So you want to whiten your teeth? It’s a reasonably-priced way to enhance your smile, look younger, and feel more confident in business or social settings. At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayetete CO, we provide professional teeth whitening.

Here are five things we recommend, when it comes to teeth whitening:

1. Meet with us for a consultation first. There are several different teeth whitening systems and a consultation will help you identify which procedure is best for you.
2. It is essential to know that whitening does not affect existing fillings, veneers, or crowns.
3. During your consultation, decide how many shades lighter you want your teeth to be at the end of the treatment. Depending on the whitening treatment plan chosen, your teeth can be brightened three to eight shades. An in-office procedure achieves a degree of lightening that cannot be achieved with over-the-counter products.
4. Alternatively, we can customize a take-home kit for you. While this procedure may take longer, it is more affordable and more convenient for many patients.
5. With any of the teeth whitening systems, tooth sensitivity may be an issue. In most cases, it won’t last for more than a day or so. Let us know if it lasts longer.

In addition to teeth whitening, Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO offers other cosmetic dentistry services, along with dental implants. We also treat issues like sleep apnea. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

As the years go by, our teeth naturally lose their luster. Dark colored foods and drinks speed up the process, but even people who avoid coffee, wine and cola are not immune to yellow or gray teeth. Want to brighten up your smile? Have you considered tooth whitening? Teeth whitening at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO is one of the quickest and most affordable ways to look younger and more attractive.

Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Though some teeth whitening patients experience a little short-term sensitivity, most experience no pain at all.

There are several different methods for whitening teeth, but each uses a solution containing peroxide to remove the stains that have accumulated in the microscopic cracks in your tooth enamel.

DIY Whitening Products
First of all, commercially-available strips, mouthwashes and paint-on whiteners use a lower concentration of whitening agent than in-office methods. They rarely remove all of the stains on your enamel.

If you have gum disease, cavities, crowns, dental bonding, or porcelain veneers, we recommend visiting us first for a teeth whitening consultation. You are always better off having teeth whitening performed by a professional.

Don’t assume that teeth whitening offered at mall kiosks is risk-free. The industry is largely unregulated and the staff often have little dental training. Do you really want to take chances with your smile?

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, we provide professional teeth whitening. We also offer dental implants, and treat conditions like sleep apnea. Give us a call today.

Contact Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental service that Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry provides in-office or through a take home kit. Results vary, but most patients experience significant lightening that lasts up to a year. Our Lafayette teeth whitening patients affirm that a whiter smile boosts self confidence and can take years of wear and discoloration away to reveal a brighter smile.

Teeth whitening and teeth bleaching, however, mean two different things. Surface cracks and stains develop on tooth enamel, exposing the yellower dentin below the surface. Discoloration can be the result of the natural aging process, illness, genetics, or dark colored food or drink. Foods and beverages that are both dark colored and acidic – like wine, coffee, and tomato sauce  – have even greater staining power.

Teeth whitener can refer to any product used to remove stains from tooth enamel: toothpaste, do it yourself strips, and some mouthwashes are safe and economical and can illuminate teeth with continued, regular use. The extent of whitening varies, and it takes dedicated,  use to see results.

Whitening products that do not contain bleach can usually make teeth two to four shades lighter. These are a good choice for Boulder men and women with sensitive teeth and gums that can react to products containing harsher whitening chemicals. Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry guides pregnant or nursing mothers to pick the non-bleach whitening products.

Teeth bleaching is used to describe a tooth whitening product that contains a form of bleach, either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, in varying concentrations. For best results, teeth bleaching should be done in-office by your Colorado cosmetic dentist. Bleaching can frequently achieve more noticeable results, sometimes up to seven shades lighter. Intrinsic stains on the dentin, as well as surface stains can be effectively lightened under an experienced Lafayette dentist’s supervision.

Call the state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment team at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry to schedule a consultation!

My name is Dr. Gordon West and I provide quality dental care in Lafayette. My practice, Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, offers the following services:

sedation dentistry
prepless veneers
dental crowns
gum disease treatment

Center for Advanced Dental Care

The following online articles were used as source material for this post:

Linda Dyett, ‘Teeth Whitening: How it Works and What it Costs,’ Consumer Guide to Dentistry, September 12, 2011, http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/teeth-whitening/.htm, accessed on February 6, 2012

‘How to Whiten Teeth,’ What’s Cooking America, http://whatscookingamerica.net/HealthBeauty/TeethWhitening.htm, accessed on February 6, 2012

Contact Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd, Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

If you are planning to whiten your teeth, the vital first step is to elect a whitening method. It may seem like there are a multitude of options, but it’s important to remember that they all employ a peroxide-based whitening solution. The difference lies in the strength of the bleaching solution and method of delivery. In-office whitening procedures generally use a solution with a relatively higher concentration of peroxide. In other words, it is stronger.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of DIY and in-office teeth whitening.

At-Home Teeth Whitening Advantages
Generally less expensive
Doesn’t require a trip to your Lafayette dentist
May cause less tooth sensitive and pain
At-Home Teeth Whitening Disadvantages
Takes longer to achieve desired level of lightening
Whitening appliances don’t protect gum tissue
Solution must be applied many times over a period of weeks

In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening Advantages
Pros
Same day results
Administered by a dental professional
Gum tissue is protected
In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening Disadvantages
More expensive

Did you know that in order to maintain the brightness achieved from an in-office teeth whitening treatment, a patient must follow up with at-home touch-ups? Therefore, a combination of in-office and DIY methods is often the most effective solution.

A note about non-professional teeth bleaching kiosks:
A few years ago during the height of the tooth-whitening craze, teeth whitening kiosks starting popping up in Boulder area malls. Though some have closed their doors, a few remain in business. urges patients to avoid these establishments. There is little regulatory oversight and customers have no guarantee of the safety of their services or the qualifications of their employees. As always, it is essential to only trust your smile to dental professionals.

Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry advises patients to meet with with their Lafayette dentist before starting any tooth bleaching regimen. An oral examination will help your dentist know if tooth whitening will deliver the results you are seeking. This is especially important when you have tetracycline stains or multiple restorations.