As people age, their teeth gradually lose the bright white color it had when they were younger. The result is teeth that appear slightly yellow or light brown, which you may find unattractive and embarrassing. The good news is that you can improve the appearance of your smile quickly with professional teeth whitening in Portland, OR.

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Teeth Stains

When stains develop inside of tooth enamel, dentists refer to it as intrinsic staining. Although the staining is sometimes present from childhood, most people don’t notice it until much later. Common causes of intrinsic staining include thinning tooth enamel as you age, frequent use of antibiotics, and a high level of fluoride exposure.

Extrinsic stains develop on the outer layer of your teeth. Tobacco use, artificial food coloring, and heavy coffee drinking are the most typical reasons for extrinsic tooth staining. Regardless of which type of tooth staining you have or whether you have both, City Dental offers two simple treatment options.

Laser Whitening

Our dentists typically recommend laser whitening for patients with deeply-set stains on their teeth. When you choose laser whitening, you can expect to sit comfortably in a dental chair while an assistant applies a bleaching solution to your teeth. The dentist working with you then activates the bleaching solution with a light laser. You do not feel any discomfort.

Tooth Bleaching

With this type of teeth whitening, your dentist pours bleaching solution into two trays customized to fit your top and bottom rows of teeth. You come to City Dental for a few 30 to 60-minute sessions and can expect to see results within about four weeks.

Are you ready for a whiter, brighter smile? Schedule a cosmetic dentistry appointment with City Dental in Portland, OR to learn more about each of these treatment options.