Wide availability of teeth whitening products has made it the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure. Today, patients can simply go to a local store to purchase whitening strips, or undergo more effective, professional treatment with their dentists. But no matter if patients choose to use an over-the-counter whitening product, or one that can be purchased from the dentist, it is important to first undergo a dental exam to ensure that the teeth and gums are in good health. At Eagle Gate Dental, Dr. James Wright recommends that patients undergo an exam and cleaning before starting any type of whitening treatment. During this exam, Dr. Wright can check for signs of dental problems to determine if patients are good teeth whitening candidates. To schedule your appointment, contact our Salt Lake City, UT practice today.

You May Be a Good Candidate if…

Patients who are interested in undergoing teeth whitening should have:

• Brown or yellow-toned stains affecting the enamel, or outermost layer, of the tooth
• Good dental health, including clean teeth and healthy gums
• Realistic expectations

You May Not Be a Good Candidate if…

We may not recommend teeth whitening treatment if:

• You are under 18. Generally, we feel that patients should be at least 18 years of age before undergoing teeth whitening treatment.
• You have dental restorations on the front facing teeth. The materials used in dental restorations, including composite resin, porcelain, and zirconia, do not respond to teeth whitening treatment. If you have these restorations on your anterior teeth, your natural teeth and the restorations may not blend in color.
• You have deep intrinsic stains. Intrinsic stains affect the deeper structures of the tooth, and may not respond well to teeth whitening treatment. Typically, patients with intrinsic stains are better suited for a treatment that masks stains, such as porcelain veneers, cosmetic dental bonding, or dental crowns.
• You suffer from oral health problems. If you suffer from oral health problems, these must be treated before undergoing treatment. If you use teeth whitening products when you have a cavity or root canal infection, the whitening solution can penetrate deep within the tooth, causing significant pain. 
• You suffer from tooth sensitivity. If you already suffer from tooth sensitivity, you may not want to undergo whitening treatment. Teeth whitening temporarily causes increased sensitivity, which may make the whitening process uncomfortable. If you wish to proceed with teeth whitening despite this, we may recommend using an at-home product with a lower concentration of peroxide. You can then use the product for a short time each day, and stop for a few days if you begin to experience sensitivity.
• You have not recently undergone a professional dental cleaning. During a dental cleaning, plaque and tartar are scraped off of the teeth, leaving a clean surface. When the whitening solution is applied to clean teeth, it can more effectively whiten them because the product doesn’t have to work its way through built-up plaque and tartar.

To schedule your appointment to find out if you are a good teeth whitening candidate, contact us today.