Teeth Whitening in Bardstown

If your teeth are stained or yellowed, you may feel self-conscious about how you look, and these insecurities can have a negative effect on your day-to-day life. But with teeth whitening from Dr. Michael Walton at Walton Family Dentistry, you can reverse decades of stains and yellowing with take-home and in-office whitening treatments. Learn more below, or contact us now to schedule a consultation.

What Is In-office Teeth Whitening?

In-office whitening is done in our office by Dr. Michael Walton, and usually takes just one appointment, though some patients may require 2 or more to reach their desired level of brightness.

He will begin by cleaning your mouth, then protecting your gums and lips using retractors and a special protection gel. Then, he will apply a powerful whitener directly to your teeth, activating it with UV (ultraviolet) light. After this, the whitener will be left in place for a few minutes. Then, it will be rinsed away, and the process will be repeated until your desired results have been achieved.

In-office whitening provides the fastest results, so it’s a great option if you need to whiten your teeth quickly for a special occasion like a wedding or an upcoming business conference.

What Is Take-home Teeth Whitening?

Take-home whitening allows you to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. First, you’ll come to our office to be fitted for a set of reusable custom whitening trays. Then, you’ll come back in a few weeks to pick up your trays and whitening products, and get instructions on their use from Dr. Walton.

Then, you’ll just follow Dr. Walton’s instructions to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. Take-home teeth whitening provides slightly more gradual results, so it’s more subtle. During the process, it will be less obvious that you are having your teeth professionally whitened.

However, take-home teeth whitening is just as effective as professional whitening, so you will end up with a beautiful smile that will look bright for years to come.

How Many Teeth Whitening Sessions Do I Need?

If you choose to have in-office teeth whitening, you will likely only need one teeth whitening session at Walton Family Dentistry. As long as you have mild-to-moderate staining, a single appointment with Dr. Walton can allow you to whiten your teeth by up to 5-10 shades, in most cases.

However, you may need to come back for more than one teeth whitening session if you have very severe tooth stains. One session may not be enough to completely restore your smile. If you have very sensitive teeth, Dr. Walton may also recommend that you spread out your treatment across multiple appointments to reduce post-treatment sensitivity after whitening. 

If you choose at-home whitening, you will only need to have one appointment at Walton Family Dentistry to be fitted for your custom trays. Then, you’ll come to our office to pick up your whitening trays, and you’ll follow Dr. Walton’s instructions to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home.

Does Teeth Whitening Affect Fillings, Crowns, Or Veneers?

No. If you have multiple porcelain crowns or veneers or you have tooth-colored fillings, your whitening treatment will not affect the color of these dental prostheses. This is because the ceramic and composite materials used to create fillings, crowns, and veneers do not react to the chemicals that whiten your natural enamel.

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t whiten your teeth if you have veneers, fillings, or crowns. Dr. Michael Walton will develop a teeth whitening plan that will match your natural teeth to the color of your dental work, ensuring a consistent, seamless result. With professional teeth whitening from Walton Family Dentistry, your smile will always look its best. 

This is also why it’s not a good idea to attempt DIY whitening with over-the-counter whitening kits if you have lots of dental work like fillings, veneers, or crowns. If you whiten your teeth too much, your natural teeth will look brighter than your dental work, creating an inconsistent appearance.

Can Whitening Cause Sensitivity Or Damage My Teeth?

Teeth whitening is known to cause tooth sensitivity in most patients. This is because the whitening chemicals weaken your teeth very slightly, exposing “dentinal microtubules,” that transmit pain and other sensations to the nerves in your teeth. 

The good news is that this is temporary. As you brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after your whitening treatment, your enamel will begin to absorb minerals like calcium and phosphates, and your sensitivity will go away. This usually only takes a few days, in most cases.

When it comes to tooth damage, the answer is a bit more complicated. Professional teeth whitening from Dr. Michael Walton will never damage your teeth, since Dr. Walton will carefully monitor your oral health throughout the process and develop a customized whitening plan just for your needs.

However, if you use an at-home DIY teeth whitening kit, it’s possible to over-whiten your teeth. This can result in a brittle or translucent appearance, and teeth that are much more susceptible to cavities. You may also cause damage to your gums if the whitener contacts your gums for an extended period of time. For these reasons, we highly recommend that you avoid DIY, at-home whitening unless you’re using very mild, ADA-approved products like Crest Whitestrips.

The Benefits Of Teeth Whitening

Not sure why you should invest in teeth whitening in Bardstown from Walton Family Dentistry? Here are just a few advantages of whitening your teeth at our office.

• Improved confidence – You can feel great about your appearance once again, and be confident when you smile, speak, laugh, and eat around others.
• Rejuvenate your appearance – Staining and yellowing can make you look older than you really are. By removing stains, you can make yourself look more youthful, further boosting your self-esteem and confidence.
• Inexpensive & long-lasting results – Teeth whitening is typically one of the most affordable cosmetic dentistry treatments, and your new smile will last you for years to come with proper at-home care.

Schedule A Cosmetic Consultation Today

If you’re interested in restoring the appearance of your smile in Bardstown, Dr. Michaal Walton is here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at (502) 610-0151 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Walton today, and explore all of your options for cosmetic dentistry, including in-office and take-home teeth whitening.