Baton Rouge Dentist

Teeth Whitening Results from My Dentist Didn’t Last

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I got in-office teeth whitening from my dentist two months ago, but it didn’t last. My teeth are not as white as they were at first. I thought the results were supposed to last for months. How do I know whether my dentist did something wrong or if I need to whiten my teeth again? Will I have to pay again? – Thanks. Karyssa

Karyssa,

When you first receive in-office teeth whitening, your teeth will be ultra-bright. The color stabilizes in a week or so after your teeth are rehydrated. Your teeth may be slightly darker than when you first received the treatment, but that is normal. Teeth whitening at the dental office jumpstarts the whitening process, but it does not eliminate the need for follow-up sessions.

What Can You Do If Teeth Whitening Results Don’t Last?

teeth whitening trayIf teeth whitening results from a dentist do not last, you may need to return to the office for another session. Also, your dentist may have given you a take-home whitening kit. The kit should contain custom bleaching trays based on teeth impressions that your dentist took. If you have the kit, use it as your dentist directed, or call the office for instructions. Avoid overbleaching your teeth, which can weaken and discolor them.

Follow up with your dentist

If your dentist didn’t give you details about a follow-up session in the office or teeth whitening at home, call the office to explain your concerns and ask what to do next. Although most dentists include follow-up sessions and take-home whitening kits in the initial cost, you can ask about additional expenses.

Talk to your dentist calmly without being demanding if you do not respond satisfactorily. You may need to resume whitening with another dentist if yours does not communicate clearly about your teeth whitening treatment and what to expect.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

Will I Need Teeth Whitening for White Spots from Braces?

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Will I need teeth whitening sessions for white spots after wearing braces? I don’t have an orthodontist yet, but I will get braces this year. I am 28 years old, so it’s a little late for me, but now is the time that I can afford braces. Sometimes I think that the way my teeth look is holding me back from receiving job promotions. I have seen both teens and adults go through years of braces only to end up with straight teeth with white spots. How long will I need teeth whitening for braces? I want to plan and budget for it. Thanks. Gavin

Hi, Gavin,

Thank you for contacting Dr. Perry’s office in Baton Rouge. We understand your concerns about white spots on your teeth after braces. We will explain why they occur and whether teeth whitening will help.

Will Teeth Whitening Help White Spots from Braces?

Woman putting on teeth whitening trays
Teeth whitening may make white spots on teeth more noticeable. Consult with a cosmetic dentist.

Depending on how white spots on your teeth compare to your natural tooth color, teeth whitening can make the spots more noticeable. Although bleaching gel can whiten your natural teeth, the white spots on our braces are from the decalcification of your teeth. If you want your natural teeth whitened anyway, your dentist will create a treatment plan.

What Is the Treatment for White Spots After Braces?

Dental bonding is often the treatment for white spots after braces. Plaque buildup behind braces can leave discoloration on your teeth.

Consider the facts:

  • Plaque buildup robs teeth of calcium
  • Decalcification leaves white spots
  • Dental bonding can conceal the imperfections in your teeth.

How Can You Prevent White Spots After Braces?

You can prevent white spots on your teeth after braces with a routine of oral hygiene and professional dental cleaning from a hygienist.

Take these preventive measures:

  • Floss daily and brush twice daily.
  • Clean around the brackets to remove food debris.
  • Keep your dental appointments for exams and cleansings.
  • Avoid these foods, as recommended by the American Dental Association in an article on how braces can improve your oral health:
  • Hard candy
  • Ice
  • Nuts
  • Popcorn
  • Sticky foods, such as chewing gum or chewy candy

Best wishes, Gavin, for your orthodontic treatment.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible

Dentist Won’t Whiten My Teeth Unless I Get a Root Canal

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My dentist will not whiten my teeth unless I get a root canal. My first molar needs a root canal, but I want my teeth whitened first. I even asked my dentist to extract the tooth and let’s move on to whitening, but she won’t do it. A root canal and crown cost more than I am ready to pay for right now. Even with dental insurance, my out-of-pocket cost will be almost $1,000. Don’t I have the right to get the treatment that I want? Abel from Charleston, WV

Abel,

Thank you for contacting us.

