Has coffee, tea, or red wine stained your teeth? Perhaps your once-bright and shiny tooth enamel has acquired stains from darkly colored foods, tobacco, or an unnamed cause. A gleaming smile looks fresh and youthful, and on the flip side, dark teeth make a person seem aged and unhealthy. There’s good news, though. In one simple, short visit with Dr. Rippe in our Centennial, CO dental office, you can reclaim a sparkling smile – and the confidence that comes along with it!

Ready to look younger and love your smile? Call us at 303-779-9876 to reserve your cosmetic dentistry consultation, and learn how professional teeth whitening can revive your image.

Two Options for Professional Dental Bleaching

Everyone’s smile is unique, and so are their tooth stains. Dr. Rippe understands that your personality shows in your smile, and he wants to help you maintain your uniqueness. Some people want glamorous, snow-white smiles that rival Miss America’s, while others want a subtle change, just a few shades brighter. For this reason, the doctor offers two types of in-office teeth whitening.

30 Minutes for Teeth to Look 2 to 4 Shades Whiter

If you want your teeth to appear just a few shades brighter than they are now, Dr. Rippe will recommend Phillips Zoom Quick Pro. This safe and effective teeth whitening system is completed in our office, and application takes mere minutes. We will isolate your teeth from your gums, then apply a whitening varnish to lift stains from the pores in your tooth enamel. After wearing the varnish for about half an hour, you’ll brush your teeth normally. The Quick Pro varnish, along with your tooth stains, will be rinsed right down the drain!

1.5 to 2 Hours for Teeth to Look 4 to 8 Shades Whiter

For more drastic results, Dr. Rippe will suggest Zoom Whitening, the traditional process that takes about two hours or less. With Zoom, we will isolate your teeth from your gums, then apply a light-activated bleaching gel. A soft, cool light will kickstart a chemical reaction to lift dental stains and leave your teeth up to eight shades whiter!

Why Whiten?

Studies show that a more attractive smile can have positive implications on how people think of you. One poll by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that people with a beautiful smile are considered more intelligent, friendly, and successful. Kelton Research reports that people who underwent teeth whitening before an interview were more likely to receive a job offer and higher salary than those who didn’t have their teeth whitened beforehand. It’s true! People judge us, at least in part, on how we look.

But it’s not just how others see you that matters. How will you feel with a brighter, more appealing smile? Will you have more confidence? Will you smile more often? The simple act of smiling relieves stress and makes us feel good. If teeth whitening would make you more apt to go through life with a smile on your face, that alone is worth the investment!

Deeper Stains Need Different Treatment

Stains that form within or below tooth enamel are called intrinsic stains. They do not occur on the surface, so topical treatment will not remove them. This type of discoloration ranges from dark to bright white, depending on the cause. Swallowing fluoride as a child can result in white, horizontal lines across teeth. These stains are called fluorosis stains. Topical bleaching can lighten surrounding tooth enamel to make the stains blend in better and become less noticeable. But the stains will still be there. Tetracycline, an antibiotic, taken during pregnancy can cause a child to have darker teeth than normal. Like fluorosis, tetracycline stains are embedded into a tooth. Some people are genetically predisposed to having thick, yellowish enamel, thin enamel, or one or more dark teeth. An injury to a tooth’s nerve can cause bleeding in the tooth, which also makes a tooth appear dark.

All of these intrinsic stains can be covered with two cosmetic dentistry procedures: bonding or veneers. So, if teeth whitening has not produced the results you’d hoped for, talk with Dr. Rippe about teeth whitening options.

Schedule Your Teeth Whitening Visit Today!

Your bright smile and boosted confidence await. Call our Centennial, CO dental office now at 303-779-9876 and reserve your teeth whitening appointment or cosmetic consultation.