A bright smile can be one of your most attractive assets. A youthful, healthy-looking smile can help you feel more confident in social, romantic, and even professional situations. Dr. Amini, our San Francisco teeth whitening expert, along with other associate dentists at CitiDent, offer several options including laser-assisted teeth whitening to give you the whitest smile possible.
The most common causes of discolored teeth are extrinsic or external factors. These can include regular consumption of coffee, nicotine, wine, soft drinks, energy drinks, and tea. The aging process can also leave teeth looking dull and discolored. Teeth whitening is extremely effective for these types of stains. Dr. Amini, our expert in teeth whitening in San Francisco, and other associate dentists at CitiDent, can make specific recommendations for your individual whitening needs.
Teeth Whitening San Francisco
Our San Francisco teeth whitening experts at CitiDent offer several options, including at-home bleaching products, Zoom whitening, and laser whitening.
At-home whitening systems combine customized mouth trays that fit the contours of your mouth and use a powerful bleaching agent to whiten teeth. Professional at-home whitening systems are more powerful than over-the-counter versions, and their customized fit ensures maximum contact between the teeth and whitening gel. This ensures that you will get the most out of every whitening treatment. Most people begin to see results in just a few days, but maximum results may take longer to develop.
Zoom whitening and laser teeth whitening are performed in our office. They use prescription-strength bleaching gels that are applied directly to the teeth. The Zoom gel is then activated by the Zoom light while the laser system uses a special blend of whitening gels that are activated by a laser. Both processes are extremely fast and offer dramatic results in a single appointment with our San Francisco cosmetic dentist at CitiDent.
Laser Teeth Whitening
First, it’s very important to understand that not all in-office whitening systems actually utilize a laser. Although many systems utilize light, they do not use laser light. Laser energy is absorbed by special particles in the whitening gel to activate the hydrogen peroxide, which accelerates the whitening process faster than “simple” light does, so the procedure time is dramatically shorter. The US Food and Drug Administration first gave clearance for an in-office laser whitening system almost ten years ago.
The results are immediate. Patients who’ve never had in-office whitening before can’t believe how good their new smile looks before even getting out of the dental chair.
A concern that some doctors have had with in-office whitening is patient sensitivity. But with laser whitening, my patients have experienced little to no sensitivity.
Because of the unique properties of the laser, the gel-to-tooth contact time is about half as long as other in-office whitening systems that use a similar concentration of hydrogen peroxide gel. Less contact time results in less sensitivity.
When the laser shines on the teeth, patients experience a warm sensation, but it is not painful or discomforting. The laser shines on the teeth for only short, 30-second intervals, compared to other light-based in-office whitening systems that shine a heat-producing lamp for several minutes at a time.
Teeth whitening is easier than ever thanks to new EzLase, a diode laser made by Biolase. Compared to both over-the-counter whitening products and other professional whitening procedures, EzLase is faster at giving patients the results they want. Several shades of whiteness can be obtained in a simple 20-minute session using this process. Here is more about this modern cosmetic option from our San Francisco laser teeth whitening dentists at CitiDent.
Patients who visit our experts in laser teeth whitening in San Francisco at CitiDent enjoy a variety of benefits in the administration of the process as well as the product itself. With specific training in the use of the EzLase system, our CitiDent dentists are prepared to offer patients the best possible results. Unlike other professional whitening procedures, which may necessitate measures to prevent tooth sensitivity, EzLase naturally leaves teeth in excellent condition after whitening them.
Maintaining Your Smile
After completing any whitening treatment, you can keep your teeth looking their best longer with a few basic changes. Limit your exposure to staining substances, rinse with water after drinking staining beverages or eating staining foods, and practice good dental hygiene. Contact our office today to learn more about getting the smile that you have always wanted or to schedule your appointment with one of our experts in teeth whitening in San Francisco.
