Teeth Whitening Nashville, TN

Do you have one or more stained teeth? Are you looking for a confidence boost? At 615 Smile Design Studio, Dr. Kevin Sivaneri and Dr. Ashley Whetsell provide teeth whitening treatment in Nashville, TN.

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dentistry treatment that can brighten the appearance of tooth enamel. Whitening can encourage patients to maintain their results with a good oral hygiene routine and regular professional care. Whether you have tea and coffee stains or discoloration from tooth damage; we can help. Our dental team collaborates with patients to find the best smile-whitening method.

Teeth Whitening in Nashville, Tennessee

What Causes Tooth Stains?

You may have stained, yellowed, and discolored teeth for a variety of reasons, including:

Foods and Drinks

Drinking coffee, tea, and wine can stain your teeth. Some foods like berries and tomato sauce can also discolor teeth over time. Skipping regular professional dental cleanings can leave these stains on the teeth.

Poor oral hygiene can also worsen staining. Stains can stay on your teeth if you do not thoroughly clean your smile.

Tobacco Products

Smoking cigarettes, vaping, and using tobacco can yellow the tooth enamel. Tobacco contains nicotine, a substance that not only yellows the enamel but also causes bad breath. Even if you occasionally use tobacco products, you can stain your smile. We recommend that you quit smoking before you get teeth whitening to keep your teeth bright. 

Dental Injuries

You may have noticed your tooth turn grey if you have a worn or broken tooth. This is because dental injuries affect the blood vessels within the tooth. Burst blood vessels can create a grey or darkened tooth.

Falls, accidents, or sports injuries can all lead to tooth discoloration. If you notice a dark spot on your tooth after an injury, contact our office so we can cover your tooth.

Medication

Some medications can darken the tooth enamel. Before treatment, we will consider your current medications and medical conditions to see if whitening is right for you. We may recommend alternatives to whitening like veneers or bonding if you want to cover your teeth.

Aging

As you age, you can experience more dental problems that impact the appearance of your smile. You may also experience tooth wear over time. As the outer layer of the tooth, called the tooth enamel, wears away, it uncovers dentin. This layer is darker than the enamel, which means teeth can appear darker than they are if you have worn teeth.

Professional vs. Store-Bought Whitening Products

Over-the-counter whitening products like strips, gels, or pens often don’t work. These store-bought products often have lower percentages of active ingredients that remove tooth stains. Uneven application of store-bought whitening products can also lead to poor results. Even if you get results from store-bought options, the results often don’t last.

Professional teeth whitening in our Nashville, TN office uses higher levels of active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide. An even application helps the ingredients penetrate the enamel and lift tooth stains.

These treatments are also safe and effective. Our dentist will carefully monitor you during the  whitening process to ensure that your gums and teeth are not damaged. This can help prevent potential issues such as gum irritation or enamel damage.

These problems often occur with improper use of whitening products. We ensure that our in-office and take-home treatments protect against tooth and gum sensitivity.

Professional whitening treatments are also customized to your individual needs. A dentist will assess your teeth and determine the best course of treatment to achieve your desired results. This personalized approach ensures you get the best possible outcome.

In addition to the aesthetic benefits of a whiter smile, professional whitening treatments can also improve your oral health. Your whiter teeth may encourage you to maintain better oral hygiene habits. A brighter smile can also boost your self-confidence and make you more likely to smile, which can positively affect your mental and emotional well-being.

Teeth Whitening in Nashville, TN

Our office provides a variety of whitening treatments. We offer Opalescence Go prefilled whitening trays, customized whitening trays, and KöR Teeth Whitening.

Opalescence GO™

We provide a convenient way to whiten your teeth with the whitening kit from Opalescence Go™. This kit comes with an inner and outer tray. You will bite firmly and suck on the innermost tray, removing the colored outer tray. The pre-filled whitening tray will conform to teeth.

You will wear the trays for one to two weeks. We will recommend how long you wear the trays each day depending on the type of whitening gel you choose. You will wear the trays for 30 to 60 minutes a day if the whitening gel contains 10% hydrogen peroxide. If you choose the gel with 15% hydrogen peroxide, you will wear the trays 15 to 20 minutes each day.

Custom Whitening Trays

For a more custom treatment, we can create take-home whitening trays. We take digital impressions to create trays that match the natural contours of the smile. Custom trays offer a simpler treatment because they deliver effective whitening ingredients to each tooth. Like other take-home treatments, we will tell you how long to wear the trays each day. 

KöR Teeth Whitening 

KöR teeth whitening uses in-office and take-home treatment for the best results. The take-home KöR-Seal™ trays seal out saliva. These trays offer more effective treatment because saliva can destroy peroxide, an active ingredient in the whitening gel. We will also instruct you on how long to wear the trays for the most effective treatment. 

In our office, we will begin whitening sessions with KöR by isolating the teeth and applying a desensitizing gel. Then, we apply the whitening gel to each tooth. After 20 minutes, we remove the gel and repeat the process.

KöR offers more lengthy treatment than other options. However, its sealed design and powerful active ingredients can make it an effective option for many patients. This treatment can lift tough tooth stains and provide lasting results. 

How To Keep Teeth Bright After Teeth Whitening

We recommend you continue brushing and flossing daily to maintain your whitening results. When you brush, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid toothpaste with abrasive ingredients.

Avoid beverages like coffee, soda, or tea. If you drink these beverages, you can use a straw to prevent tooth stains. You can also drink water to help wash away leftover debris on your teeth. 

Schedule routine cleanings every six months. During these cleanings, we will remove plaque and tartar, which can discolor teeth and lead to tooth and gum infections. You can also receive touch-ups every six months. Treatment with KöR offers longer-lasting results, so you may only need treatment again after several years. 

Alternatives to Professional Teeth Whitening

We recommend restorative and cosmetic treatment for extremely sensitive teeth or intrinsic stains. Severe tooth sensitivity can prevent you from receiving teeth whitening treatment because you can experience pain and discomfort.

Tooth stains are categorized as extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic tooth stains occur on the enamel, or outer tooth layer. We can remove stains from foods, drinks, and tobacco with whitening treatment. 

Intrinsic stains occur within the tooth. Staining particles can build beneath the tooth’s outer layer, leading to deep stains. We cannot lift these stains with a teeth whitening treatment.

However, we offer common cosmetic and restorative treatments that can cover and brighten these tooth stains:

  • Dental Veneers: Veneers are shell-like treatments that cover the front teeth. We will recommend porcelain veneers if you have discolored teeth in your smile zone. Veneers can cover one or more teeth that show when you smile. A full set uses eight veneers to cover all your front teeth.
  • Tooth Bonding: Dental bonding uses tooth-colored resin materials to cover a single stained teeth. Bonding treatment can also address chips, cracks, and other dental injuries that discolor teeth. Unlike veneers, bonding is a more affordable option. 
  • Dental Crown: Dental crowns are caps that fully cover and protect teeth. They typically cover worn or damaged teeth. However, a tooth crown can address damaged and discolored teeth at the same time. 

Our office will work with you during a consultation to decide which treatment is best for you. We will find the best treatment to achieve your cosmetic goals while staying within your budget.

Brighten Your Smile Today

Do you want a professional teeth whitening treatment in Nashville, TN? Contact 615 Smile Design Studio at (615) 637-2878. You can also schedule a dental appointment with us on our website.

Please let us know if you have questions about your whitening options. We will be happy to help.