TL;DR
Stone Falls Dental Care in O’Fallon whitens teeth two ways: custom take-home trays with professional gel, and KöR deep bleaching, which pairs trays with in-office sessions for darker or stubborn stains. Yellow and brown stains from coffee, tea, wine and age respond best; gray medication stains take longer. Whitening changes natural enamel only, so crowns, veneers and fillings stay their current shade. Sensitivity is usually mild and temporary. The practice has run whitening offers such as free whitening for life with regular checkups, so ask which are current.
How does professional teeth whitening work?
Whitening gel contains a peroxide that soaks into enamel and the layer beneath it, breaking apart the stain molecules that make teeth look yellow or dull. The tooth structure itself isn’t removed or roughened. The color simply lightens as those stains break down.
What makes professional whitening different from strips and store kits is control. Trays made from impressions of your own teeth hold the gel evenly against every surface and keep it off your gums, and the gel is stronger than over-the-counter products. Before any whitening, we check for cavities, gum disease and exposed roots, since whitening on top of those problems causes discomfort and uneven results.
Which whitening options does Stone Falls offer?
There are two main routes, and Dr. Prane will help you choose based on your stains, your schedule and how far you want to go.
Take-home trays suit most people with ordinary yellowing and a little patience. KöR suits darker, older or medication-related stains, or anyone who wants the most change the office can offer. The practice’s cosmetic menu has also long included Opalescence, a professional whitening gel system. If you’re planning porcelain veneers or new crowns, whitening is usually the first step, so the porcelain can be matched to your finished shade.
- Take-home whitening: custom trays and professional gel you wear at home on a schedule we set, typically over a couple of weeks
- KöR deep bleaching: specially fitted trays worn overnight plus one or two in-office sessions, for deeper or long-standing stains
- Touch-up gel for your existing trays, to keep results bright
Which stains respond to whitening, and which don’t?
Yellow and brown stains respond best. Those come from coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco and the gradual darkening that happens with age. Gray or banded stains from tetracycline and similar antibiotics taken in childhood are harder to lift; they respond slowly, often need a longer course, and are where KöR whitening earns its place.
Whitening only changes natural enamel. Crowns, veneers, bonding and tooth-colored fillings stay the shade they are now, so a front crown that matches today may look darker beside freshly whitened teeth. If you plan to replace old dental work in a visible spot, whiten first and match the new work to the brighter shade. White fluorosis spots can stand out more for a few days before they blend back in.
Is whitening safe, and will it make your teeth sensitive?
Whitening is safe for teeth and gums when it’s supervised by a dentist and used as directed. The most common side effect is temporary sensitivity to cold, which fades once you stop or space out treatments.
If sensitivity shows up, wear the trays for shorter stretches or skip a day, and use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth in the weeks around your treatment. A little gum irritation usually means too much gel in the tray, and using less fixes it. Whitening isn’t recommended during pregnancy, or while decay or gum disease is untreated.
How long does whitening last, and what offers has the practice run?
Results typically last from several months to a few years, depending on what you eat and drink and whether you smoke. A short touch-up with your own trays brings the color back, and the trays last for years if you look after them.
The practice has run several whitening offers. Free Whitening for Life has given new and existing patients custom trays, professional gel and free touch-up kits, as long as they finish an exam, X-rays and cleaning and keep up their regular checkups. New patients have been offered a $99 visit pairing an exam and cleaning with a home whitening kit, and veterans and military families have received free whitening around Flag Day. Offers change, so see our current specials or ask the front desk.