Do you want a whiter smile, but worry that whitening treatments will make your sensitive teeth worse? If just a hot coffee or cold ice cream can be painful, we understand your concern and don’t recommend over-the-counter kits.
Luckily, professional dental treatments offer highly customizable solutions that protect your enamel while lifting stains.
Whitening and Tooth Sensitivity
Your teeth have an outer layer known as enamel, which protects the softer, inner layers that include dentin and nerves. When you use a whitening product, the active bleaching agents can weaken enamel further, causing increased sensitivity.
Over-the-counter whitening strips and one-size-fits-all trays are the worst offenders. Because they use less effective bleaching agents, they must be left on teeth for a long time, with the process repeated multiple times. This repeated exposure is rough on enamel and can erode it over time.
In addition, people who choose these options often pair them with whitening toothpaste. This can be an even bigger mistake, as most whitening toothpastes are highly abrasive and can wear enamel away even more.
Whitening Sensitive Teeth the Right Way
If you have sensitive teeth, you should always work with a cosmetic dentist instead of heading to the pharmacy and hoping for the best. We can help you decide which option is right for your sensitive teeth.
Custom At-Home Whitening Trays
If you like the idea of whitening at home over time, rather than grabbing a less-effective, one-size-fits-all kit from the pharmacy, talk to us! We create customized trays for an at-home whitening option created just for you. We can advise if the professionally overseen at-home trays are right for your level of tooth sensitivity.
Zoom In-Office Whitening
When you want immediate, dramatic whitening results, Zoom whitening may be for you. This in-office treatment whitens teeth in just one short visit. Desensitizing gel can be used to minimize any discomfort. Then, professional-grade whitening gel and a specialized LED light go to work to remove even deep stains.
Because you are under direct medical supervision, we can tailor the strength of the gel and the duration of the light exposure to match your specific sensitivity levels. This makes Zoom perfect for those with mild to moderate sensitivity. If you have severe tooth sensitivity, Zoom or at-home trays may not be the best choice for you.
Porcelain Veneers for Ultimate Control
If you suffer from extreme, chronic tooth sensitivity or if your teeth have deep intrinsic stains, traditional whitening gels might not give you the results you want. In these specific cases, you may want to consider porcelain veneers.
Veneers are ultra-thin shells of medical-grade materials that are bonded directly to the front surface of your teeth to cover stains and even improve other cosmetic issues like spacing, chips, and mild misalignment.
In addition, veneers actually add a layer of protection to your teeth. They shield the underlying dentin from hot and cold temperatures, which can actually improve sensitivity. Veneers resist future staining from coffee, tea, and red wine, giving you a permanently bright smile without the need for repetitive bleaching treatments.
Your Brightest Smile, Comfortably
If you are ready to explore the safest ways to brighten your sensitive teeth, contact our office today to schedule your personalized cosmetic dentistry consultation.