Do you wish that you could have a beautiful white smile? Are your teeth stained from years of coffee drinking, smoking, or general wear and tear? Are you looking for an easy way to make a big difference in your smile? Then teeth whitening may be a great cosmetic dental option for you! At Oak Grove Dental Center, Dr. Kevin Speer offers his patients Sapphire Whitening, which is a highly effective teeth whitening system called Lumibrite by DenMat®. Lumbrite is a bleach-free whitening treatment that whitens the front teeth and is available in shades of natural, white, and supreme white. Lumibrite sapphire Whitening achieves maximal results in minimal time with minimal sensitivity.
Did You Know?
Tooth staining can have a variety of causes. Some natural causes of tooth stains are aging and genetics. Other causes of tooth staining include consuming highly pigmented foods or beverages, smoking, and antibiotics containing tetracycline.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a candidate for sapphire whitening at Oak Grove Dental Center?
You may be a candidate for sapphire whitening if you have stained, but otherwise healthy teeth. You may also be a candidate for sapphire whitening if you are planning other cosmetic dental procedures that require a color match to your existing teeth. Dental restorations will not respond to teeth whitening procedures, so it is best to have your teeth whitened prior to receiving any restorations.
Keep in mind that teeth will cracks or cavities will also need to be restored prior to undergoing whitening treatment. Also, Lumibrite sapphire whitening is not advisable for children under the age of 12 or for women who are pregnant or nursing. To find out if sapphire whitening is the right whitening treatment for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Speer of Oak Grove Dental Center today!
What should I expect from sapphire whitening at Oak Grove Dental Center?
To begin your teeth whitening appointment, Dr. Speer will clean your teeth to remove any tartar, plaque, bacteria, or other debris. This prepares the surface of your teeth so that the whitening agents can be applied evenly. Then your current tooth shade will be document and your whitening goals will be discussed using a shade guide. To protect the soft tissues of your mouth, your lips and gums will be isolated from the teeth. Then a desensitizing enhancer will be applied to your teeth and left for one minute to set. This desensitizing enhancer will reduce possible tooth sensitivity during and after the whitening procedure.
Once your teeth are prepared, the whitening gel is brushed onto the surface of your teeth and cured using a sapphire plasma arc curing and whitening light. You will likely be given protective eye wear when the light is being used. This whitening gel will remain in place for about 30 minutes and then be rinsed. Depending on your current tooth shade and whitening goals, another 30 minute session may be required.
Following your in-office whitening treatment, you may also be given a take-home whitening kit. Sometimes the at-home whitening kit is also used as an alternative to the in-office treatment. For the take-home kit, Dr. Speer will take a dental impression of your mouth to fabricate customized trays. You will fill these trays with the whitening gel and leave them on as directed. The take-home whitening kits have different concentrations. The 32% formula requires wearing the trays for three minutes a day for two weeks. The 16% and 22% formulas require wearing 1-2 treatments 1-2 hours per day for two weeks.
What can I expect after sapphire whitening at Oak Grove Dental Center?
After your teeth whitening procedure, you will want to maintain the color of your new smile by avoiding highly pigmented food and beverages such as red sauces, mustard, ketchup, soy sauce, tea, coffee, dark sodas, and red wine. This is especially important in the first 24 hours following your treatment. You will also want to avoid smoking or using tobacco products. You may also notice some tooth sensitivity after your teeth whitening procedure. This is normal and should fade within 24-72 hours after your procedure.
Is sapphire teeth whitening safe?
Sapphire teeth whitening gel is made from carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, which are both similar to the chemical composition of water. Because they are so close to water, sapphire teeth whitening is considered to be a safe dental treatment. Additionally, the sapphire plasma arc curing light does not use UV radiation and is also considered safe when used with protective eye wear.
How long will the effects of sapphire whitening last?
The effects of sapphire whitening are not meant to be a permanent solution to discoloration and will last about six months with good oral hygiene. To keep your teeth whiter for longer, be sure to brush twice daily, floss once daily, and visit Oat Grove Dental Center for your professional teeth cleaning every six months. You will also want to limit the amount of highly pigmented food and beverages you consume, or be sure to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth immediately after.
Will sapphire whitening work on fillings or dental crowns?
Because sapphire whitening only works on natural tooth surfaces, it will not work on dental fillings or dental crowns. This means that any dental restorations you have will remain their normal color while the tooth structure around them lightens. This can create an effect called technicolor teeth. To avoid technicolor teeth, teeth whitening should be done before placing restorations. Another option is to have your restorations replaced after teeth whitening. However, depending on the location of your restoration, it may not be immediately noticeable and therefore not an issue.
How much does sapphire whitening cost?
Sapphire whitening generally ranges from $400-$500. Unfortunately most dental insurance companies do not cover whitening procedures. However, Oak Grove Dental Center does offer financing options to fund your sapphire whitening treatment.
At Oak Grove Dental Center, we believe that providing high quality dentistry is only part of creating a successful relationship with our patients. To experience some of the best dental care in Milwaukie, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kevin H. Speer today!
