Table of Contents
A Bright and Healthy Smile
Your smile is a focal point of your appearance and a confident smile is viewed as warm, inviting, and
A Bright Healthy smile – Before & After
beautiful. Now, with professional Teeth Whitening systems like Zoom Whitening, we can help you achieve the dazzling white teeth that you see on magazine covers.
Why Teeth Discolor
There are a lot of reasons why teeth discolour. Chemicals in foods and beverages can stain and affect the colour of your teeth. Genetics, aging, and some medications can also be reasons for discolouration. This can happen despite your daily brushing and flossing.
What is involved in Teeth Whitening
Tooth whitening is best done in a healthy mouth condition. A thorough exam, followed by teeth cleaning that ensures that plaque and tartar have been removed should be the starting point of the teeth whitening process.
Professional whitening, done in a dental office is generally quick to do and it lasts for a much longer time than that done with over the counter teeth-whitening solutions.
Products to use at home usually require multiple applications over several weeks and will generally have a lesser whitening effect. This whitening achieved will also not last as long.
We would, in fact, recommend that patients try out some of the use at home solutions as a booster, after a professional dental office treatment, to extend the period of sharp whiteness achieved.
The basis of most teeth whitening treatment in most cases is the bleaching of the tooth surface – the enamel of the tooth. This is the surface that the stains on the tooth bond to. The bleaching treatment breaks down the bonds that the stains have with the enamel of the tooth.
An important aspect of the teeth-whitening process is that the tooth whitening treatment doesn’t work on crowns and fillings.
Whitening Options
We can help you find the best alternative for whitening your teeth. After a thorough examination, we can recommend a teeth whitening solution that will work best specifically for you to give you that dazzling white smile!
Dental bleaching can be used to correct tooth discoloration. Teeth whitening technology has improved greatly, and now dentists can offer a safe method for creating a bright and beautiful smile.
Bleaching is a cost-effective solution for whitening teeth that have discoloration on them. In cases where discoloration is extreme, there may be no choice but to go with veneers or crowns.
In-Office Whitening
In-office whitening is one of the safest and quickest ways to whiten your teeth. Orion Dental offers Bleaching, Zoom Whitening and other Professional Teeth Whitening solutions at both its Milton and Scarborough offices. In some cases, we would also use a special light to speed up the bleaching process.
In-office whitening can give you shining white teeth in less than an hour. 
We make sure that the whitening options that we offer at Orion Dental are effective and long-lasting. This is why one of the teeth whitening methods we use at Orion Dental is Philip’s Zoom Whitening. This treatment is long-lasting, is good for sensitive teeth, and is proven to be safe and effective. This treatment is also one of the quicker teeth whitening treatments and is a good choice for someone with a busy schedule.
The Zoom2! In-Office Whitening System is a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure. The Zoom In-Office teeth whitening is done using the Phillips Zoom technology. For this teeth whitening appointment, a whitening gel will be applied to the surface of your teeth.
It’s safe, effective, and very fast. In under two hours, your teeth will be dramatically whiter and you will be able to see results immediately. We can discuss the Zoom whitening option, as well as other options with you when we discuss and formulate your treatment plan. We will then choose the option that is best for you.
Over-the-Counter Whitening
You can also purchase home use whiteners over the counter at your neighbourhood drug store. There are a lot of products in the market to choose from. Some of these products are quite effective with the application over extended periods of time, whereas most are not as effective as bleaching or other methods available in our office. If you would prefer to use an over the counter whitening system, we would be happy to advise you about what might work best specifically for you, and how long you should use the product. Our goal is to help our patients have a healthy brilliant smile.
Custom Take-Home Whitening Trays
The “Tray Bleaching” process is a type of professional whitening that uses custom-made trays and whitening gel that is only available through your dentist. This whitening gel is to be used by placing it in custom-fitted trays that are designed to fit perfectly over your teeth. The chemical process of whitening occurs as the peroxide in the gel breaks down, it reacts with the material staining your teeth. This process helps whiten stained teeth. It must be noted that this process whitens only your natural teeth.
The at-home professional tray whitening treatment is effective and takes about two weeks to complete. You may begin to notice results in as little as three to five days.
A negative to consider with Whitening Trays is that they are sometimes difficult to hold in place. They could also sometimes cause a lot of saliva formation.
Teeth-Whitening Strips
The Teeth-whitening strips are flexible polyethylene strips that contain a film of hydrogen peroxide on one side. The whitening agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips to ensure contact with all your teeth. The duration that you need to wear the Teeth-whitening strips for is about 30 minutes in each application. The process needs to repeated twice a day.
Generally, you could expect to see results in about seven days of use of teeth-whitening strips. Results will however vary with the individual and will depend on the level of teeth discoloration. The effects of the whitening strips is temporary and the process may need to be repeated. After a full treatment, you can generally expect the results last between six months and a year.
How do you prolong the effect of using whitening strips?
- Use a whitening toothpaste regularly and
- Avoid foods and drinks that stain your teeth.
Paint-On Teeth Whiteners
An affordable and readily accessible over the counter teeth whitening products is the “paint-on” teeth whitener. Paint-on whiteners are generally are less expensive than whitening strips. They are also less effective.