Dr. Szarek would need to examine your tooth and x-rays to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.

What Are the Effects of First Molar Tooth Extraction?

If your dentist removes a first molar tooth as you wish, it will affect your chewing efficiency and bite. Without replacing the tooth, neighboring teeth will shift, creating the need for orthodontic treatment. Then, your dentist would rightly recommend replacing the tooth with a dental implant to prevent the misalignment of other teeth and the need for braces.

First Molar Root Canal Therapy

Saving your first molar with root canal treatment makes sense and costs less than extraction in the long term. We recommend talking to your dentist about the pros and cons of root canal versus tooth removal. If you have a tooth infection, prompt root canal treatment will prevent the infection from spreading to other teeth or your jawbone. Your dentist can explain why you need root canal therapy if she has not already done so.

Get a Second Opinion

Remember that another dentist may agree with your current dentist that root canal treatment is the priority for your oral health. If you and your dentist cannot agree on treatment, you can consider getting a second opinion on your first molar tooth and teeth whitening options. Before your appointment, send a copy of your dental records and x-rays to the second opinion dentist.

Dentists commit to protecting your oral health. Many may not agree to a course of treatment that puts your oral health at risk. You may need to see another provider if you insist on your preferences. Although you have the right to the treatment you want, be sure that you understand how delaying a procedure affects your short- and long-term oral health.

 

Dr. Ryan Perry, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.

Before-and-after Kor teeth whitening photos
The KöR Whitening System gets dramatic results. Your dentist will ensure your teeth are healthy first.
Photos courtesy of KöR Whitening

How Often Can You Whiten Your Teeth?

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When the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry asked survey participants what they would like to improve about their smile, the most common response was: whiter, brighter teeth. If you are thinking about whitening your teeth or have already begun treatment, what should you know about whitening frequency? How often is too often to whiten your teeth?

How Often Can You Whiten Your Teeth?

How often you whiten your teeth depends on your phase in the whitening process. You will whiten more frequently when you begin treatment, remembering to wait for the color to stabilize before you keep whitening your teeth. Afterward, you will decrease the whitening frequency for touchups throughout your lifetime.

Beginning whitening treatment

Your dentist will recommend a frequency for in-office or take-home treatment when you begin whitening.

  • In-office – Your dentist will do in-office whitening, often in three to four 15- to 20-minute sessions. Let the color stabilize to see if you have reached the desired brightness. Depending on how bright you want your smile, your dentist may recommend continuing whitening at home for up to two weeks. Also, you may need to return to the dental office for another whitening session.
  • At-home whitening – You will use bleaching gel and trays to whiten your teeth daily or nightly for two weeks. Depending on the bleaching gel strength and your tooth sensitivity, you will leave the gel on for 30 minutes or more.

Teeth whitening touchups

Periodic touchups at home will keep your smile bright. Your dentist can provide custom bleaching trays. Custom trays offer these benefits:

  • Even coverage during whitening
  • Maximum penetration of the bleaching gel into your teeth
  • Protecting your gums from exposure to the gel and burns

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?

Close-up smile, portraying teeth whitening vs bonding for white spots on teeth
Dentist-supervised teeth whitening is safe and effective

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, teeth whitening lasts six months to two years. But each person’s case is different. If you drink coffee or tea or use tobacco products, those habits will stain your teeth, and you may need to do whitening touchups more often.

Can You Whiten Your Teeth Too Much?

