As we approach summertime everyone is more conscious of their appearance. We’re getting in shape for beach season by exercising and toning our bodies. But what about your smile? How does it measure up?

If you’re looking for a quick solution to brightening your smile, tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive cosmetic dental treatment that brightens the color of your natural tooth enamel and dramatically enhances the beauty of your smile. The Los Gatos, CA Cosmetic Dentist has several options for whitening your discolored teeth, but since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it helps to be aware of the factors that contribute to discoloration of your smile.

Nature: Some people’s teeth are inherently more yellow in color. This is not a defect, and the simple explanation for this is that the enamel (the outermost layer) of your teeth is more translucent, making the underlying yellow dentin more apparent.

Improper Oral Hygiene: This is a major contributor to the discoloration of your teeth. Poor oral hygiene will always result in yellowing of the teeth, along with other major dental problems.

Aging: As we age, our teeth will naturally become worn and somewhat discolored. No matter how much care you take with your oral hygiene, the enamel becomes slightly pitted and worn, allowing staining agents to gradually discolor your teeth. The wearing of the enamel also makes the yellowish dentin more noticeable

Staining: There are a number of stain-causing foods and products that are responsible for a vast majority of tooth discolorations: tobacco, coffee, tea, dark sodas (such as cola), red wine, dark fruit juices (grape, cranberry), blueberries, soy sauce and tomato sauce. Obviously, it’s not necessary or even advisable to cut all these foods out completely, but you have a better chance of maintaining a healthy white smile if you remember to brush or at least rinse your mouth after ingesting these products.

A beautiful white smile is one of your greatest assets and the first thing people notice about you. It’s an important part of that vital first impression. You don’t have to settle for a less-than-dazzling smile. The Los Gatos Cosmetic Dentistry has several tooth whitening options that can get you on your way to the bright sparkling smile you’ve always wanted.

As we approach summertime everyone is more conscious of their appearance. We’re getting in shape for beach season by exercising and toning our bodies. But what about your smile? How does it measure up?

If you’re looking for a quick solution to brightening your smile, tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive cosmetic dental treatment that brightens the color of your natural tooth enamel and dramatically enhances the beauty of your smile. The Los Gatos, CA Cosmetic Dentist has several options for whitening your discolored teeth, but since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it helps to be aware of the factors that contribute to discoloration of your smile.

Nature: Some people’s teeth are inherently more yellow in color. This is not a defect, and the simple explanation for this is that the enamel (the outermost layer) of your teeth is more translucent, making the underlying yellow dentin more apparent.

Improper Oral Hygiene: This is a major contributor to the discoloration of your teeth. Poor oral hygiene will always result in yellowing of the teeth, along with other major dental problems.

Aging: As we age, our teeth will naturally become worn and somewhat discolored. No matter how much care you take with your oral hygiene, the enamel becomes slightly pitted and worn, allowing staining agents to gradually discolor your teeth. The wearing of the enamel also makes the yellowish dentin more noticeable

Staining: There are a number of stain-causing foods and products that are responsible for a vast majority of tooth discolorations: tobacco, coffee, tea, dark sodas (such as cola), red wine, dark fruit juices (grape, cranberry), blueberries, soy sauce and tomato sauce. Obviously, it’s not necessary or even advisable to cut all these foods out completely, but you have a better chance of maintaining a healthy white smile if you remember to brush or at least rinse your mouth after ingesting these products.

A beautiful white smile is one of your greatest assets and the first thing people notice about you. It’s an important part of that vital first impression. You don’t have to settle for a less-than-dazzling smile. Los Gatos Cosmetic Dentistry has several tooth whitening options that can get you on your way to the bright sparkling smile you’ve always wanted.

There are many reasons for teeth to become dull and discolored. Age, stain-producing food, drink and tobacco are just a few of the causes that can lead to a less-than-dazzling smile. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry provides many options for whitening your teeth and to bring back your radiant smile.

At Los Gatos Dental we use the Sapphire Teeth Whitening System. This is a bleaching process that is very effective in lightening discolored tooth enamel. One of the benefits of this system is that this is one of the few companies that have incorporated a desensitizing agent into their whitener's formulation. This feature helps minimize the patient's potential for post-bleaching sensitivity.

The Sapphire Whitening Process
Treatment begins by protecting the lips and gums, leaving only the teeth exposed. A hydrogen peroxide-based gel is then applied. The Sapphire procedure uses a light bleaching unit that has been designed to filter out infrared emissions. This feature helps to insure that the teeth being treated don't become over-heated, which is important for your comfort.

The whitener is usually applied to the teeth in two 30-minute applications. Upper and lower teeth are treated at the same time, and the total time including pre- and post-treatment is somewhere around 90 minutes.

At-Home Follow Up
You will be given a Sapphire touch-up kit to take home along with instructions on how the kit should be used. We also advise you to use certain stain-producing foods and beverages in moderation to maintain the whitening effects of the Sapphire treatment.

Is Sapphire Whitening Right for You?
Before deciding whether Sapphire In-Office teeth whitening is right for you, your Los Gatos Cosmetic Dentist will conduct a comprehensive examination of your teeth and gums to ensure your overall oral health and discuss your at-home oral hygiene and lifestyle. This will help you and your dentist agree on the whitening product or technique that's best for you.

One of my long-time patients, Karen, came in for her routine exam. During the exam, Karen mentioned to me that she was about to re-enter the job market after years of being a “domestic engineer”, as she cheerfully referred to it. Karen’s teeth were in generally good condition, but she was self-conscious about her smile because of chipped front teeth. When I asked why she had never addressed this with me before, she laughed and said, “Dr. Sawyer, I’m not a millionaire!” It occurred to me that lots of people share Karen’s belief that Cosmetic Dentistry is only for movie stars and celebrities. So I told Karen that, with the advances in modern cosmetic dentistry there was no reason to think that a beautiful, dazzling smile was beyond her reach.

The fact is that, with modern treatments offered by Los Gatos Cosmetic Dentist, it is now possible to not only maintain your smile for good oral health, but also to improve your overall appearance and boost your confidence. Using subtle and largely non-invasive procedures, cosmetic dentistry helps your teeth fit together better, creating a whiter, even, beautiful smile. Procedures include veneers, or, as my office make available, Lumineers™, teeth whitening or bleaching, and Invisalign to help rearrange the fit and harmony of your teeth.

Invisalign straightens your teeth invisibly, and whitening and bleaching techniques create a natural, but noticeably brighter smile. Teeth whitening and veneers offer a virtually pain free, effective option for maximum results and can effectively reverse the damage done by caffeine and tobacco. Chipped, stained, and crooked teeth make excellent candidates for veneers or Lumineers™, which fit over your natural teeth reshaping and brighten the tooth by covering it with an artificial surface.

Beyond the obvious aesthetic benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry used by Los Gatos CA Dentist Office, chipped or misaligned teeth can contribute to problems with your bite, creating additional problems down the road. In short, modern cosmetic dentistry offers you the chance to maximize the health and vitality of your mouth, A few short years ago, a visit to the dentist’s office was an experience to be endured. Today your Cosmetic Dentist can help patients like you and Karen transform your teeth into your greatest asset.