Refresh Your Smile With Professional Teeth Whitening
A brighter smile can make a noticeable difference in your appearance and confidence. At Valley Family Dentistry in Livermore, CA, professional teeth whitening offers a convenient way to lighten stains and discoloration on natural teeth. Whitening treatment can address common concerns such as yellow or brown staining, discoloration from certain medications, and changes in tooth color caused by normal wear over time.
Valley Family Dentistry offers Opalescence professional whitening options, including in-office whitening and take-home treatments. Depending on your smile goals, the condition of your teeth, and the level of whitening desired, treatment can be tailored to provide a more even, controlled result than many over-the-counter whitening products.
Schedule a Teeth Whitening ConsultationWhat Can Cause Tooth Discoloration?
Teeth can become darker or develop noticeable stains for several reasons. Common causes include:
- Coffee, tea, wine, and other staining foods and beverages
- Tobacco use
- Normal changes to tooth enamel over time
- Certain medications, including tetracycline
- Fluorosis or excessive fluoride exposure during tooth development
- Yellow or brown surface discoloration
Professional whitening is designed to lighten natural tooth enamel. Existing crowns, fillings, and other restorations do not whiten in the same way as natural teeth, so their appearance may need to be considered when planning treatment.
Whitening Options for Different Smile Goals
Valley Family Dentistry provides several Opalescence whitening options. Opalescence Boost is an in-office whitening treatment using a 40% hydrogen peroxide gel, while take-home options include Opalescence Go trays and Opalescence whitening gel used with customized trays.
The appropriate option depends on factors such as the existing shade of your teeth, the type of staining present, your desired level of whitening, and whether you prefer treatment completed in the dental office or at home.
How Professional Teeth Whitening Works
The exact whitening experience depends on whether you choose in-office or take-home treatment. Valley Family Dentistry offers multiple Opalescence options, allowing treatment to be selected according to your whitening needs and goals.
Start With a Smile Evaluation
Before whitening, the condition and appearance of your teeth can be evaluated to determine whether professional whitening is appropriate. Existing dental restorations should also be considered because crowns and fillings do not whiten like natural enamel.
Select Your Whitening Treatment
For patients seeking in-office whitening, Opalescence Boost uses a 40% hydrogen peroxide gel. The practice’s current whitening information describes three to four 15-minute treatment cycles, followed by a take-home whitening kit.
For take-home whitening, options include Opalescence Go, which consists of prefilled trays worn for approximately 15–20 minutes over 5–10 days, or Opalescence whitening gel used with customized trays.
Follow the Recommended Whitening Schedule
Take-home whitening should be used according to the treatment instructions provided by Valley Family Dentistry. Depending on the whitening system and desired result, treatment may involve short daily applications over a period of several days or longer.
Maintain Your Brighter Smile
Teeth whitening is not permanent. The longevity of your results depends partly on your habits and exposure to staining foods, beverages, and tobacco. Occasional touch-up treatment may be appropriate as your smile naturally develops new discoloration over time.
What Are the Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening can be a simple cosmetic treatment for patients who want to improve the appearance of their natural smile without undergoing restorative treatment.
- Brightens Common Stains and Discoloration: Whitening treatment can help lighten yellow or brown discoloration and other stains that develop over time. Treatment can also address certain types of discoloration associated with medications or fluorosis.
- Choose In-Office or Take-Home Whitening: Patients can choose between professional whitening options based on their preferences and treatment needs. In-office Opalescence Boost provides a concentrated whitening treatment, while take-home options allow whitening to be incorporated into a patient’s routine.
- Designed for Natural Teeth: Professional whitening focuses on changing the color of natural tooth enamel. This makes an evaluation important before treatment, particularly for patients who have crowns, fillings, veneers, or other visible dental restorations.
- A Non-Invasive Cosmetic Treatment: Teeth whitening does not require removing tooth structure or placing a dental restoration. It is a cosmetic treatment intended to enhance the appearance of natural teeth.
Experiencing Tooth Sensitivity After Teeth Whitening
Some patients experience temporary tooth sensitivity while whitening their teeth. Sensitivity can occur during bleaching and typically subsides after treatment is stopped.
It is also important to understand that whitening does not change the color of existing crowns, fillings, or other restorations. If visible restorations are significantly different in shade from the newly whitened natural teeth, replacement may be considered after bleaching so the restorations can better match the new tooth color.
Ready for a Brighter Smile?
Professional teeth whitening can help refresh the appearance of your smile by reducing common stains and discoloration. Valley Family Dentistry offers in-office and take-home Opalescence whitening options in Livermore, CA, so treatment can be selected around your smile goals and preferences.
Schedule Your VisitFrequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening uses a peroxide-based whitening agent to lighten the color of natural tooth enamel. Valley Family Dentistry offers Opalescence whitening options, including in-office and take-home treatments.
The amount of whitening varies from patient to patient and depends on the original tooth shade, type of staining, and whitening system used. During a consultation, Valley Family Dentistry can discuss realistic expectations based on your teeth and smile goals.
Professional teeth whitening is a commonly used cosmetic dental treatment when performed according to appropriate instructions. Some patients may experience temporary tooth sensitivity during whitening, which generally subsides after treatment is stopped.
Treatment time depends on the whitening option selected. The practice’s in-office Opalescence Boost treatment is performed in three to four 15-minute cycles. Take-home Opalescence Go trays are worn for approximately 15–20 minutes over 5–10 days.
No. Teeth whitening changes the color of natural tooth enamel but does not whiten existing crowns, fillings, or similar restorations. If visible restorations no longer match after whitening, they may need to be replaced to coordinate with the new tooth shade.
Teeth whitening results are not permanent. New staining can develop over time, particularly with frequent consumption of coffee, tea, wine, tobacco, or other staining substances. Periodic touch-ups may help maintain a brighter smile.
Yes. Valley Family Dentistry offers professional take-home Opalescence whitening options. These include Opalescence Go prefilled trays and Opalescence whitening gel designed for use with customized trays.
Professional whitening is most appropriate for patients who want to lighten the color of their natural teeth and have realistic expectations about the results. An evaluation can help determine whether whitening is appropriate and identify restorations or other dental concerns that should be addressed first.