Frequently Asked Questions

Cosmetic Dentistry

What is bleaching?:

Teeth will naturally darken over time, but they will also darken or become stained from coffee, tea, or smoking. The most effective whitening products are those used by a dentist. Many over-the-counter products are available, and depending on your teeth, these products can make an improvement, but they are not as strong and may take longer.

Professional in-home teeth whitening procedures use a similar bleaching gel, but it is placed into a custom-made tray that fits over your teeth. To make the trays, impressions are taken of your teeth. The trays are thin and cover only your teeth, in order to protect the gums from the gel. The trays are worn one to two hours a day for about two weeks, or until you are satisfied with the result. Over time, you can give your teeth a whitening “boost” once a month or so to maintain them.

What are porcelain veneers?:

Porcelain veneers are designed to cover the front surface of the teeth. They are custom-made, very thin, translucent, and natural-looking. To construct porcelain veneers, the teeth are prepared by removing a small amount of the outer surface of enamel. This allows for the porcelain veneers to fit against the teeth and just below the gumline without being bulky.