The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston performs teeth whitening procedures that can restore your smile to the vibrancy and freshness of pure youth.  You do not have to be old to need this service, either.  Teeth naturally darken over time from foods we eat, things like coffee that we drink, and a wide variety of medications we take.  As we approach mid-life, aging takes its toll as well.  However, this is not irreversible.  With cosmetic dental bleaching, we can recreate the original natural beauty of your teeth, safely and painlessly. 

There are many ways that people in Houston can either whiten their own teeth or have their teeth whitened.  Some involve do-it-yourself methods, such as the over-the-counter bleach (ex: Crest White Strips, Colgate, Rembrandt, etc.).  Others require professional services from a Houston cosmetic dentist.   

All tooth whitening methods work to some degree.  However, professional teeth whitening produces the very best results.  At The Houston Medical Center Dental Group, we have discovered that a combination of in-office power bleaching and at-home bleaching gives the best results.

Unfortunately, not everyone is a candidate for cosmetic dental bleaching. Power bleach will whiten natural teeth, but it will not change the color of that you already have. These restorations may have to be replaced after whitening.

Many people also suffer from cold sensitivity related to gum recession. Normally, we can work around this by covering the exposed surfaces of the tooth root before bleaching.  We can also premedicate the area with anti-inflammatory medication to reduce sensitivity.  .

Teeth whitening is so effective because we do it incrementally over a two week period.  There is an initial two hour visit to our Houston office, where we initially lighten the teeth and take impressions to make customized trays for your at-home treatment.

Over the next two weeks, every night for a prescribed period of time, you apply a home bleaching agent to your teeth using the trays we make for you.  We ask that you avoid eating any dark foods or drinking anything that could stain your teeth.  Smoking is something you should avoid as well.

After you have finished the two week program at home, you then return to our Houston Medical Center Office for a second round of professional teeth whitening services.  We use a special process that not only lightens your teeth back to their normal condition, but also seals them so they will not stain again so easily. 

The American Dental Association has approved tooth bleaching as a safe procedure that will not harm you.  There will be some sensitivity, however, after your treatment.  Persons under twenty years of age tend to feel more sensitivity because the nerve chambers under their teeth are larger.  We recommend younger people at this age use over the counter products.  Call our office to see which products are the safest and best ones to use. 

Pregnant women should not undergo tooth bleaching.

Tooth whitening produces different results for different people.  Every persons teeth respond to bleaching differently.  People with very light teeth cannot expect them to lighten as much as someone with very dark teeth.  Success with the process also depends on the level of patient cooperation.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont Midland and Houston, Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth OSullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services. 

For any other questions related to cosmetic dentistry, you can Contact Us at 713.795.5905, visit our Dental Blog or Ask the Dentist