Professional Teeth Whitening in Pompano Beach, FL

Who should not whiten, or not yet

Whitening is for healthy adult teeth. It is postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution, not offered to children whose adult teeth are still maturing, and delayed until decay, cracked teeth, gum disease and exposed roots have been treated. Patients whose staining is on crowns, veneers or old bonding need those restorations replaced rather than whitened. Single dark teeth, usually after a root canal or an injury, are whitened individually from the inside rather than with a full-arch system. Dr. Berger sets all of this out at the consultation, and a patient who is not a candidate today is told what would make them one.

Types of stain and what lightens them

Extrinsic stain sits on the surface from coffee, tea, wine and tobacco and is largely removed by a cleaning; intrinsic stain is inside the tooth from age, trauma, fluorosis or tetracycline and needs peroxide. Yellow and brown intrinsic stain is the easiest to lighten and responds to any professional system. Grey and blue tones, tetracycline bands and the uniform darkening of age are harder, lighten more slowly, and are the reason KöR is here. White spots from fluorosis or old braces can look more obvious after whitening before they blend, and are sometimes treated with resin infiltration or bonding afterward.

Sensitivity, and why professional whitening causes less of it

Peroxide briefly dehydrates the tooth and can reach the nerve through enamel, which causes the sharp, short zings some patients feel during or after whitening. Over-the-counter products cause more of this than people expect because the gel runs onto the gums and the strips cannot be adjusted. Professional whitening manages it: a desensitizing gel before and after, a gum barrier or a tray that seals at the gumline, a strength and wear time chosen for your teeth, and the option to stop or slow down. Sensitivity, when it happens, resolves within a day or two and does not harm the tooth.

Whitening before cosmetic dentistry

Because porcelain and composite do not change color, whitening comes before any new veneer, crown or bonding on a visible tooth, and shade selection is scheduled at least two weeks after whitening so the color has settled. Many of our cosmetic patients find that whitening first reduces how many teeth need veneers, or removes the need entirely. Our smile makeover page explains the sequence; the Zoom page covers the fastest way to set the target shade and the Opalescence page the gentlest.

Keeping teeth white

Any whitening fades as new pigment accumulates, faster with coffee, tea, red wine, dark sodas and tobacco. The practical habits are rinsing with water after staining drinks, using a straw for iced ones, brushing with a non-abrasive whitening toothpaste, and keeping six-monthly cleanings that remove surface stain. The decisive habit is the trays: a night or two of mild gel every few months keeps the shade where the treatment put it, which is why trays are part of every whitening plan here and refills are kept in stock.

Cost and insurance

Each system is quoted as a single written fee after the exam, covering the treatment, custom trays and a starter supply of gel; KöR costs more than Zoom or Opalescence because of its laboratory-made trays and in-office visits. Whitening is cosmetic and not covered by dental insurance, although the exam and cleaning usually are. Financing is available, and whitening is often bundled with a smile makeover.