Enhance Your Gorgeous Smile
Are your stained teeth causing you anxiety? Do you want a whiter and brighter smile? The teeth are the focal point of your smile, so keeping teeth white and healthy should be at the top of everyone’s list. But the truth is that most people are not too keen on visiting the dentist for this procedure. Fortunately, Dr. Reece is a caring and friendly dentist that makes sure that you feel welcome in our dental office.
Dr. Greg Reece and our dental care team at Dentistry of the Queen City offer KOR teeth whitening in Charlotte, NC. Without the use of lights or lasers, you can obtain a whiter, younger looking smile. KOR involves both in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments that can provide many benefits for patients.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a process that removes stains from the surface of your teeth. You can whiten your teeth in many ways. The most common way is to use a whitening toothpaste or mouthwash, which contains ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
When these ingredients interact in your mouth, they react with the teeth’s surface to create a mild form of acid. This acid helps to break down stains on teeth and remove any rough areas.
Another method is to use a professional whitening product that contains hydrogen peroxide or other bleach-like chemicals. These products usually provide quicker, although temporary, results. For example, results that only last days or are dependent on how well you can follow the instructions yourself.
Fortunately, teeth whitening at the dentist is one of the best methods! The latest generation of teeth whitening treatments are in-office procedures that can improve a person’s smile instantly. They usually take about an hour, and results can last for months. Learn about the methods we provide at Dentistry of the Queen City below.
KOR Teeth Whitening Treatment at Dentistry of the Queen City
Because the KOR whitening process is thorough and involves many steps, it may not be for everyone. Dr. Reece will check your teeth and mouth to decide if you are a good candidate for treatment. He will also discuss your budget, goals, and overall oral health with you before we provide you with teeth whitening treatments in our Charlotte dental office.
The first step of KOR treatment involves two weeks of teeth whitening at home with whitening trays. You will fill these custom trays with bleaching gel and cover your teeth for 6 to 10 hours, usually overnight.
You will need to refrigerate the whitening gels to ensure that their active ingredients stay effective in treating stains. The whitening trays also seal out saliva. Saliva is able to destroy peroxide quickly, so the sealed trays can help provide patients with more effective results.
After the first two weeks of treatment, at-home whitening continues with one added in-office treatment. A month into treatment, you will start three to four weeks of continuing at-home treatment with many in-office sessions. The last six to eight weeks also involves both in-office and at-home treatment.
This may seem like a long process, but it’s worth it! The KOR teeth whitening method provides consistent results while minimizing tooth sensitivity in millions of patients globally.
Benefits of Whitening Teeth with KOR
There are many benefits that patients can receive with this cosmetic dental treatment method. KOR Teeth whitening:
- Lasts much longer than traditional teeth whitening treatments
- Improves tooth health by using less chemicals
- Less sensitivity on your tooth enamel
- Reverses effects of aging on teeth
- Brightens teeth effectively the first time
- Can help improve your confidence
If you want ultra white teeth and have found other teeth whitening methods to be lacking, visit our dental office. Our teeth whitening treatment is a great option for patients who have developed stains on their teeth from antibiotics and other medications. KOR removes deep stains, leaving you with a brilliant ultra-white smile.
Alternatives to Teeth Whitening Procedures
There are a few alternatives to teeth whitening procedures that you can try. The first alternative is to use toothpaste that contains peroxide. This will help reduce stains and make your teeth look whiter. Another option is to use a toothbrush with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide. This will also help remove stains from your teeth, but it may not be as effective as the toothpaste option.
There are not many alternatives to teeth whitening procedures for your whole mouth. Although, we can provide alternatives if you have a single stained tooth or two. One such procedure is to use a porcelain veneer to cover a single tooth. Porcelain veneers are great for patients that do not need a complete smile makeover and are looking for an economical option. To learn more about porcelain veneers, see Porcelain Veneers.
Another alternative is a dental crown. Dental crowns can also address stained teeth in a focused way like porcelain veneers. A crown is a highly durable, single-colored covering that caps the tooth to restore its natural look. To learn more about crowns for your teeth, see Dental Crowns.
Maintaining Your Results
It is important to maintain the results of teeth whitening. Doing so will ensure that your teeth stay as white as they were the day of the treatment. If you want to maintain your teeth whitening results, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. This will help reduce the accumulation of food particles, plaque and tartar on your teeth, which can lead to yellowing.
Fluoride helps keep your enamel strong and remineralizes any areas of weakened enamel due to acid attacks or over-exposure to sugars. This also gradually removes stains from your tooth enamel and helps get rid of any stain-causing bacteria. The American Dental Association recommends using a toothpaste with fluoride and the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
Finally, you should avoid dark-colored foods and drinks for about 1 week after your procedure. If you find yourself drinking dark-colored beverages, use a straw and rinse your mouth afterwards. All of these tips will ensure that your treatment lasts a long time before you need a touch-up.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
How long will my gums stay bright white after teeth whitening?
Gums may become stained after professional teeth whitening treatment. You can compare it to a sunburn on your gums. This may last 24 hours, and your gum tissue may peel similar to skin with a sunburn. This is completely normal and should not last more than a day.
Can teeth whitening damage your teeth?
Teeth whitening does not damage your teeth. Contrary to popular belief, teeth whitening does not harm your enamel. Yellow coloring of the teeth is a sign of damaged enamel. However, studies have shown that teeth whitening treatment does not cause any harm to the surface of your teeth.
Do gums grow back after teeth whitening?
The process will not affect gum tissue if your dentist provides proper treatment. Gum tissue will return to normal after teeth whitening treatment. Some of the compounds that go into teeth whitening treatments can cause the gums to change color or flake off. This is due to a high exposure to hydrogen peroxide or carbide peroxide and should not last longer than 24-48 hours.
Can my dentist whiten dentures?
Your dentist can not whiten dentures because they consist of artificial material. Normal whitening toothpaste and traditional whitening methods can not penetrate the material like natural tooth enamel. However, your dentist can stain them whiter or polish them. But the whitening treatment that we apply to real teeth will not work on dentures.
Is it painful to whiten your teeth?
Your teeth may feel achy during treatment. Ibuprofen may help with pain, but may not always be necessary. You will experience sharp pain when drinking especially hot or cold things, so drink liquids at room-temperature until the temporary sensitivity goes away. This should go away within 24-48 hours after the procedure.
Contact us for Teeth Whitening Treatments in Charlotte, NC Today
If you are looking to brighten your smile, contact us for professional teeth whitening in Charlotte and Mallard Creek, NC. Call Dr. Reece and the dental care team at 704-486-8911 or request an appointment online. Dr. Reece will work with you to ensure your comfort during every step of the treatment process. If other whitening methods have not worked for you and your teeth, KOR may be what you’re looking for.