Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Gorgeous teeth for prom

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My prom is in two weeks. Is that enough time to get gorgeous white teeth?

Allison M. – Little Rock, AR

Allison,

It certainly is enough time if you do in office whitening. If you do take home whitening they will get whiter, but not as white as they can get. The trick will be getting an appointment before your prom.

I suggest you call around and see what dentist in your area does Zoom Whitening and can get you in before prom.  It will completely whiten your teeth in just one appointment.

Have lots of fun at prom.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Can I Whiten Fake Teeth?

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When I was born, I was missing my two lateral incisors so I had two fake incisors placed in my mouth. Currently, I have a retainer and the two fake teeth replacing my laterals. My plan is to get implants in the next two years. I have very yellow teeth and want to whiten them a bit. Do fake teeth whiten?

– Dave in Oklahoma

Dave,
The bad news is that prosthetic teeth do not whiten. Many patients do not realize it but only natural teeth whiten, meaning teeth with veneers, porcelain crowns, or composite bonding will not whiten, including your teeth on your retainer. The whitening agent must come into contact with a live surface, like your natural tooth. Whitening agents allow the pores in the enamel to open and remain open reaching the dentin, which is the underlying material in the tooth. The oxygen in the whitening agent penetrates the dentin layer where more whitening takes place and makes it last.

Teeth that have root canals with no porcelain crown on them will not whiten either unless your dentist preforms internal tooth bleaching. This is done by drilling a small hole behind the tooth and adding a whitening agent within the tooth. This procedure may whiten the tooth, however it may never get as white as the other teeth and it may require some type of permanent dental restoration placed on the surface to match the other teeth.

We recommend that you bleach your teeth approximately one month before your porcelain crowns are placed on the dental implants. This will make it easier for the dentist to match your new crowns to your new tooth color. If you are not interested in waiting two years to whiten your teeth, then whiten them now and have a new retainer made to match your new tooth color after you’re done with bleaching. It may cost you several hundred dollars for a new retainer, however if your tooth color is unsatisfactory to you, it may be worth the cost. If you elect to have your teeth whitened now, be sure you touch up your smile and whiten again right before your crowns are made.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Noah of Region Dental

Does Professional Whitening Work?

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I would like to know if it’s worth going to the dentist to have professional tooth whitening done?
I looked at using Crest whitening strips and tried them but they didn’t make much of a difference for me. How much does it cost and how often does it have to be done?
– Mike from Oklahoma

Mike,
To answer your question, professional whitening procedures at the dental office do work well and can dramatically lighten your teeth. Any whitening product bought over the counter or a treatment from your dentist can be harmful to your enamel if it is over-used.

The products over the counter may lighten teeth a couple of shades, however this is more of a temporary lightening and the product has to be used over and over again in order to maintain brightness. The reason for this is because over-the-counter bleaching products are not as concentrated as the ones used in dental offices. You could compare the difference to the drugs – Ibuprofen versus Percocet, with Percocet being far stronger.

When you choose to have your teeth whitened at the dental office, you can be sure that your teeth will remain white and bright for several years but this will also depend on your diet. Dark liquids, smoking and other habits can discolor your teeth quicker. However, if you watch what you eat, you should be happy with the results from your dentist.
It is recommended that patients see their dental professional every few years to touch up their teeth if they notice a darkening of the teeth. This is fairly inexpensive.

Most dentists have two types of whitening procedures. One is an in-office procedure where a bleaching agent is applied to your teeth and a light is placed over your teeth to activate the bleaching product. This procedure generally takes about two hours and boosts up the color of your teeth several shades. This may cost several hundred dollars.
Another option is to have bleach trays made and you can bleach your teeth in the comfort of your own home. This procedure is less expensive than the dental office and it works just as well.

It is important that you consult with your dentist to see if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening and what product would be the best fit for you.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Noah of Region Dental

Can I whiten my teeth with Clorox bleach?

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Hey,

I was wondering if it was possible gargle with Clorox bleach to whiten your teeth? I thought I should check before trying it. I want to get my teeth whitened, but don’t want to have to go to a dentist every week.

Brent W. -Little Rock

Brent,

I’m glad you checked. No, absolutely do not use a household bleach as a gargle to whiten your teeth. Bleach is a corrosive and can burn your living tissue. Plus, if it comes in contact with certain other chemicals it releases a toxic gas that can kill you. That is why they always say not to mix household cleaners.

I think somewhere you developed a misconception about teeth whitening. You don’t have to go to the dentist every week to get them whitened. Usually you are given trays to take home and wear on your teeth in the comfort of your own home. You don’t have to go to the dentist to use the trays.

I wonder if you’re thinking of the in-office whitening method called Zoom Whitening? You do go in the dentist’s office to complete this procedure, but it only takes one appointment, and not weekly appointments.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.