Teeth Whitening in Pacific Beach
White teeth are an important part of a beautiful smile, and your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you are unhappy with stained or discolored teeth, Dr. Ricardo Hernandez of Pacific Beach Smile Studio can help. He offers in-office teeth whitening treatment to lighten teeth and give them a beautiful movie star-like quality. A safe and effective procedure, teeth whitening is a great option if you have an upcoming special occasion or you simply dislike the color of your teeth. Treatment can be performed in our Pacific Beach dental office and in the comfort of your own home. Dr. Hernandez can recommend the best approach for you based on your preferences, your goals and your unique needs.
Brighter, Whiter Teeth
Teeth whitening involves using a bleaching agent to lift stains and correct discoloration. Stains and discoloration may be the result of consuming lots of coffee, tea or wine, using certain medications (e.g., tetracycline) or simply the effects of aging on the teeth. Dr. Hernandez’s goal is to lighten the teeth to a more desirable color for a noticeably more beautiful smile. This can often be achieved through a single in-office whitening session; some patients choose to follow up their in-office treatment with at-home maintenance.
In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatment Details
In-office teeth whitening is quick, convenient and comfortable. The advantage to having a professional cosmetic dentist lighten your teeth is that they can control the power of the bleaching agent; this is especially important for people that have unusually sensitive teeth and are concerned about discomfort during the bleaching process.
Your teeth will be cleaned in preparation for treatment, and examined for any possible problems that could adversely affect the bleaching process. A cheek retractor will be placed to expose your teeth, and special resin is applied to your gums to protect them from the bleaching gel. The gel will be applied to your teeth to coat them, and left on for 20 to 30 minutes before it is removed. This process may be repeated several times. In between applications, your teeth will be examined to determine whether they need another application. Once the desired results have been achieved, the resin and cheek retractors will be removed and the shade of your teeth will be measured.
In some cases, Dr. Hernandez chooses to use the GLO™ teeth whitening system. Treatment with GLO™ is similar to traditional teeth whitening. The only difference is that after the bleaching gel is applied to the teeth, it is activated with a specialized blue light. GLO™ treatment takes about an hour. Before and after photographs are taken to evaluate the results.
At-Home Maintenance
Every patient is different. Some respond perfectly to the first in-office whitening treatment, whereas others may wish to continue whitening using at-home professional-grade whitening gel. Dr. Hernandez provides the gel as well as specific instructions for use.
At-home whitening helps many people maintain their newly brightened smile from exposure to substances like red wine, soda, coffee, tea and fruit juice. Periodic whitening touch-ups can help the teeth retain their dazzling quality.
Make your first impression a memorable one with a beautifully white smile. For more information about in-office teeth whitening and the GLO™ system, please contact Pacific Beach Smile Studio today by calling 858-272-6047. A member of our friendly team would be happy to schedule a whitening appointment for you with Dr. Hernandez.