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Home Whitening vs In-Office Treatments: Which is Better?

June 8, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

Home Whitening vs. In-Office Treatments: Which is Better? #Mukilteo WA Dentist

Overhead view of dental whitening trays and gel tubes on aged wood

One of the dilemmas most people face when they want to achieve a whiter smile is choosing between a do-it-yourself home whitening plan or a professional in-office treatment at the dentist’s. They often wonder which one is better so let’s look at the facts behind each option.

Strength:
• Home Whitening Treatments have an average of 3% peroxide levels so they require continual use over 2-4 weeks to achieve a whiter smile. Because of this, home treatments usually work best on mildly stained yellow teeth.

• Dentists have access to professional strength teeth whiteners with 15-43% peroxide levels meaning that you can have your teeth whiter in about 1 hour. In addition, dentist can use additional laser and light treatments that will zap out the worst of dark brown and grey stains.

Customization:
• Most home bleaching kits have a generic mouth piece as part of the whitening tray. Unfortunately this one size may not fit you very well since everyone has a different dental structure. This means that some of the bleaching agent could land on your gums and cause irritation.
• Your dentist can create a customized mouth piece just for you by taking an exact mold of your teeth. This provides a better fit and improves bleaching results

Protection:
• Home kits don’t usually come with protective products or tools so your gums and oral cavity is exposed to bleaching agents.
• With an in-office treatment, your dentist will apply a protective gel or install a rubber shield to protect your gums and oral cavity so that they don’t get affected by the bleaching agents

Cost:
• Home whitening kits are much more affordable, putting you back by no more than $50-60. They are definitely best for a gentle whitening plan but will not work for badly stained teeth.
• In-office treatments are more expensive with sessions costing $400-500. However they are the better option if you have very badly stained teeth that a home kit cannot get rid of.

For more information or setting up an appointment Call us at (425) 493-8111 and/or visit our website at http://www.HarbourPlaceDental.com

Five Ways to Prevent Tooth Discoloration

June 1, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

Here are 5 simple daily habits that can help you prevent or greatly reduce the chances of discoloring your pearly whites.

1. Rinse Out
Get into the practice of rinsing out your mouth with clear water after drinking or eating. This practice will help dislodge any particles that would stain your teeth. It is especially important to rinse out after consuming dark colas, red wines, coffee, tea and processed foods.

2. Use a Straw
Using a straw to drink liquids is one of the ways to prevent your teeth from getting discolored. When we drink the normal way without straws, the liquid comes into contact with a larger surface area of our teeth, whilst when we drink through a straw that contact is minimized. This therefore reduces the chances of discoloring your teeth.

3. Raw Vegetables and Fruits
You have heard the saying- “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” Well you can bet that it also keeps the dentist away too. Fresh and crisp fruits and vegetables are like natural toothbrushes and help to clean your teeth and mouth. So have a few bites of an apple, celery, carrot or pear after your meals or snacks and reduce the chances of your teeth yellowing.

4. Dental Visits
Paying regular visits to your dentist at least once every 6 months is a great way to catch any dental problems such as tooth discoloration in their infancy before they become a bigger issue. Your dentist will be able to examine your teeth and help you get treatment early.

5. Basic Dental Hygiene
One of the reasons so many people suffer from teeth stains is because they don’t observe basic dental hygiene that could save them heartache and dollars down the road. You ought to be brushing your teeth in the correct manner at least twice a day. Flossing your teeth and using a whitening mouthwash daily provide extra oral health benefits and guarantee a white smile.

Following these tips will normally help in preventing or minimizing teeth discoloration. For more information or consultation please do not hesitate to contact your friendly neighborhood dentists at Harbour Place Dental Mukilteo WA (425-493-8111).

Common FAQ About Teeth Whitening

May 28, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

Closeup of dentist examining young woman’s teeth

How long will my teeth remain white after treatment?

If your teeth are properly whitened, you should be able to maintain a pearly white smile for about 1 year before considering going for another touch up. However, it is important to avoid the root causes of teeth discoloration by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you want you teeth to stay white longer, then cut back on coffee, tea, dark wines, colas and colored processed foods. And whenever you do partake of these, remember to rinse out your mouth immediately with water, brush your teeth or eat a crunchy fruit or vegetable like an apple, celery stick or carrot stick.

