Bring on the Brilliance: Teeth Whitening and Your Smile

People are often quick to judge others on their smile, a fact that seems more than a little unfair. This is especially true when you consider that not all causes of discolored and stained teeth are hygiene-related. If your teeth appear gray or yellow, or if your natural tooth color isn’t as bright as you’d like, it’s time to consider professional teeth whitening in Park Ridge, IL. Unlike over-the-counter teeth bleaching kits, professional whitening treatment at the office of Drs. Maria and Thanasi Loukas means a totally personalized experience with results tailored to your expectations–no one-size-fits-all dentistry here!

Lesser-Known Causes of Tooth Discoloration

Sometimes even the most diligent brusher develops stained teeth, which comes as quite a shock. Several prescription medications have been known to affect the color of tooth enamel; the antibiotic tetracycline is among the most notorious offenders. Even certain health conditions affect the appearance of your teeth. For example, patients who have been diagnosed with celiac disease often present with badly stained or pitted teeth. This occurs as the result of the body’s inability to restore minerals that have been leached from the tooth enamel. Patients who have acid reflux may sustain damage to the tooth surface, making the teeth more prone to staining.

What Are My Options?

It’s always good to have choices, so our patients are always pleased to learn that we offer two professional teeth whitening options: Boost and Opalescence. Boost in-office whitening brightens tooth enamel by up to 10 shades and requires only a single visit, usually for a one-hour treatment. We’ve even seen patients come in on their lunch break, then return to their office with noticeably improved teeth! If you prefer to whiten your teeth comfortably in your own home, consider the Opalescence at-home system. After visiting us for a custom-fitted bleaching tray, you’ll use our professional formula for an average treatment time of a few hours each day for one week.

What If My Teeth Don’t Respond to Whitening?

Sometimes even the most powerful whitening formula can’t eliminate all traces of discoloration. If this is the case with your teeth, Dr. Loukas may recommend an alternative cosmetic treatment, such as dental bonding or porcelain veneers. Veneers offer several advantages over bonding. For example, the dental ceramic that comprises each veneer boasts a translucence similar to that of natural tooth enamel. Veneers also have stain-resistant properties; bonding materials do not. If you want immediate results, the bonding procedure can be completed in a single visit. Veneers, on the other hand, require more than one appointment. Both treatments can also help improve teeth that are chipped, cracked, or gapped.

Questions about teeth bleaching in Park Ridge, IL? To learn more about our smile-beautifying cosmetic dental treatments, or to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, contact us at (847) 696-1919. We welcome patients living in and around Chicago, Park Ridge, and the 60068 zip code.