Am I a Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Everyone experiences some staining or tooth discoloration at some point. Anyone who drinks coffee, tea, or red wine can end up with dental discoloration. A dental injury, smoking or using tobacco products, and certain medications can also cause teeth discoloration. 

The natural aging process can cause the tooth enamel to thin, leaving the teeth looking more yellow. Fortunately, you do not have to live with the results of teeth discoloration. Teeth whitening can help restore your smile. It is a good idea to find out if you are a candidate for teeth whitening.

Good Candidates for Teeth Whitening

Most people with teeth discoloration can benefit from whitening treatment. Professional teeth whitening can help restore the smile. Ideal candidates for whitening treatment are non-smokers who have healthy teeth. 

Those who do not have restorations or dental fillings are good candidates. Ideal candidates have healthy gum tissue and a realistic expectation of whitening results. Whitening treatment is most effective for people with teeth that have a yellow tone.

Poor Candidates for Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening treatment is not for everyone. Some people cannot experience safe or effective teeth whitening. Poor candidates are people who smoke, children under 16, pregnant or lactating women, and people with allergies. 

People with sensitive teeth and those with dental restorations such as implants, crowns, fillings, and dental bridges are poor candidates. Teeth whitening is not ideal for people with gum or periodontal disease, cavities, tooth decay, and exposed roots.

Results of Teeth Whitening

Successful teeth whitening will depend on the condition of the teeth. If you have fillings and other artificial dental materials, you may not get the desired whitening results. Bridges, crowns, and other restorations are immune to tooth whitening effects. 

This means that the natural and restored teeth may not match after the whitening treatment. If you have restorations, talk to the dentist about a treatment strategy to ensure consistent results. 

Having Realistic Expectations

If you decide to get teeth whitening, you need to have realistic expectations. People who have unrealistic expectations are often disappointed with the results. Expecting the teeth to be blinding white is not just unrealistic but also unnatural. 

Whitened teeth will end up being whiter than they were, but they may not look like another person’s teeth. People with unrealistic expectations usually end up using bleaching products that can be very harmful to the teeth. 

Consulting a Dental Professional

Your dentist is the best person to determine if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. The dentist will examine your teeth to see if whitening is right for you. A good dentist will never go ahead with teeth whitening when you have serious dental issues. It is important to treat the dental problem before getting teeth whitening. 

The effectiveness of teeth whitening treatment will depend on the cause of the discoloration. If staining is caused by reasons other than internal or natural staining, they will not respond well to whitening treatment.

To get the best results from teeth whitening, you must get professional treatment. There are many bleaching products out there, but most of them are harmful or ineffective. A dentist will come up with the best whitening treatment to give you the perfect smile.

To know if you are a candidate for teeth whitening, visit John K. See, DDS, at our office in Camarillo, California. You can call (805) 920-8600 today to schedule an appointment.