Teeth Whitening – Owings Mills, MD

Do you have an upcoming occasion, such as a reunion, wedding, or another momentous event, that you want to look your best for? Unfortunately, if your enamel is tinted more brown or yellow than pearly white, you might worry about being judged for your appearance or avoid having any pictures taken on the big day.

Thankfully, Dr. Milner offers in-office and take-home professional teeth whitening options for dazzling results that can boost your confidence. Continue reading to learn more about this popular cosmetic service!

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Potentially, anyone feeling self-conscious about dental discoloration could potentially benefit from teeth whitening, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right treatment to meet everyone’s unique needs.

For example, extrinsic stains in your enamel caused by frequent or repeated exposure to darkly tinted foods might respond better to this topical treatment than intrinsic blemishes, which seep into or begin in the lower layer of dentin. The latter might require repeated applications or a different service, such as dental bonding, to achieve the desired results.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Although many commercial-grade products claim to be able to lighten your enamel, many contain diluted bleaches that often cause sensitivity or produce inconsistent results. Meanwhile, our team examines your mouth and treats any pre-existing problems, like cavities or gum disease, that might interfere with the outcome.

Then, if we determine you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening, we might recommend one of the following methods, based on your needs and how quickly you’d like to see changes:

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

We can provide everything you need to achieve brilliantly bright results from the comfort of your living room with one of our take-home kits. We include an ultra-concentrated gel that’s designed to mitigate potential discomfort and custom-fitted trays  designed to fit like a glove for a more comfortable and accurate application. Many patients start to see lighter teeth in as few as two weeks when used as directed.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

Those seeking more immediate results might benefit from an in-office teeth whitening procedure. Our team will carefully apply professional-strength bleach to your enamel, then speed up the bleaching process by shining a special ultraviolet light on your teeth.  This option can potentially lighten your grin by up to eight shades in a single, hour-long appointment.

Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile

Dr. Milner and the rest of our team in Owings Mills look forward to helping you build and maintain the beautifully bright smile you’ve always dreamed of! Once you finally achieve the perfect shade, it’s natural to want to do everything you can to maintain the results. You can help preserve your recent cosmetic enhancement by:

• Implementing an at-home hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing twice daily remove bacteria and plaque that give deeply pigmented particles something to cling to, helping prevent additional discoloration.
• Avoiding darkly toned foods. Steering clear of common culprits, such as tea, coffee, tomatoes, berries, and wine, can keep you from developing more stains.
• Eating more dairy. Lightly toned dairy products, such as milk, Greek yogurt, and white cheese, are unlikely to cause blemishes and are a good source of calcium to strengthen your enamel.
• Investing in touch-ups. You might need periodic retreatment to maintain the just-right hue.
• Scheduling regular exams. Visiting Dr. Milner every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning allows him to protect your dental health and polish away more recent surface stains.