Teeth Whitening at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group

Our team of Nanaimo dentists and dental care professionals want you to have the most healthy and attractive smile you can.

As we age, this often involves teeth whitening. Not all teeth whitening is the same however, and we want you to be fully informed as you consider the possibilities of your beautiful, brighter, whiter smile.

Teeth staining or discoloration can occur for different reasons and the type and degree of staining has an impact on the best whitening treatment available for you.

There are 3 general types of staining: surface stains, soft deposits and intrinsic stains.

Stains or discoloration of the teeth can be surface stains caused by strong discolouring agents such as coffee, tea, tobacco, blueberries, red wine. Soft deposits are teeth stains caused by plaque build up. Intrinsic stains are caused by medications, such as tetracycline, advanced decay; or defective silver fillings.

Teeth staining is the problem, and you’ve come to the right place to find the solution. Below are the treatment options that may be suggested to you by our Nanaimo dentists and dental professionals and the pros and cons of each.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is here to help you find the best teeth whitening treatment plan for your needs.

Please call us to book a consultation today to learn more about the best teeth whitening treatment option for you.

There are 5 main whitening treatment options at our Downtown Nanaimo dentist office, with polishing and teeth whitening being the most common:

Polishing

Polishing can eliminate many minor surface stains and may be right for you if you have only slight surface staining, want a natural look, rather than a bright white smile and want to invest a minimum of time and money. Stronger stains may require more aggressive treatment, such as micro-abrasion.

  • Treatment Time
    Normally a 15 to 30 minute appointment
  • Maintenance
    Professional cleaning 4 – 6 times per year
  • Pros
    Quick and non-invasive; less expensive than other teeth whitening options
  • Cons
    Requires regular maintenance; limited to light surface staining; doesn’t address the shaping of the teeth

Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening processes are the most popular form of smile enhancement at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group. Using a strong oxidizing agent, teeth whitening is often a highly effective way to brighten your smile. Teeth with yellow stains are the easiest to lighten with teeth whitening treatment, while brown or gray stains are not easily removed through whitening.

Tooth whitening is a quick and economical way to improve the appearance of your smile. After an in-office procedure of 1 hour, your teeth will look younger and brighter.

Alternatively, you can also do this at home. This involves either pre filled disposable trays, which are quick and easy or a custom made whitening system. Touch ups can be done regularly as required with every product.

For your whiter brighter smile, you have 2 options.

Take Home Custom Trays
This system is the “gold standard” of whitening treatments. It goes beyond over-the-counter products because it allows you the higher level of care and follow ups with your dentist. Trays are custom fabricated and the gel comes in a professional strength of 35% Carbamide Peroxide.

The gel is incorporated with Potassium Nitrate and Fluoride, this unique formula minimizes sensitivity, provides anti caries benefits, increases enamel micro hardness, and of course whitens beautifully.

This provides ultra-quick results, with a wear time of approximately 30 minutes a day. This is a perfect choice for you in your busy life style.

In-Office Whitening
If your are looking for fast results, then this is your best option. This procedure is carried out and solution is applied right in your dental chair. This gel is 38% Hydrogen Peroxide applied 3-5 times, for 20 minutes durations.

By doing this you get the freshest chemistry which delivers the best results. This newest system does not require any light activation, as do so many other products. The heat from the light has been found to dehydrate the tooth structure which gives a false sense of colour, making this product superior to all others.

The gel consists of Potassium Nitrate with Fluoride, clinically proven to lessen sensitivity, increase enamel micro hardness and provides anti-caries benefits.

Ultimately, this system allows the fastest hassle free result which can be maintained with pre filled disposable trays as required.

  • Teeth Whitening Treatment Time
    Nanaimo In-office bleaching: 1 office visit of 1 – 1 ½ hours
    Pre-filled disposable trays: 7 – 10 days / 15 – 20 minutes each use
    Take home custom trays: 7 days / 30 minutes each use
  • Maintenance
    Annual touch-ups may be required
  • Pros
    One of the least expensive whitening methods; effective in a large majority of selected cases
  • Cons
    Can cause discomfort if large tooth pulp is present; not effective on all types of stains; doesn’t address shaping of the teeth

Bonding

In dental bonding, a composite resin is applied to the tooth surface to cover stains. Since the bonding material covers the surface of the tooth, it can be used effectively on a wide variety of stains. As an added benefit bonding can also be used to cosmetically contour teeth.

Bonding may be a good treatment option for grey or brown spots on teeth, excessive wear or stains due to silver fillings. Since the composite resin material used in bonding tends to stain easily, it’s not a good option for heavy smokers or coffee drinkers and may require period repair.

  • Treatment Time
    1 office visit
  • Maintenance
    Professional cleaning 3 – 4 times per year; may require dentist visits for polishing or repair as necessary
  • Pros
    Results obtained in 1 appointment; less expensive than porcelain veneers or crowns; easy to repair; allows for some cosmetic shaping of teeth as well as whitening
  • Cons
    Prone to stains and chips and requires increased maintenance; may not cover dark stains; gum irritation may occur

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers involve bonding a thin laminated veneer made of porcelain to the etched enamel tooth surface. The primary advantages are the beauty and durability of the material. Because porcelain doesn’t stain like composite resin, it remains attractive for a much longer period of time.

If you want a significant change in the color of your teeth and can afford the relative cost of the treatment, porcelain veneers may be the whitening treatment for you.

  • Treatment Time
    2 – 3 office visitsdental veneers nanaimo cosmetic dentists
  • Maintenance
    Professional cleaning 3 – 4 times per year; take care when eating hard foods; make require dentist visit for resealing of margins
  • Pros
    Minimal staining or loss of color; less tooth reduction required compared to crowns; lasts longer than bonding; allows for cosmetic re-shaping of teeth
  • Cons
    More expensive than other treatment methods; difficult to repair if veneer cracks or chips

Crowns

Using dental crowns for whitening is only feasible in combination with other factors. If you have large defective fillings, are looking for a complete smile makeover, including the shape of your teeth and also need some realignment or straightening, dental crowns may be a good teeth whitening option for you.

  • Treatment Time
    Usually 2 office visits, 1 – 4 hours each
  • Maintenance
    Professional cleaning 3 – 4 times per year and yearly fluoride treatment; take care when eating hard foods; floss at least once daily
  • Pros
    Longer lasting than any other treatment method; cosmetic shaping and straightening of crooked teeth is possible; over all bite can be improved
  • Cons
    More expensive and time intensive than other treatments; tooth is altered; line may appear at junction between tooth and crown if tissue shrinkage occurs