Dentist - Oak Park
7020 W North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60707
708-386-6517
773-745-5555
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In my last post I talked about your options for improving your smile using a whitening solution. Tooth Whitening is a great procedure that allows most people to change the color of their teeth with minimal effort and cost. Unfortunately there are some individuals who are not ideal candidates for whitening treatments.
The whitening solution works on natural tooth structure but not on any restorations placed by your dentist. Anyone with tooth colored fillings or porcelain veneers /crowns on their front teeth may find that these restorations are very noticeable after tooth whitening. These restorations can be redone to match your new shade after whitening, but this will add time and cost to the procedure. If you need treatment on your front teeth and are considering whitening, have the whitening done first so that the new fillings or veneers can be made to match your new whiter teeth.
The most common side effect of tooth whitening is sensitivity in the teeth being treated. This sensitivity is usually not severe and goes away soon after the whitening procedures are finished. If your teeth are already sensitive to hot or cold, or you have receding gums you may have a problem with increased sensitivity during whitening. Missing, cracked or leaky old fillings may also cause a problem in this regard. Combining topical fluoride treatments with the whitening procedure can usually lessen this sensitivity.
If you are considering whitening your teeth, your dentist can advise you if this is treatment is right for you. If you have no indications to the contrary, go for it, you'll love the results!
Thanks for reading.
Dr. Jeff