Teeth Whitening in Valencia, CA

Whitening products contain one of two bleaches, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, and the ADA explains that these break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and the teeth brighter. The ADA also says whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration: yellow teeth will probably bleach well, brown teeth may not respond as well, and teeth with gray tones may not bleach at all.

Whitening will not work on caps, crowns, veneers or fillings, and the ADA says it will not be effective when the discoloration is caused by medications or a tooth injury. That is why Dr. Robert P. Hedvat and our team evaluate your teeth, existing restorations and sensitivity history before recommending a whitening approach. If older fillings or crowns are visible when you smile, they may need to be evaluated after whitening so your smile color looks even and natural.

Usually, yes. The ADA says yellow teeth will probably bleach well, and Cleveland Clinic says yellow stains are usually due to dark-colored foods and drinks or to aging. The ADA names coffee, tea and red wine as major staining culprits because of intense color pigments called chromogens that attach to the outer part of the tooth, and it says tobacco tar is naturally dark while nicotine turns yellowish once it mixes with oxygen.

Age matters too. The ADA explains that the outer enamel layer gets thinner over time with brushing, so more of the yellowish dentin underneath shows through. Cleveland Clinic separates surface, or extrinsic, stains on the enamel from intrinsic discoloration that starts inside the tooth, such as after dental trauma or some medications, and says professional whitening works best on surface stains. A single tooth that has turned gray is a different matter: Cleveland Clinic says that may mean the nerve inside the tooth has died.

Smile Care Valencia provides dentist-supervised take-home whitening trays. At the first appointment, impressions may be taken so custom, clear whitening trays can be made for your smile. At your second appointment, we check the tray fit and explain how to use the whitening solution; depending on your goals and the level of staining, the trays may be worn for short daily sessions or overnight as directed.

This is the route the ADA describes as at-home bleaching from your dentist: a custom-made tray, with the dentist's instructions on how to place the bleaching solution and for what length of time. The ADA says it may be a preferred option if you feel more comfortable whitening at home at a slower pace, still with the guidance of a dentist, and that out-of-office bleaching can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Cleveland Clinic gives a longer range: most take-home treatments require 30 to 60 minute daily sessions for up to six weeks.

The ADA lists four ways to whiten and says to talk to your dentist before starting, because not everyone is a candidate. Whitening toothpastes remove surface stain with mild abrasives, and the ADA notes that unlike bleaches they do not change the color of teeth. In-office bleaching usually takes one visit, with a protective gel or rubber shield on the gums before the bleach is applied, and Cleveland Clinic says it takes about one hour. Dentist-supplied take-home trays are the slower, supervised route described above.

Over-the-counter strips and kits bleach too, but the ADA says the concentration of the bleaching agent is lower than what a dentist uses, and Cleveland Clinic warns that while some over-the-counter products are safe and effective, others can damage enamel and make teeth more vulnerable to cavities. Both sources say to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance if you go that route. The professional difference is the exam that comes first: a dentist checks whether your discoloration is the kind that bleaches, and whether a filling, crown or veneer in your smile line will stay its old color while the teeth around it lighten.

The ADA explains that some people who use whiteners experience tooth sensitivity, which happens when the peroxide gets through the enamel to the soft layer of dentin and irritates the nerve of the tooth. In most cases the sensitivity is temporary, and the ADA says you can delay treatment and then try again. This is why your sensitivity history is part of the exam before we make your trays.

The other risk is overuse. The ADA says overusing whiteners can damage the tooth enamel or gums, so follow the directions you are given and ask before changing how long or how often you wear the trays.

New stains can build after whitening, because the same chromogens from coffee, tea and red wine keep attaching to enamel. Neither the ADA nor Cleveland Clinic puts a number of months on how long a whitening result lasts, so we do not either. What Cleveland Clinic does give is how to slow the return of everyday surface staining: brush at least twice a day for two minutes and floss daily, cut down on tea, coffee, cola and red wine, drink water and rinse your mouth after drinks that stain, wait an hour before brushing after citrus, soda or candy, and keep up routine cleanings and exams.

A whitening toothpaste that carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance can help with surface stain between treatments, with the ADA's reminder that it polishes rather than bleaches.

Because whitening does nothing to restorations, the order of treatment matters. Cleveland Clinic lists bonding for deep discoloration that does not improve with whitening, porcelain veneers for widespread discoloration that does not improve with whitening, and a crown for a tooth that is weakened or decayed as well as discolored.

Patients from Valencia, Santa Clarita, Saugus, Newhall and Stevenson Ranch come to our office for cosmetic dentistry.

We do not list a price on this page. Our team helps patients understand their benefits and financial options clearly before proceeding, accepts CareCredit and offers financial arrangements, and will gladly verify your coverage before treatment. Call (661) 255-1211 or request an appointment online to ask about whitening trays.