Teeth whitening, the most popular cosmetic dental treatment in America, is a hot topic among dentists and patients alike. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz shares important information about choosing between drugstore whitening products and professional teeth whitening in Astoria, NY.
Concern: “I only want to brighten my smile by only a few shades.”
Both options allow you to gradually brighten your smile within the comfort of your own home, and both can erase light staining. Most OTC formulas, even those that claim to be professional strength, lack the concentrated whitening power of our take-home kits. If you plan to whiten your teeth by only a few shades, or if you are not yet ready to invest in your smile, you may be a good match for an over-the-counter product. Avoid toothpaste or mouthwash that claims to whiten teeth. These products remove plaque from the surface of your teeth, making them appear whiter, but they do not actually brighten your tooth enamel.
Concern: “Drugstore whitening kits don’t seem to help.”
For more dramatic whitening, or for teeth with moderate to severe stains, Dr. Leibowitz recommends our professional home whitening kit. You will benefit from professional whitening if your teeth show signs of tobacco use, coffee drinking, or discoloration caused by taking tetracycline or other medications. Professional whitening offers several advantages over the products on grocery store shelves, including:
- Custom-fitted trays for even whitening
- High-powered whitening formula
- A more comfortable fit—no one-size-fits-all
Concern: “I want more than just a whiter smile.”
Some stains are so resilient that they cannot be addressed with traditional whitening methods. In other cases the problem is not necessarily that the tooth enamel is badly stained, but that the enamel has worn so thin that the dentin beneath it is visible. Dentin, which appears yellow or even light brown in color, does not respond to whitening. Dr. Leibowitz may recommend either bonding or porcelain veneers as a solution to discoloration and several more cosmetic concerns, such as gaps between teeth, mildly crooked or overlapping teeth, or teeth that appear too small or lack uniform shape.
Need help choosing the best teeth whitening treatment? To learn more about professional teeth whitening in Astoria, NY, or to request a consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, contact us at 718-728-8320. Dr. Leibowitz, a graduate of SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, welcomes patients living across upstate New York and New Jersey, including residents of Queens, Astoria, and New York City.
