Metairie Kor bleaching Archives - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

At my last dental appointment, I got a coupon for $10 off a sonic toothbrush. I’m thinking about trying it as an alternative to the $300 that it would cost to get my teeth whitened by my dentist. I know that the toothbrush isn’t cheap either but I might save $150 or so because I’m hoping that with time the toothbrush will get my teeth whiter. Will it help? – Rinaldo P. from New Orleans

Rinaldo,

The toothbrush will get your teeth cleaner, but if you want to whiten them, the best way to do so is with teeth whitening from your dentist.

Your dentist will be able to offer you in-office teeth whitening, or a take-home kit. In office treatment is more expensive, but it also is a faster way to a brighter smile—usually within an hour. You’ll receive take-home treatment with customized trays for your teeth, along with bleaching gel for touch-ups to maintain your bright smile.

Take-home teeth whitening is less expensive than the in-office treatment. You’ll still received customized trays and bleaching gel. You’ll put gel in the trays and wear them for a specified period every day, or overnight as your dentists directs. In two to three weeks, you’ll have a dazzling smile.

There are advantages of getting this treatment from your dentist. You’ll receive customized trays that will help you avoid wasting the gel or irritating your gums. Depending on the cause of the stains on your teeth, the bleaching gel makes the stains on them more noticeable. Or, you might have had dental work in the past, with which the bleaching gel is not compatible. And there are some stains, such as tetracycline stains, that require KöR deep bleaching, which you can only receive from your dentist.

Your dentist will be able to tell you if teeth whitening is right for you, and which method and brand will work best.

This blog post is sponsored by the office of New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie.

My teeth are stained by tetracycline. My dentist is recommending crowns for my front teeth, but I am wondering if teeth whitening will help. If not, what are my options? – Beverly

Beverly – It’s best to avoid having crowns placed on your teeth. There are two other ways to handle the tetracycline stains.

Tetracycline is a powerful antibiotic that treats certain infections, and it can be life-saving. It can also treat acne. If tetracycline is taken while your teeth are still developing, it will deposit in your teeth and darken them. You’ll have gray or brown stains in your teeth. Sometimes the color of tetracycline stains presents itself as horizontal bands on the teeth.

One way to cover the stains is with porcelain veneers. But porcelain veneers are quite thin, and to get beautiful results without the dark stains showing through requires the expertise of a cosmetic dentist. Perhaps that’s why your dentist wants to use crowns instead. You can get beautiful results from a cosmetic dentist who understands the techniques required to give the veneers the right color and translucency, and who works with an expert dental laboratory technician.

The KöR Deep Bleaching System is a second way to treat the tetracycline stains. Many dentists say that teeth whitening will not budge tetracycline stains, but KöR deep bleaching has proven effective on these stains. See an example in the before-and-after photographs below.

This blog is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Is a sonic toothbrush good for teeth whitening?

Will teeth whitening help tetracycline stained teeth?