Looking for Teeth Whitening in Missoula, MT? Yearning for a bright youthful smile?
Family Dental Group offers a full range of cosmetic dentistry including professional teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is the #1 requested and performed cosmetic dental procedure. Teeth whitening (sometimes called teeth bleaching) is a procedure that brightens teeth and helps to remove stains and discoloration.
Throughout the day, a thin coating of bio-film collect on teeth. The bio-film can attract stains that can be trapped in the pores of tooth’s enamel.
Having a dentist plan for your teeth whitening is important because cavities need to be treated (filled) before teeth are whitened. Cavities that are present prior to whitening teeth are a problem. The whitening solution can penetrate the cavity allowing decay to reach inner areas of a tooth—this can lead to dental pain.
Home Whitening
The most common type of home teeth whitening involves placing a gel-like whitening solution, which usually contains hydrogen peroxide, in a tray that resembles a night guard or mouth guard. Over-the-counter whitening trays are unlikely to fit correctly and can cause gum irritation if the whitening agent seeps out. A custom made tray that fits your teeth is preferred. The whitening gel is placed in the tray then the tray is placed over the teeth for a certain period of time, usually no more than an hour or two.
DIY vs. Dentist-provided Home Whitening Kits
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!
There is a difference between the teeth whitening kits you can get from the supermarket and the high-strength home whitening kits our office is able to provide. Some store-bought do-it-yourself whitening kits come with a gel whitening solution and a tray. The tray is a “boil-and-fit” mouthpiece that can be uncomfortable and bulky. This type of tray also requires more whitening gel per tooth to achieve whiter teeth. The gels in the store-bought whitening kits are also not as concentrated as what a dentist can offer, which means it takes longer to achieve desired results.
The dentists at Family Dental Group use impressions of your teeth to create an exact fit whitening tray that is custom built for your teeth. This maximizes the placement and effectiveness of the whitening gel ensuring that it surrounds the teeth evenly and entirely. Additionally, our home-whitening kits use a high-strength proprietary whitening gel that you can’t get over-the-counter at a supermarket. The whitening gel from a dentist means your teeth get a whiter and longer-lasting result in less time.
There are also store-bought whitening systems that feature a “mesh” that holds the whitening solution. The mesh is pressed onto the teeth and left in place for 30 minutes to an hour. The over-the-counter mesh whitening system only covers the front teeth. Our professional grade mesh whitening system covers more teeth so there is less difference in color as you look at the teeth further back. Also, as with the other over-the-counter whitening gels, the professionally dispensed whitening systems at Family Dental Group are more concentrated, so we offer a mesh with the tooth whitening gel that is stronger to achieve results more quickly.
If you are considering whitening, or have any questions about our single-visit teeth whitening system, or about our take-home whitening kits, please call us at (406) 541-2886. You can also request an appointment and get set up for an in-office whitening appointment.
Opalescence Boost
Opalescence Boost features a unique, chemically activated formula that allows your dentist to whiten your teeth without the bothersome heat or ultraviolet rays of a light. Opalescence Boost also contains potassium nitrate and fluoride, which help to improve oral health by strengthening enamel, decreasing sensitivity, and offering increased cavity prevention.
Opalescence Take Home Whitening
Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels are only available from your dentist, who will supervise your treatment from initial consultation through completion. The sticky, viscous gel won’t migrate to gums and most formulations include Potassium Fluoride (PF), which helps to improve oral health by strengthening enamel, decreasing sensitivity and offering increased cavity prevention.