Yes, you can over-whiten your teeth with bleaching gel. The American Dental Association cautions that excessive whitening can have these effects:

  • Tooth-nerve irritation
  • Sensitivity
  • Tooth enamel damage
  • Gum irritation

If you begin to feel increased sensitivity from whitening your teeth, your dentist may recommend one or more of these remedies:

  • Give your teeth a break and stop bleaching them
  • Use toothpaste for sensitive teeth before and after bleaching
  • Fluoride treatments to reduce sensitivity
  • A lower strength bleaching gel
  • Pre-bleaching conditioning gel

Conclusion

Whitening your teeth is an excellent option for a smile makeover. But do not overdo it. Follow instructions from your dentist or the bleaching gel manufacturer for safe whitening that will not harm your teeth or gums.

 

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post.

Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?

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Surveys show that when asked what they want to improve most about their smile, most people say they want whiter teeth. In the United States, the average cost of professional teeth whitening is $300 to $600. But is it worth it? Is teeth whitening permanent?

Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?

Woman putting on teeth whitening traysTeeth whitening permanently lightens the natural pigmentation of your teeth. But how bright your smile remains depends on several factors:

  • Limiting exposure to things that stain them – Smoking, heavy coffee drinking, eating berries, and other staining foods can cause teeth stains.
  • Touching up your teeth – If you want to keep your teeth as white as when your dentist bleached them, you must do periodic touch-ups to remove stains.
  • Practice good oral hygiene – Brushing twice daily and flossing daily help control plaque and tartar buildup that can cause yellow teeth.

Peroxide, Charcoal, or Teeth Whitening from a Dentist?

What results can you expect with using peroxide or charcoal to whiten your teeth versus teeth whitening from a dentist?

Peroxide

Peroxide-based bleaching gels can whiten teeth. But if the gel does not stay in contact with your teeth long enough, it will not break down stains. Dentists provide custom whitening trays to keep the gel on your teeth and away from gums and oral tissue. Avoid habitually rinsing your mouth with hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth. It can kill good bacteria and cause an oral yeast infection.

Charcoal

There are few studies on the effectiveness of charcoal for teeth whitening. But the American Dental Association reveals that a mixture of salt and charcoal makes teeth yellow because it removes tooth enamel and exposes dentin—the layer beneath the enamel.

Teeth Whitening from a Dentist

Although teeth whitening from a dentist costs more than over-the-counter kits, professional teeth whitening lasts longer. And you will get reliable results. A dentist will do the following to give you the best results:

  • Determine if teeth whitening is the solution for your stained teeth
  • Choose a brand and bleaching gel strength that will work for you
  • Monitor the progress and adjust treatment as needed
  • Anticipate sensitivity and help you minimize or avoid it
  • Achieve long-lasting, reliable results that you can maintain with touch-ups

Schedule an appointment with a dentist experienced with teeth whitening to discuss your options. If you have a budget, ask how the dentist can make teeth whitening affordable for you.

Baton Rouge family dentist Ryan Perry, DDS, sponsors this post.

Teeth whitening did not help my stained bonding

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Young woman hiding her smile - for info on teeth whitening and dental bondinI’ve only had dental bonding for two years, and it is turning yellow. My dentist whitened my teeth before I got bonding, and I get gel with every dental cleaning appointment. I tried teeth whitening, but it did not help at all. Will my dentist need to reapply the bonding? Why is this happening? – Thank you. Jada from TN

Jada,

Thank you for your question. We will explain why bonding stains, how composite bonding and porcelain veneers compare, and how to keep your bonding bright.

Why Does Composite Bonding Stain?

Quartz, plastic resin, and other materials make up dental composite. The substance is porous and absorbs stains. Dark drinks, such as colas, coffee, tea, or grape, will penetrate composite and stain it.

  • Surface stains – As composite surfaces get tiny scratches in them over time, stains adhere to them. But a cosmetic dentist can polish the composite bonding to get rid of the scratches and stains.
  • Deep discoloration – Stains that deeply penetrate composite are challenging to remove. Your dentist cannot polish them out.