The process of the Paint-on teeth whiteners involves the use of a whitening gel that is applied upon the teeth using a small brush. This paint-on whitening gel hardens into a film that coats the teeth.
Tooth paint is a cosmetic product that coats the teeth and is meant to cover any stain or discoloration on the tooth. This paint does not penetrate the tooth enamel because of how hard the enamel actually is.
However, like other over the counter cosmetic treatments the effect of the paint-on teeth whitener does not last for a long time. Tooth whitening paint can come in the form of gels, pens etc.
Different products and brands of whitening paint contain peroxide and potentially other bleaching products. The use of the paint may, therefore, cause irritation of the gum or of the mouth. If you notice that your teeth are becoming sensitive, you should discontinue this immediately and see your dentist.
Whitening Toothpaste
For teeth that are sensitive to bleach or other whitening systems, we would recommend a dentifrice, also known as a whitening toothpaste. Whitening toothpaste are safe; and while not as effective as an in-office whitening treatment, they do produce results with continued use.
Whitening Alternatives
Cosmetic procedures like Veneers and Bonding could be a good solution for some people, for whom bleach or other in-office treatments cannot get them the desired level of whiteness that they seek for their teeth. These are also solutions that you might seek if you want to whiten your teeth and simultaneously correct cracks or chips or minor misalignment in your teeth. These professional teeth whitening and cosmetic solutions are available at both our Milton and Scarborough offices.
Take that leap to that beautiful radiant smile!
Frequently Asked Questions about Teeth Whitening Treatments
- Is Teeth Whitening safe?
You can be assured that Teeth whitening procedures conducted by a dentist are completely safe. These are proven methods that have been used countless times.
- How long is the Teeth whitening treatment?
A teeth whitening treatment typically takes about 2 to 3 applications. Therefore, each treatment takes about 40 to 60 minutes. Not a lot of time to get bright white teeth.
- How white can my teeth become?
You should be able to see quite a significant improvement. Usually, patients at our dental office see an improvement in whiteness between 8 and 12 shades. Do keep in mind that the improvement that you see would be a function of the extent of the stains, the natural colour of the teeth as well as sometimes genetic factors.
Sometimes multiple appointments are needed to achieve the result that you are seeking. Your Milton Dentist or Scarborough Dentist at Orion Dental would be able to advise you on exactly the treatment needed.
- How long does the whiteness from the treatment last?
In most cases, the whiteness achieved will last 2 to even 3 years. However, this depends upon your oral care, your food and beverage habits, etc.
- How can I make the whiteness last?
Your Milton Dentist or Scarborough Dentist at Orion Dental will recommend a gel that you can apply on your teeth for a period of a week to 10 days. This will help delay the return of the old colour of the teeth. However, ultimately how long you can make the whiteness last is a function of your oral care, your food and beverage habits, etc.
- When does Teeth whitening treatment not work sometimes?
In some cases when teeth are permanently stained due to dental fluorosis or due to some medicines, trying to whiten those teeth may present a bigger challenge. However, the solution in these cases can often be dental veneers or even dental crowns for the stained teeth.
- What beverages should I avoid after my teeth whitening treatment?
The beverages that have the potential of staining your teeth are red wine, colas, coffee, and tea. Citric fruit juices while otherwise very beneficial for the body can sometimes stain teeth. The fruit juices in this list will be orange, blueberry, etc.
- What can I do to avoid stained and yellow teeth?
Some people might find that their teeth stain easily no matter what they do. In these cases beyond avoiding the highly pigmented or highly citric beverages, it would be prudent to rinse their mouth thoroughly after drinking these beverages.
- Do I need a Dentist to whiten my teeth
No, you don’t necessarily need a dentist to whiten your teeth. You have an option of purchasing a teeth-whitening kit, that you can apply yourself, at home. It’s always prudent to be careful with teeth whitening treatments, as an excessive application can cause teeth to become sensitive. Your dentist will ensure that they understand the sensitivity of your teeth and choose a whitening treatment accordingly.
- Is teeth whitening treatment covered by my insurance?
Our front office will help you determine whether your insurance covers a specific treatment fully or partially. They can also work with you proactively to help find a payment solution that fits your requirement.
- I get nervous about visiting the dentist, what can I do to relax?
We understand patient anxiety and that some patients are nervous about the idea of the pain associated with some dental treatments. We are very focused on taking care of this dental anxiety and take a gentle approach to all dentistry. Dr. Naqvi and her team will ensure that they carefully explain what your treatment is going to be and that you are comfortable before the treatment commences.
12. I’m worried about how my teeth look beyond their colour. Can you help?
Yes, we can absolutely help. Dr. Naqvi and her experienced dental office team are dedicated to helping patients at Orion Dental achieve healthy, confident smiles. We offer cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry solutions to improve your smile. Teeth whitening is one such solution. Other solutions that might work based on your individual requirements could be Dental Veneers or Crowns. Sometimes fixing a smile might involve straightening your teeth, fixing gaps or any chipped teeth.
Come in for a consultation to find out what the best treatment is for you. Book a consultation
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Dr. Fahimay Naqvi is an Associate
Fellow of the American Academy of
Implant Dentistry
Dr. Fahimay Naqvi is a Fellow of
The International Congress of Oral Implantologists
