Teeth naturally lose their brightness over time due to various factors such as the consumption of certain foods and drinks, tobacco use, aging, and even certain medications.

Drinks like coffee, tea, or dark sodas can leave pigment on your enamel, causing stains. As we age, the dentin (the inner, yellowish part of a tooth) becomes more visible through thinning enamel, leading to a darker appearance.

Whitening treatments use advanced whitening agents to safely and effectively lighten your teeth. These professional-grade products contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than over-the-counter options, resulting in more noticeable results.

Professional whitening is capable of lightening most types of stains, including those caused by coffee, tea, soda, red wine, and tobacco. However, whitening may be less effective on very dark or gray-colored stains, or those caused by injury or medication. In these cases, alternative treatments such as porcelain veneers might be recommended.

 Dr. Ocharoen makes customized whitening trays that fit snugly over your teeth and hold the whitening agents, typically with a gel.

This gel penetrates the surface stains on your teeth and breaks them up so your teeth appear whiter and brighter. Some of the gel penetrates into your tooth to lighten the dentin, as well. 

You can opt for in-office teeth whitening, which often only takes a single treatment, or at-home whitening, so you can whiten your teeth gradually during the day or overnight. Both treatments are safe, noninvasive, and painless.

If you’re interested in whitening, a preliminary examination of your teeth and gums will be conducted to ensure they are healthy enough for the procedure. Provided your oral health is in good condition and there are no signs of gum disease, you may be an ideal candidate for our in-office or at-home teeth whitening treatments.