of dental emergencies. We are happy to provide this extra bonus for our patients who have committed to their dental health.
- Provide at least 48 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an existing appointment. This is needed for us to provide exceptional customer service to all of our customers, especially those who are waiting for an appointment.
In-Office Whitening Vs. At-Home Strips
At Clear Lake Dental Care, our in-office teeth whitening lightens your tooth color from five to seven shades, depending on how stained your teeth are to begin with. Our in-office whitening gel is professional strength; we can use this because our dental hygienists apply it to your teeth. We protect the gums and precisely apply the gel.
At-home strips are inconsistent for a couple of reasons. First, the whitening solution used in the strips is nowhere near as strong as our professional gel. Second, applying the strips to your teeth isn’t easy to do. It can be very difficult to get an even application, as the strips adhere better in some places than others. They can slip. Plus, you can get the gel on your gums. That’s why strips cannot use a stronger concentration in the gel.
Finally, you need to consider how much time you want to invest. Our in-office professional whitening takes about one hour. At home strips take a couple weeks, placing the strips on your teeth for an hour or so every night. Even after that time investment, your teeth won’t be as white in the end as they would be with our in-office treatment.
What is GLO Teeth Whitening?
You can’t beat the heat! GLO is the ONLY teeth whitening technology to combine gentle warming heat & safe LED light in a closed system mouthpiece to accelerate results with optimal patient comfort.
Clear Lake Dental Care now offers in-office and take-home GLO Teeth Whitening products. Schedule a consultation with our dentists today to learn more and see if GLO Teeth Whitening is right for you!
What are the Benefits of Choosing GLO for Teeth Whitening?
GLO Science Professional teeth whitening products are designed to provide a positive, effective and stress-free whitening experience for clinicians and patients alike:
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- No Teeth Sensitivity
- Less treatment time
- Promotes patient homecare compliance
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Can I Continue to Whiten My Teeth At Home After An In-Office Treatment?
Can Whitening Can Make Your Teeth Sensitive?
How long will my teeth stay white?
If I Am Going to Get Porcelain Veneers Do I Whiten My Teeth First?
Why Can’t Porcelain Veneers Or Dental Implants Be Whitened?
Schedule A teeth whitening consult
To learn more about teeth whitening in Webster, TX, please call 281-557-8097 to schedule a consultation with our doctors at our office in Webster, TX.