Whether the blame lies in your morning cup of coffee or the gradual effects of time, your pearly whites were destined to become dingy. And as your teeth lose their shine, your confidence wanes with it.
You can try scrubbing out the stains or hoping the DIY kit you bought will do the trick. Alas, even the best intentions and most diligent measures often fall short.
That’s where we come in.
Some stains may lighten on their own if you act quickly, but more often than not, set-in stains need professional help. Drs. April Toyer, Leonard Toyer, Edward Park, Christy Hark, and Payal Patel at Lifetime Dental Care, PLLC, know what it takes to take your smile to the next level, and we offer a suite of cosmetic dentistry treatments to get it there.
Here's a closer look at our three most popular teeth-whitening treatments.
The best place to start is often with our professional in-office teeth-whitening treatment. We use the Philips Zoom! whitening system, which contains up to 40% hydrogen peroxide — you can't get that at the store. In just 45 minutes, we can brighten your teeth by about eight shades. In comparison, off-the-shelf kits may lighten your smile by only 3-4 shades and can take up to a month to get those barely noticeable results.
Want to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home or maintain your results from our in-office treatment? You can take a set of customized Zoom! trays with you to get your teeth six shades whiter in just two weeks.
Veneers are thin porcelain or composite resin shells that fit snugly over the front surfaces of your existing teeth. They offer a permanent solution for minor chips, cracks, gaps, and discoloration.
We design veneers to match the exact shade of white you want, then bond them to your teeth using dental cement. Bonus: Veneers are stain-resistant, so you shouldn't have to worry about discoloration in the future unless you damage the tooth or your gums recede and reveal the natural tooth.
Crowns take veneers a step further and encase your entire tooth, which means we can whiten your smile and repair major damage. With crowns, we prepare your tooth by carefully grinding it down to fit the cap. Typically, you wear a temporary crown while technicians manufacture your permanent crown in a laboratory.
It's important to remember that teeth whitening is not a good choice for everyone. If you have significant oral health problems, including gum recession, periodontitis, or decay, we must treat them before moving forward with teeth whitening.
You've spent time and money getting your dream smile — don't return to your old habits. If you want a bright, white smile for the long haul, make sure you're keeping up a consistent oral hygiene routine, avoiding tobacco products and stain-causing foods and drinks, and visiting us for a cleaning every six months.
Ready to see which method of teeth whitening is best for you? Don't hesitate to request an appointment online or over the phone today at our office in Woodbridge, Virginia.