Professional teeth whitening is one of the easiest ways for many patients to obtain a beautiful, brighter smile. Almost anyone is a candidate, and patients are frequently thrilled with the dazzling, natural-looking results that this treatment can produce – often in a short amount of time!
Dr. David Newkirk, our Naperville cosmetic dentist, has helped many patients enhance their smile with customized Opalescence™ PF take-home teeth whitening trays. He would be happy to meet with you to discuss your aesthetic dental goals. Schedule your first-time appointment for more information!
- Opalescence™ PF Teeth Whitening Benefits
- Opalescence™ PF Teeth Whitening Process
- Opalescence™ PF Teeth Whitening Alternatives
- Opalescence™ PF Teeth Whitening Results
What Are the Benefits of Opalescence™ PF Teeth Whitening?
Quality professional teeth whitening systems, such as Opalescence™ PF, can create a dramatically whiter and more dazzling smile. We often recommend these customized take-home trays for patients who want to get rid of discoloration or deep stains, which can be caused by smoking, lackluster oral hygiene, or frequent consumption of pigment-rich food and drink (e.g. coffee, wine, cola, and berries). When applied to the teeth, the gel soaks deeply into your teeth, releasing oxygen and oxidizing the stains. As a result, the compounds responsible for discoloration can be broken down and removed, producing a whiter and healthier-looking smile!
Additionally, the prescription-strength Opalescence™ PF treatment offers several unique advantages over other systems. “PF” stands for “potassium nitrate and fluoride,” two components added to the formula to enhance patient comfort.* The gel is made of at least 20% water content, which can protect against sensitivity. Finally, the trays are designed to remain firmly in place and can be worn during the day or night depending on your preference.
What Does the Opalescence™ PF Teeth Whitening Process Entail?
Although teeth whitening is considered a relatively uncomplicated cosmetic dentistry treatment, it requires the skill of an experienced cosmetic dentist to produce top results. Our team usually starts with an examination and a cleaning. We make sure there are no leaky fillings or teeth that would be damaged by the strong Opalescence™ PF bleaching gel.
If you are good to go, we then take impressions of your teeth and make a set of snug-fitting trays that fit over them. You are then ready to take the teeth bleaching gel that we give you and use it for as long as you want, until your teeth are the whiteness you desire.
Are There Any Alternatives to Teeth Whitening?
There are many advertisements for over-the-counter products that promise whiter teeth. Most common are the ads for teeth-whitening toothpastes. These toothpastes may remove surface stains from the teeth, but since the toothpaste has no time to soak into the teeth, even if it has some peroxide in the formula, it can’t do anything more than remove surface stains.
With other products that provide trays, there are often safety issues. Because they are used without supervision, the concentration of the peroxide needs to be fairly weak, which makes them not very effective. If you have tried any of these products and been disappointed, don’t let that convince you that your teeth can’t be made whiter. The gels that we use are strong and produce dramatic results.
Are Opalescence™ PF Teeth Whitening Results Permanent?
This Opalescence™ PF treatment actually oxidizes the stains, so they are gone forever. So yes, it is permanent in that sense. However, as you go on with your life and drink coffee, cola beverages, or highly pigmented fruit juices, or eat berries or other foods that have pigments, your teeth will gradually pick up additional stains. Your teeth will still be whiter than they would have been had you never bleached them, but it is important to care for the trays and practice good oral hygiene consistently to maintain maximum whiteness.
If you would like to whiten your smile, you may call our office to schedule an appointment or request an appointment online.
“Absolutely the best! Dr. Newkirk and his staff are head and shoulders above their peers, with affordable dental care and cosmetic dentistry that will leave you wondering why you didn’t visit them sooner.”