Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing MI
A discolored smile can create self-conscious behaviors of smiling with a closed mouth, hiding your mouth when speaking, or reducing lip movement to cover your teeth. There are now more options to brighten your smile with dental industry treatment advances than before. However, while some treatments offer same-day results, others may require more time investment for maximum results. Today on the blog, our Okemos cosmetic dentist, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, shares the best way to get white teeth so that you don’t waste your time or money chasing ineffective solutions.
Over-the-counter Products
A myriad of over-the-counter whitening products promises to deliver noticeable results. Unfortunately, the whitening compound used in store-bought teeth whitening products is minimal, takes multiple applications over time to reach your desired color, and most people won’t see noticeable results. In addition, our Lansing cosmetic dentist warns that some whitening products may cause gum or soft tissue irritation if used too frequently or left on your teeth longer than directed.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is more potent than over-the-counter treatments. Dr. Tenaglia now offers GLO teeth whitening system in Okemos. Gentle heat and light technology activate a sensitivity-free hydrogen peroxide gel that creates unparalleled teeth whitening results. GLO technology is safe to use with bridges, veneers, crowns, or fillings but can only restore brightness to the original dental work color. Therefore, additional procedures may be necessary to color-correct dental work to have a genuinely seamless smile. Although GLO is safe for Invisalign patients, those who have traditional braces should wait until they get removed to prevent uneven results.
In a single visit to our Okemos dental office, Dr. Tenaglia uses a pharmaceutical-grade compound to brighten your smile using the GLO Pro teeth whitening system. We also offer a take-home version for you to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. Results are noticeable within a week or less and last longer if you practice good oral hygiene and limit your consumption of staining foods and beverages. While results last longer than what you’d expect from a store-bought whitening kit, you’ll still need ‘touch-ups’ to maintain a permanently white smile. However, if you wish to have a brighter smile without the hassle of teeth whitening and you want to hide imperfections in your teeth, choosing one of the following treatments would be best.
Veneers
Veneers are shell-like, ultra-thin porcelain coverings that adhere to your tooth surface, are more versatile than professional teeth whitening procedures, and can color-match and shape-match your surrounding teeth to produce a flawless, bright smile.
Our East Lansing cosmetic dentist explains that veneers are a solution for those patients who suffer from the following:
- Gaps
- Chips
- Cracks
- Fractures
- Uneven Teeth
- Discoloration – Intrinsic and extrinsic stains
Veneers are possible for a single tooth, or you can get veneers to cover all of the teeth that are visible when you smile. Getting veneers usually requires two separate appointments. The first appointment involves prep work and bites mold gathering. Then, another visit, usually two weeks later, is necessary to bond the veneers to your natural teeth. Finally, you can leave our dental office in Okemos with a perfect smile.
Teeth Whitening in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Your smile delivers a message without you needing to utter any words. So make sure it shows the correct statement about you and schedule a consultation with Dr. Christine Tenaglia to brighten your smile today. No matter which teeth whitening path you choose, you can dramatically increase your smile’s aesthetics, increase your self-confidence and dazzle others when walking into the room. Contact our Okemos cosmetic dentist that offers teeth whitening at Tenaglia Smiles by calling (517) 347-6733 or scheduling an appointment online.