Teeth Whitening
Are you unhappy with tooth staining or discoloration that detracts from your beautiful smile?
Staining can occur for many reasons, including smoking or tobacco use. Your teeth can also become stained by certain foods and beverages, including red wine, coffee, and tomato sauce. The aging process is another factor that causes our teeth to take on a dull or yellowish appearance.
Fortunately, professional teeth whitening treatment at our dental office can eliminate tooth stains and provide brilliant results that give you a brighter, more youthful-looking facial appearance.
Many over-the-counter whitening treatments are available today; however, professional whitening is generally considered safer and more effective. Whitening trays in over-the-counter kits are “one size fits all,” which often results in an improper fit and less consistent results. Also, store-bought whitening gels can be too abrasive or leak because of ill-fitting trays, which leads to gum and soft tissue irritation.
For these reasons, we recommend that you consider professional teeth whitening treatment instead. The whitening options our dentist provides are an in-office treatment for fast, dramatic results or a customized tray and gel for at-home use.
In-Office Whitening
Your dentist will choose whitening gel in the appropriate strength for your case while accounting for your level of sensitivity and your whitening goals. We protect your gums and carefully apply the prescription-strength whitening gel to your teeth. We then clean off the gel, check the results, and repeat the process until we achieve your desired brightness level. The entire process takes about an hour.
At-Home Whitening
If you prefer to whiten your teeth at your convenience, our dentist will take impressions of your teeth to create custom whitening trays. We will also provide professional-strength whitening gel prescribed for your specific needs. Before you leave our dental office with your custom take-home whitening kit, we will give you instructions for using it safely.
After whitening for about two weeks at home, we recommend that you schedule a follow-up visit with our office to check on your progress.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Today is the perfect day to take your first step toward a brighter, whiter smile. Contact our cosmetic dentist today to learn more about our teeth whitening services.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your dentist recommends scaling and root planing (SRP), it means you have symptoms of gum disease or periodontal disease. Dental deep cleaning is necessary to stop the damaging effects of this disease.
We all have tiny, open spaces between our teeth and gums, which dentists call a sulcus. Bacteria, plaque, and calculus can build up in these areas over time and become problematic if not removed through brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings. When this happens, the gums become swollen, the spaces get deeper, and bacteria make their way further and further down into the gums. A healthy sulcus is less than 3 mm deep, while greater depth suggests a problem. Your dentist will check the depth of the area using a special probe.
When bacteria create an infection in the gums, it’s called gingivitis. If it isn’t severe, regular dental cleaning and more rigorous dental hygiene can correct it. If the bacteria reach deep into the gums, an infection can damage the underlying structures, like the tooth root, attached ligaments, and the bone. This is periodontal disease, and it can cause tooth loss and other health problems if it’s not addressed.
Meet Our Dentist:
Dr. Elyce Millery DDS
Dr. Millery grew up in Rockville, Maryland, and received her bachelor's degree in Nutritional Science from the University of Maryland College Park. She worked as a dental assistant before attending dental school. After earning her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, she relocated to Hanover, Maryland, with her husband and decided to open a private practice in 2018.
In addition to her formal education, Dr. Millery continues to study dentistry. She actively pursues at least 50 hours annually of continuing education in numerous topics, ...