Here’s to hoping that your special event this summer in the San Diego area has not been canceled because of COVID-19. And if it’s going forward, you’re going to want to get your smile looking the best it can be. This might include a cosmetic dentistry procedure like teeth whitening.
One of the benefits of teeth whitening is that it can be done very fast. With Zoom! teeth whitening, you can have a dramatically brighter smile in under an hour. That way you could potentially have the procedure done the day before or even the day of your event.
However, there are good reasons not to wait that long when getting teeth whitening.
Your Stains Might Be Stubborn
Teeth whitening is a powerful procedure, and it can remove most stains from the surface of your teeth. However, it doesn’t always remove all the stains. If your teeth are badly stained, your results might not be as bright as you want after a one-hour whitening session.
If that’s the case, you have options. We offer a powerful daily teeth whitening system that you can use at home to improve and maintain your results from an in-office whitening. But this can take time. It may take six weeks to achieve maximum whiteness with an at-home system.
Especially if you’ve never had your teeth whitened before, it’s a good idea to get it done several weeks before your event so you can achieve the white smile you desire.
Discoloration Might Not Be Stains
Teeth whitening works by removing stains from your teeth. But stains aren’t the only reason why teeth get discolored. Sometimes tooth discoloration comes from within the tooth. This could be due to defects in the enamel such as those caused by dental fluorosis or it might be caused by thin enamel letting the dark-colored inner layers of the tooth show through. In some cases, discoloration might even be from tooth decay or even an infected tooth.
If your problem is something other than stains, you might need different treatment, such as fillings, veneers, or even root canal therapy to address the cause of discoloration.
Whitening Might Reveal Other Problems
If your teeth are badly discolored, that might be the only problem you notice about your smile. But once you remove the stains, you might notice other problems.
We see this all the time. People realize that their teeth weren’t just discolored, they might also be a little crooked. Or maybe they’re a little small, which is part of the reason why their smile doesn’t seem as bright as it should.
If you notice other problems related to your smile, it’s good to have time to address those problems before your big event. Veneers are a great solution to most cosmetic concerns that might crop up at this stage, and they can usually be completed within a few weeks. Doing whitening a few weeks before your event will give us the time we need to pursue plan B.
Safe Cosmetic Dentistry
Irresistible Smiles is now open for all types of dentistry, including cosmetic dentistry. We have implemented all recommended safety procedures to ensure it is safe for our patients to visit the office for even routine and elective procedures such as cosmetic dentistry. Plus, our new virtual consultation means that you can talk about cosmetic dentistry and have your smile evaluated without ever coming into the office.