Teeth whitening and dental bonding

Teeth whitening products will not improve composite bonding color. Abrasive whitening toothpaste can further scratch dental bonding and make stains look worse.

Composite vs. Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain is non-porous and resists stains better than tooth enamel.

Preventing Composite Bonding Stains

  • Polishing the composite – A skilled cosmetic dentist can help you maintain composite bonding by polishing away tiny scratches and stains.
  • Avoid abrasive toothpaste – Non-abrasive toothpaste, such as Supersmile®, will help keep your dental bonding bright.
  • Avoid staining beverages – Coffee, tea, and colas can stain your bonding. Drink them in moderation and rinse your mouth with water afterward.

Although composite bonding costs less than porcelain veneers, they attract stains and do not last as long. When it is time to replace your bonding consider if veneers might be an option for longer-lasting results.

 

Ryan Perry, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

Will dental insurance pay for teeth whitening and bonding after braces?

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 I was born with a lack of tooth enamel. After wearing braces for the past two years, my teeth are finally straight, but they are blotchy. Will dental insurance pay for me to get my teeth whitened and then get composite bonding to hide the blotches? Thank you. Kasey

Kasey,

Thanks for your question. And congratulations on completing your treatment with braces!

 

What Causes Blotchy Teeth After Braces?

Blotchy teeth after wearing braces often result from a lack of brushing after eating while braces are on. It is good to keep a toothbrush handy if you wear braces. Wherever you are, after you eat, you can brush your teeth and prevent bacteria from collecting around your braces and damaging your tooth enamel.

 

Will Dental Insurance Pay for Tooth Enamel Repair After Braces?

Some dental insurance companies offer benefits toward tooth enamel repair. But they may not cover the full cost. Instead, they will pay for part of the repair. And an insurance company’s concern is that the results of your composite bonding are functional.

 

But after treatment with braces, you want your smile to look natural. And you probably want the composite bonding to match your teeth after they are whitened. Contact your dental insurance company to ask about benefits toward composite bonding to repair tooth enamel.

 

Will Dental Insurance Pay for Teeth Whitening?

Before-and-after teeth whitening smile
After braces, teeth whitening is a small investment to enhance your smile

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment for appearance—not function—so your insurance company will not offer benefits for it. Still bleaching will enhance your straightened teeth after braces and show off your smile. So you might want to pay for it anyway. Your dentist may offer discounted whitening services or payment plans.

 

Regardless, only let your family dentist whiten your teeth and match dental bonding to it if they have advanced cosmetic dentistry training. You will get natural-looking results that you love.

Ryan Perry, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

Why do dentists want to pull my front teeth and not save them?

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After two years of not seeing a dentist, I finally got the courage to go because a front tooth that was bonded almost broke completely. I have been wanting to get my teeth whitened to feel better about myself. Although I was expecting to get the tooth bonded back on, the dentist wanted to pull 4 front teeth and give me a partial. I went to a second dentist who recommended the same thing. Why would both dentists recommend extracting multiple front teeth when I came in to get one tooth repaired and schedule teeth whitening? – Thank you. LaDonna from GA

 

LaDonna,

We are sorry to hear about your experience. Please do not return to either dentist or ask them to save your teeth. Both dentists lack commitment to preserving your natural teeth. Even if a tooth requires extraction, a dental implant is the healthiest option for you. Maybe the dentists are not skilled with tooth preservation. But do not push the issue with either of them.

You mentioned that you finally got the courage to go to the dentist again, which implies you might have past negative experiences. But do not give up. You can find a dentist whose treatment philosophy is to preserve teeth when possible without compromising your oral health.

When a Bonded Front Tooth Breaks

If your front tooth is bonded, it probably broke before. And if it is now almost broken off completely, it may mean that your bite is strong—or the force of when you bite with your front teeth is heavy. A heavy bite requires expertise from a cosmetic dentist. A family or general dentist without cosmetic dentistry training will not know how to resolve the issue.

