A recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry revealed that most people wish they could brighten their smiles. Dr. Michael Young offers many different techniques to improve the appearance of your smile. Your Lafayette cosmetic dentist will determine which method will best treat your discolorations and suit your needs.
Zoom! In-Office Whitening
The Zoom! Whitening procedure is performed in our Lafayette dentist office. Dr. Young will apply a strong whitening gel to the surface of your teeth. He will activate the gel with a special light to brighten your teeth six to ten shades—in just one hour! In-office whitening is considered the safest bleaching treatment because your Lafayette cosmetic dentist will monitor your progress and protect your lips and gums. After the procedure, Dr. Young will apply a fluoride treatment to strengthen your teeth, and provide take-home trays for maintenance. Zoom! is ideal for patients who want quick results and people with light or shallow surface blemishes.
Take-Home Whitening Trays
For take-home whitening, Dr. Young will take impressions of your mouth and a laboratory will create your custom-fitted trays. You will fill the trays with a prescription peroxide gel and wear the appliances overnight or for about three hours each day. Dr. Young offers three different strengths of gel to brighten your teeth, depending on the color and depth of your stains. Take-home whitening takes about three to four weeks to achieve your desired look, but will leave your smile bright in the end. Dr. Young recommends take-home whitening for patients who want to whiten at their own leisure and people with badly stained teeth.
Hiding Discolorations
Intrinsic stains—stains that occur on the inside of your tooth as a result of medication, fluorosis, infection, or injury—and extremely dark stains may not be completely erased with professional whitening. In these cases, Dr. Young suggests masking your imperfections with veneers or bonding. During bonding, your Lafayette cosmetic dentist will apply a composite resin on the outside of your tooth. He will harden the resin with a curing light, and sculpt and polish it into shape. For veneers, Dr. Young will cover the surface of your teeth with thin pieces of porcelain. Veneers are handcrafted by a skilled ceramist to ensure natural fit and beauty.
Dr. Young will analyze your smile to determine which whitening treatment will brighten your grin. Contact our dentist office in Lafayette, Louisiana at (337) 237-6453 to schedule a cosmetic consultation.
