Teeth Whitening

A radiant smile exudes warmth and vitality, ensuring you feel comfortable and confident in your appearance. Experienced dentist Karen Martinez, DDS, can help you achieve the bright smile you desire at New Smile Dental of Pico Rivera in Pico Rivera, California. With multiple teeth whitening options, including laser treatments, take-home trays, one-hour, and same-day, Dr. Martinez can whiten your smile on your terms. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online to learn more. 

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment that lightens the color of your teeth. It’s one of the fastest, most effective procedures to dramatically enhance your smile’s appearance without downtime. New Smile Dental of Pico Rivera offers multiple teeth whitening solutions to brighten your enamel by up to eight shades in one visit.

How does teeth whitening lighten discoloration?

Teeth whitening products contain agents such as carbamide and hydrogen peroxide that break down into oxygen and water when applied to the teeth. The oxygen released by the bleaching agents penetrates the enamel and reacts with the molecules that cause staining. This reaction shatters the bond that stain molecules have on your teeth, making them easy to remove. 

Are there different types of teeth whitening?

Many types of teeth whitening can effectively brighten your smile, but some offer more satisfying results than others. After an initial consultation at New Smile Dental of Pico Rivera, Dr. Martinez can recommend the best teeth whitening treatment for your needs and goals. 

The most popular types of teeth whitening are:

Over-the-counter (OTC) whitening

OTC products such as whitening strips, toothpaste, and topical solutions can target surface extrinsic (surface) stains, but their active ingredients aren’t potent enough to address intrinsic (deep) discoloration.

In-office chairside whitening

Zoom!® is an in-office treatment that combines potent solutions with laser whitening to significantly brighten the natural shade of your teeth in under one hour

Take-home whitening trays

Take-home trays use impressions of your teeth and dental-grade whitening gel to remove deep stains over the course of one to two weeks.

How long does teeth whitening last?

Results from teeth whitening can last for up to a year or longer with proper care. You can maintain your beautiful results by taking a few extra steps such as:

• Avoiding tooth-staining foods (red sauce, curry, soy sauce, berries, etc.)
• Limiting coffee, tea, and red wine consumption
• Changing certain medications
• Brushing and flossing regularly
• Scheduling regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings
• Quitting smoking and tobacco products
• Rinsing after consuming tooth-staining beverages

If you’ve recently had laser whitening at New Smile Dental of Pico Rivera, Dr. Martinez may recommend maintaining your results with take-home trays.

Teeth whitening has the power to enhance your smile and boost your confidence. Call New Smile Dental of Pico Rivera today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.