When yellowed, discolored teeth affect the appearance of your smile, teeth whitening can help lift stains and rejuvenate its appearance.

Many patients what to know if teeth whitening is right for them. Woodinville, WA, dentists Drs. Cristin Dowd and Ken Wu can determine if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. While teeth whitening is right for many patients, there are some factors that can make some poor candidates for teeth whitening treatment.

Candidates for Teeth Whitening

Many people who are unhappy with tooth discoloration can benefit from teeth whitening at our Woodinville practice. Teeth whitening can be done in-office in about an hour or a take-home option may be used to achieve a brighter smile in about two weeks.

Teeth whitening is right for many people, especially those who identify with one or more of the following:

• Surface stains on the teeth: Teeth whitening is most effective at lifting stains on the surface of the teeth. Such stains are commonly caused by consuming certain foods and drinks, but may come from smoking.
• Coffee and wine drinkers: Coffee and wine can quickly discolor the teeth, which leaves many coffee and wine drinkers wondering if teeth whitening is right for them. Coffee and wine drinkers should be aware that their teeth will become discolored again if they do not take steps to reduce the risk of staining after treatment.
• Good oral health: Candidates for teeth whitening should be free of gum disease, exposed roots, untreated tooth decay, or other oral health problems.
• Want a quickly improved smile: A single in-office whitening treatment can lift years of dental stains, dramatically improving the smile with little effort.

Who Isn't a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening treatment can help many people achieve a brighter, whiter smile but it's not right for everyone. Those with one or more of the following conditions may not be the best candidate for teeth whitening:

• Deep stains: Teeth whitening treatments are best for lifting superficial stains commonly caused by eating certain foods and drinks. Stains that are dark or deeply set within the teeth often don't respond well to teeth whitening.
• Existing dental restorations: People with dental prosthetics, like crowns or porcelain veneers, aren't the best candidates for teeth whitening. This is because the tooth-colored materials used to make dental prosthetics can’t be whitened. If whitening treatments are used, a noticeable difference in color may develop between the prosthetics and the natural teeth.
• Poor oral health: People with poor oral health, such as gum disease and untreated tooth decay, are not good candidates for teeth whitening. Once oral health problems are treated, tooth whitening may be considered.

Although teeth whitening may not be the right treatment for some people, there are other cosmetic dentistry treatments offered at our Woodinville practice that can be used to create a vibrant white smile.

Find out If Teeth Whitening Is Right for You

To find out if teeth whitening is right for you, or to learn about other cosmetic dentistry treatments to improve your smile, we welcome you to call (425) 489-1177 to schedule a consultation at Signature Smiles.