Pages

Monday, June 2, 2014

Safe Teeth Whitening: Advice From a Trusted Cosmetic Dentist in Mountain View

Dental treatments and procedures can do much more than simply promoting oral health; many are all about making teeth aesthetically pleasing. People have many reasons for choosing cosmetic dental procedures and, at this season, thousands of teenagers and their families are prepping for the upcoming prom season with tooth whitening treatments, as the WNCN article below reports.




One point that can’t be emphasized enough is that all teeth whitening solutions are not the same. The available solutions may not be appropriate for everyone, even in areas like California, where cosmetic dental practices abound.

Dr. Santa Arteaga, quoted in the article, told Eyewitness News that it's important for children to wait until the inner layer of their teeth, the pulp, is fully developed before entertaining the idea of whitening. The only way to know when the teeth are ready for whitening is by consulting a dentist.

That’s because a dental professional can identify from x-rays where the teen’s pulp tissue is. This allows the dentist to give recommendations on whether the whitening is likely to cause a lot of sensitivity.  Dr. Arteaga added that, for his patients, he "would never recommend" teeth whitening before puberty.

This is great advice.  Even if the end goal for teeth whitening is of aesthetic in nature, it still has an effect on the health of the teeth, as well as on the appearance.  With that in mind, it is imperative to consult a reputable cosmetic dentist before using any form of teeth whitening product or signing up for a procedure, said Dr. Patrick F. McEvoy, a trusted cosmetic dentist in Mountain View.

Though teeth whitening may sound like a very simple, risk-free procedure, it’s not.  Multiple factors directly affect not only the success of the treatment but, more importantly, the safety of the patient. By talking to an experienced dentist, you will get an idea as to how severe the yellowing of your teeth is, and how it could be treated. Much-recommended, reputed Mountain View cosmetic dentistry practitioners like Dr. McEvoy usually perform a detailed initial examination to determine the proper approach to the problem.

If the patient is a candidate for the treatment, for optimum success they will create a mold for the upper and lower teeth in order to ensure a perfect fit for the teeth whitening plastic trays that will result in even whitening over the entire tooth area. The trays containing the whitening gel should be worn twice a day for a specific, recommended period of time, until the ideal results are achieved.  Even in adults, sensitivity can occur – so it’s important to work hand-in-hand with your trusted cosmetic dentist to prevent potential issues.

The advantage of consulting with a cosmetic dentist is that not only are your results more predictable, but questions and concerns, treatment options and procedures can all be addressed by with confidence and expertise. Tooth whitening takes time and persistence, and your cosmetic dentist will be your advisor, expert consultant, and cheerleader – especially important when your teen’s hopes for prom include beautiful smiles.

(Source: “Prom season can mean teeth whitening for teens,” WNCN.com, March 29, 2014)