Custom made trays hold the bleaching gel in place.
A cosmetic dentist will ensure your tooth restoration matches your smile after teeth whitening treatment

We recommend that you find two or three dentists with post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training. Schedule consultations with the dentists. They will briefly look at your tooth and explain your treatment options. Ask to see before-and-after photos of cases like yours. And compare the options each dentist offers. You can also talk with each dentist about the timing for teeth whitening to ensure your restored tooth matches your bright smile.

 

Ryan Perry, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

Nose pressure and discharge after wisdom teeth extraction

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An oral surgeon removed all my wisdom teeth. My oral surgeon explained how I can flush the sockets after wisdom tooth extraction. Although he said I do not need to flush the upper sockets, I felt sinus pressure, so I did it anyway. The last time I flushed the right upper socket, yellow discharge came out. And I feel pressure in my left sinus. I wonder if my sinus is perforated. Is this serious? I am concerned that the surgeon knew he punctured my sinus but didn’t tell me. I am on day six after surgery, the pain is improving, but I am concerned about the discharge.

The timing of all this could not be worse. I am scheduled to get my teeth whitened in three weeks. Thanks. Janie from TN

Janie,

It is normal for some bacteria to settle in the sockets, but it appears that your immune system is helping you avoid an infection.

Nose Pressure After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

After wisdom tooth extraction, you might feel nose pressure when you flush the socket because the roots of upper molars can be close to the sinus. If your sinus were perforated, the rinsing solution would come out of your nose while flushing the socket. You did not mention that issue, so the sinus membrane is intact and does not require treatment.

Continue flushing the socket as directed but be gentle to avoid rupturing the sinus membrane. Leave the blood clot in the socket to form a framework for bone growth as the extraction site heals.

Are You Ready for Teeth Whitening After Wisdom Tooth Removal?

Custom made trays hold the bleaching gel in place.
After tooth extraction sites heal, your dentist can begin teeth whitening treatment

It is best not to begin teeth whitening treatment until the sockets and surrounding tissue heal completely. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, it can take several weeks for soft tissue to heal after wisdom teeth extraction. Your dentist will ensure your teeth, gums, and extraction sites are healthy before whitening your teeth.

If you rush the process, the teeth whitening process can irritate the extraction sites.

Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

What Are Some Expert Teeth-Bleaching Tips?

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Hello there,

I got my teeth whitened in my dentist’s office. I was given Opalescence whitening trays to take home to touch them up. I’m planning to get crowns at some point, so I want to bleach my teeth properly. How long do I need to bleach? A few hours every day, or a few times a week? Should I stop bleaching several days before my dental appointment? Any input you could give me would be very appreciated, I’m a bit confused about everything.

Kate Zimmerman, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Hi Kate,

Your dentist should have given you some instructions with the take-home kit. To answer your questions, the more you whiten, the whiter your teeth will be. It doesn’t matter what time you whiten your teeth, but if you get sensitivity from the bleaching trays, you should do it at night. You should leave the bleaching trays in for at least 20-30 minutes, but the longer, the better. If you leave them overnight, your saliva production rate slows down, so nighttime use may be more effective, as the gel will stay in the tray longer.

You do not need to use trays specifically for nighttime use, as they contain excessive amounts of peroxide. The more you whiten, your teeth will continue to change color, but the pace at which your teeth whiten will slow down. You should stop whitening when you reach the color you want. However, depending on how much you red wine, coffee, soda, or tobacco products you consume, your teeth will dull in color. If this happens, you can use your touch-up trays a few hours a day once or twice a year.

Be sure to get your crowns done by a cosmetic dentist with a lot of experience and continuing education in cosmetic dentistry. Your dentist should be able to answer your questions clearly and concisely prior to getting your work done. If you have any doubts, be sure to get a second opinion.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge Family Dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.