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As per a survey conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, positive first impressions all come down to the power of an attractive smile! It’s no surprise, then, that 50 percent of all dental treatments are intended to improve a smile.

Today’s busy patients often need their teeth to improve as quickly as possible. At Alon Dental Care, we frequently provide renewed, beautiful smiles in only one appointment.

Dr. Kevin Sandefer and his team at Alon Dental Care are able to provide a variety of cosmetic dental treatments, including teeth whitening options. Our dental office is also able to provide custom trays and teeth-whitening solutions with instructions that can be used for home treatment. This is an excellent option for patients looking for a more cost-effective option.

Alon Dental Care is also able to offer veneer options for those stubborn stains. Learn more about the type of teeth whitening services we are able to provide below.

Why Do I Need Teeth Whitening?

Patients should be aware that discoloration does not mean you have “bad” teeth. Even the most diligent individual can suffer from stains but still have strong, healthy teeth.

Individuals from all walks of life choose teeth whitening for a number of reasons. Whether it’s because of a major social event taking place or simply the desire to improve the appearance of their teeth, teeth whitening can greatly improve your quality of life.

Some of the reasons teeth become stained, and why you may need to undergo a teeth whitening procedure, include:

  • Age-related discoloration
  • Trauma to developing or permanent teeth
  • Use of tobacco/smoking
  • Consumption of stain-causing dark drinks such as coffee, sodas, black tea, red wine, etc.
  • Consumption of foods that can cause stains
  • Overexposure to fluoride in early childhood
  • Certain medications can cause stains

“Instant whitening” is a quick and powerful in-office bleaching treatment our San Antonio dentist regularly provides patients, along with a few more options designed to improve the appearance of your smile as well.

Three Fantastic Options For Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening, also known as bleaching, is a common procedure patients often undergo in order to obtain the smile they want. At Alon Dental Care, we are more than happy to provide three amazing treatment options so that you can smile brightly without any hesitation. Each of our options has its own distinct advantage and our team can provide in-depth guidance on which option may be best for you.

  1. SAPPHIRE IN-OFFICE WHITENING
    For patients who want (or who are in need) of a teeth whitening solution in a single session, then chair-side bleaching is the perfect option. At Alon Dental Care, we offer a powerful new light treatment known as Sapphire, which, when combined with conventional bleaching gels, greatly accelerates and accentuates the bleaching process.

    Sapphire is safe and effective for oral tissues, and all patients generally feel is a slight rise in temperature as the Sapphire light emits some heat during the process. A special light-cured plastic covering is used to cover gum tissues during the process, which helps to prevent minor irritation from the application of bleaching gels. In about 90 minutes, the Sapphire bleaching technique will produce a significantly brighter smile that you will love to show off.

    For maximum results, bleaching treatments at Alon Dental often include custom made trays for followup treatments at home. When two different concentrations of bleaching gels are combined, the results are improved than when using one gel alone.

    Using these trays, over the course of a week, can stabilize and enhance the chair-side experience, giving you a dazzling smile.

  2. CUSTOM TRAY BLEACHING
    Custom tray bleaching is exactly what it sounds like. Our experienced San Antonio dentist will take impressions of your teeth and then utilize those to create custom trays that can be taken home with you. When used responsibly and as intended over the course of 2 weeks, your pearly whites will brighten significantly.

    This is an excellent cost-effective solution for those who prefer treatment at home within a short period of time.

    Custom tray bleaching will give you the same results as chair-side bleaching, although the process does require additional time and effort.

  3. OPALESCENCE TRESWHITE® SUPREME
    Many patients have heard of – and even tried – bleaching strips. While these can potentially be effective, they can be difficult to use and keep in place.

    Thankfully, these store-bought whitening strips are not your only option.

    Opalescence Treswhite® Supreme is the simple, economical way of replacing those pesky “whitening” strips. These are not custom trays but “one-size-fits-all” trays pre-filled with a high-grade whitening gel.

    Safe, cost-effective, and easy to use, you can’t go wrong with this option. Contact our San Antonio dental office to learn more about this affordable way to lighten your teeth.

What are bleaching gels?

While some customers are aware of teeth whitening services, they may not fully understand what whitening/bleaching gel is and how it works.

The whitening gel or “agent” simply does what OxiClean® does to your clothes. It provides free oxygen radicals that act on the surface of the tooth to clean out the small “pores and irregularities” located within the enamel. When using a gel, surface stains from the foods we eat, drinks we drink, and from habits like smoking are dissolved from the surface of the tooth – and voila – the tooth becomes lighter.

So, how is this accomplished? A special concentration of hydrogen peroxide, approved for gum and tooth application, is combined with solidifying agents to create a hydrogen peroxide gel that works quickly, effectively, and stays where you place it. Some gels have additional ingredients added to minimize the development of tooth sensitivity that many have experienced in the past.

Maintaining a Gorgeously White Smile

Because of lifestyles, diet, and a number of other habits, it may be necessary for patients to undergo a teeth whitening procedure after some time. The more stain-causing colorants you use over time, the sooner you will need to do another round of teeth whitening to keep your smile that bright shade you want it at.

Of course, there are a number of steps you can take to best protect your smile, including:

  • Avoid drinking tooth-staining beverages like coffee and wine.
  • If you are going to drink dark-colored beverages, sip them through a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.
  • Brush and floss daily.
  • Stop using tobacco products.

Although bleaching can whiten tooth surfaces, bleaching can’t change the natural color of your original tooth structure. For those seeking permanent bleaching, more intensive treatment may be needed – and is available at Alon Dental Care.

Veneers of ceramic or composite material can be applied to permanently whiten teeth. This application is called permanent bleaching because porcelain doesn’t stain as quickly as teeth and is easily cleaned and polished during a routine dental appointment. With veneers, it is no longer necessary to go through the hassle of repeated, expensive bleaching treatments.

Bleaching your teeth is an easy way to get the kind of smile that makes a great first impression. Love the smile you have by visiting Alon Dental Care today