How much does it cost?

Well, teeth whitening can be both cheap and expensive. It all depends on your budget, the condition of your teeth and what kind of results you want to get. Home kits and products can cost from $6-40, while a visit to your dentist for a whitening treatment can cost about $400-500 per session. Home kits are cheap but the results take time to see, while a dental visit can get you a pearly white smile in less than an hour and successfully whiten even the worst of dark stained teeth.

What are the best products to use?

There are lots of whitening products on the market and it’s often confusing on what’s best. Basically look for well-known brand name products and find out what other consumers are saying about their experience with the product. If in doubt, consult your dentist who will advise you on the best products for your teeth.

Do I need to visit my dentist or can I whiten my teeth at home?

Either option is alright but in certain cases, a trip to the dentist will do you well. If you have had dental problems in the past or have fillings, veneers, crowns or braces, then you definitely need to consult your dentist. Also if you have very dark brown stains or your tooth appears to be gray, then home treatments will not whiten your teeth much and you will need in-office treatment. Finally, the dentist route is best if you want quick results, but if you have the patience to wait things out, you can do it at home.

Will teeth whitening treatments damage my teeth?

If used correctly, no. Tests have shown that the 10% peroxide level doesn’t damage your teeth enamel or any dental work such as fillings or crowns. The only effects are tooth sensitivity which usually disappears after a few days.

When will I see results?

If you use home whitening products then you should see results after 2-4 weeks. If you choose a professional treatment at your dentist’s office, your teeth should be whiter in 45minutes to 1 hour. However if your teeth are badly stained, you may need to attend another teeth whitening session.

Come to Harbour Place Dental in Mukilteo with your questions and concerns and we will be happy to give you our best evaluation and advice.

Are Teeth Whitening Kits Safe?

May 23, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

Overhead view of dental whitening trays and gel tubes on aged wood

As with all commercially successful medical products, many people question whether teeth whitening kits are safe. Indeed, there have been questions such as:

• Have the national health authorities certified them as safe for human use?
• Do they have long-term risks such as cancer?
• Do they do your teeth more harm than good, stripping away the tooth enamel?
• Should they really be available to “uneducated” masses for home use or only used by licensed professionals?

Certification
The American Dental Association has approved a variety of professional bleaching products that are applied in-office by dentists or are dispensed by them for home-use. They don’t endorse over-the-counter bleaching products because the prefer people to seek professional advice for reasons of effectiveness and safety. However they have approved certain over-the-counter teeth whitening toothpastes. Though you may want to look out for products with the ADA seal, remember that just because a product does not have the seal, does not mean it is not safe or effective. This is because the process of manufacturers getting a seal from the ADA is voluntary.

With regards to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) certification, teeth whiteners are not classified as drug so the FDA has no say in their regulation.

Teeth Whitening Safety Tips

Do your research before purchasing a teeth whitening product. For example, look out for the ADA Seal of Acceptance; find out what other people are saying about the product in consumer groups, product reviews, testimonials etc. Try to look for objective information from a number of unbiased sources, instead of just the company’s marketing material.
Consult Your Dentist– this is really the first step that can save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run. Your dentist can recommend the best treatment plan based on your dental history and even create customized solutions for you such as a made-to-fit mouth piece.
Go with Trusted Brands– if you are in your local store and really want to purchase a teeth whitening product, stick to one from a trusted brand that has a long history in oral care and has a wide range of oral care products. You definitely don’t want to choose a product from a company no-one has ever heard about.
Follow the Directions – to really be on the safe side, you want to follow the directions for use exactly as described in the instructions. In this way, you will achieve the desired results without any nasty consequences as compared to using short-cuts.

For any questions call us or make an appointment for a friendly consultation. At Harbour Place Dental in Mukilteo WA we will be very happy to discuss various options with you.

