Teeth Whitening

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is the process of brightening the shade of your teeth. Ultradent treatments contain a balanced mixture of potassium nitrate and fluoride to substantially whiten teeth without drying them out or causing discomfort.

The hydrogen or carbamide peroxide in the gel contains volatile oxygen molecules that react with the stain molecules in your teeth. This reaction breaks the bond that stain molecules hold to dramatically whiten yellow teeth.

What are my teeth whitening options?

Dr. Moore and the team offer two forms of Ultradent teeth whitening at Four Corners Dental and Dentures:

In-office teeth whitening

Also called chairside whitening, Ultradent in-office whitening contains 40% hydrogen peroxide to rapidly brighten teeth without light activation. Instead, the gel creates a chemical reaction that breaks up and removes stubborn discoloration. 

Dr. Moore can customize the treatment to meet your needs and goals by applying the gel in 2-3 20-minute intervals.

Take-home whitening trays

Ultradent take-home trays contain a mixture of carbamide peroxide and 20% water to whiten your teeth and prevent dehydration. The trays mold to the shape of your teeth for a close fit to enhance your results. The gel inside the trays is sticky and viscous to prevent shifting and is available in regular, mint, and melon flavors.

Why should I consider teeth whitening?

As you age, your teeth naturally darken mostly due to enamel erosion. The hard enamel on the outside of your teeth protects the softer and darker dentin underneath. Dentin is naturally yellower than enamel. Therefore, the thinner your enamel, the more likely you are to have yellow teeth.

Other factors that can stain your teeth include:

• Coffee and tea
• Red wine
• Curry
• Soy sauce
• Marinara sauce
• High-sugar drinks (soda, juice, etc.)
• Poor dental hygiene
• Chemotherapy
• Certain medications (tetracycline and doxycycline)
• Tobacco use (cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco)

Genetics also play an important role in the color of your teeth. Some individuals naturally have thinner enamel than others, which can cause tooth discoloration even if you take excellent care of your teeth.

To learn more about teeth whitening with Ultradent, call Four Corners Dental and Dentures or schedule an appointment online today.