If you’re looking for a brighter smile, now is a great time to consider Teeth whitening in Oak Park IL! There are many benefits to getting your teeth whitened, but if you’ve never undergone the process, you may be curious how it works. The truth is, whitening your teeth is a simple, affordable procedure that preserves one of your greatest assets: your smile!
While methods to preserve people’s teeth have been around for thousands of years, modern approaches to teeth whitening by dental professionals emerged in the 1980’s. Initially, peroxide being used to address gum issues revealed an unintended consequence: whiter teeth! Seeing the market potential encouraged many dental professionals to refine a “whitening procedure” that could achieve results without side effects. Today, an improved peroxide application is still used to whiten teeth in most take-home and in-office procedures.
Most people start to consider Teeth whitening in Oak Park IL when they discover a noticeable change in the tone of their teeth. This is a normal development as teeth get older. The outer layer of a tooth is called enamel, which covers a secondary layer known as dentin. The dentin color is what is most visible when light shines on your teeth. While many people talk about yellowed teeth, aging dentin can show up gray, brown, or even black.
People whose teeth have lost their whiteness due to dentin color shifts are great candidates for Teeth whitening in Oak Park IL. However, there are many other circumstances that will limit the positive effects of whitening. Any past major work on a tooth, including veneers and white fillings, diminishes the impact of teeth whitening. Additionally, teeth that have undergone root canals may see limited changes. All of these factors should be considered before undergoing any kind of whitening.
Today’s consumers are faced with two primary options to achieve teeth whitening. Take-home options include simple “pens” that you color on as well as more sophisticated gels that are applied by using a mouth guard. Even basic toothpastes are boasting “whitening” potential for consumers. The other option is to go to a general or cosmetic dental office that does in-office bleaching. Many people prefer this method because a professional is administering the application from start to finish. While the increased market suggests very few side effects from teeth whitening, some people do report short-term pain and gum irritation.
A recent report showed that Americans spend nearly $1.4 billion annually on whitening their teeth! As any great smile will tell you, there are wonderful benefits to Teeth whitening in Oak Park IL!