Three Tips To A Successful Teeth Whitening Program

May 21, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

Here are 3 tips to ensure you have a successful teeth whitening program:

1. Consult a Dentist

The number one tip is to first consult your dentist before engaging in a treatment plan. Although it’s easy and cheap to use home whitening kits, a trip to the dentist could save you problems and money in the long run. He can:

Recommend the best DIY Whitening Kits
Advice you how to whiten your teeth if you have veneers, fillings and crowns.
Advice you if you need a professional in-office treatment, especially if you have dark stains or need immediate results
Treat any gum inflammation or tooth sensitivity issues that are a common problem with teeth whitening procedures.
He can prepare a special home-whitening kit just for you that have a custom-made tooth mold.

2. Use Gentle Products

If you decide to use home whitening kits, then it is best to choose a gentle product. Even though they may take several weeks to take effect, you will have fewer problems with inflamed gums and sensitive teeth. In addition, use the products in the recommended manner. For example, if the instructions tell you to place the whitening strips on your teeth for 30 minutes just follow the directions and don’t think you will whiten your teeth better by leaving them on for 3 hours or overnight. The wrong application of these products will only leave you in pain and you will regret the experience.

3. Avoid Overuse

It is easy to become obsessed with a whiter smile and continually use whitening products even after your teeth have changed color. If you have used a product and it has achieved its results within the recommended time frame, then stop using the product. Excessive use of teeth whiteners strips away the delicate tooth enamel and causes painful tooth sensitivity that makes eating or drinking hot or cold foods and drinks a nightmare.

If you have any questions call us or make an appointment for a friendly consultation. We will be very happy to discuss various options with you.

For more information or make an appointment contact us at (425) 493-8111 or contact us through our website www.HarbourPlaceDental.com

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Cosmetic Dentistry for That Gorgeous Winning Smile

April 29, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

Making cosmetic dentistry work for you is not as simple as it may sound, especially if it is the first time that you are going to get one. More likely, you don’t know which cosmetic dentistry procedure might suit well for your specific needs. If you don’t know where to find the most ideal and qualified cosmetic dentist, it is important that you have a cosmetic dentistry guide in order that you don’t end up with a less than qualified one and mess up your smile even more.

Getting the right cosmetic dentist will not only give you a beautiful smile but a sure value to your money. You don’t want to spend more money than you should for getting that winning smile. Following guide should help you find the right dentist for you.

• When searching for the right cosmetic dentist, look for one who listens to your needs. A good dentist listens intently and then offers viable solutions for your specific needs. He/she will offer detailed explanations of the appropriate procedures and discuss with you risks and benefits of each long before the procedure is actually performed. So it is important that you are prepared to discuss your needs to improve your teeth and your smile. Tell the dentist exactly what it is that you want. Discuss the problem you have been encountering in getting and feeling that perfect smile you so desire. Expressing all your concerns is the best start to finding that great solution with the help of your dentist.

• After discussing with the dentist, it will be helpful to ask see some before and after photos of other patients.

• Don’t be shy to ask for references. Qualified or accomplished dentist will not hesitate to give you one or two consenting clients who already received benefits of the same treatment you are about to get from him. You can also look for unsolicited reviews on the internet.

• You can ask the cosmetic dentist about technology he/she uses as well as special training he/she has obtained.

• If the dentist is good at his practice, he should know and be prepared with the treatment options that are available for your specific case. He/she should also be ready to give you a detailed explanation of said treatments, as well as their respective price breakdown.

• Although some might think it as a minor thing, it is important that you find a cosmetic dentist who will match with your personality. This is important because you want a dentist whom you can well relate with. It will be easier for you to tell him/her all your and troubles and feelings that accompany a sense of not having a perfect smile and teeth. It will help your cosmetic dentist to find that perfect treatment for you.

At Harbour Place Dental of Mukilteo WA we strive to be patient, understanding and thorough to make and feel our patients at ease that helps greatly in performing the procedures smoothly as well as trouble free recovery. We strive to give that confidence of a beautiful smile back to our patients.

Blog

April 29, 2015 By HarbourPLaceDental

Thank you for visiting us at Harbour Place Dental. We are a general dental practice that serves all ages and provides a wide range of services to restore and enhance your well being. Our warm and caring staff is dedicated to providing great treatment and a positive experience. It is our goal to treat each patient’s individual needs with excellence, care and compassion. We continually update our training to stay informed of the latest materials and treatment options available for our patients.
It is our pleasure to serve you and offer information and tips that we hope will be of benefit and interest to you.

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