“I can’t believe how white my
teeth are now. Wow!”

Services

Teeth Whitening

If you want to whiten your teeth, the best place to start is with a healthy mouth. Tooth decay, sensitive or cracked teeth, infections or periodontal (gum) problems should be diagnosed and treated before any tooth whitening procedure. Otherwise, you could experience discomfort. The whitening process may aggravate existing problems, or the whitening process simply may not be right for you.

Rather than heading to the local cosmetic counter or shopping mall in search of tooth whiteners, start with a dental checkup. We can evaluate, diagnose and treat any pressing oral health conditions and advise you about different options to safely and effectively whiten your teeth. Dr. Melissa also can determine whether whitening will work for you. When we diagnose the cause of the discoloration—injury, stains from food or tobacco, antibiotic treatment as a child or other causes—a suitable tooth whitening method or product can be selected. The diagnosis is important; otherwise, you could be wasting time and money because whitening treatments work only on natural tooth enamel, not on crowns, veneers, bonding materials or tooth colored fillings.

Recently, tooth-whitening kiosks have appeared in malls and salons. In at least one state, these kiosks have been banned. Although they may be staffed with people wearing “scrubs” or laboratory coats who may look like health care professionals, that often is not the case. Staff running the tooth-whitening kiosk may have no health care training and no license to provide health care services. However, they are dispensing chemicals that could permanently affect your teeth and gums.

Talk with us about the pros and cons of different whitening treatments and what may be right for you. We may suggest a simple procedure for daily use at home for a period of weeks or power whitening performed in the office. White, bright teeth are desirable, but having a healthy smile is more important. Dr. Melissa can help you achieve not only a whiter, more attractive smile, but one that is healthy and contributes to your overall health.