Teeth Whitening: What Are My Options?

Whether your teeth have become stained from drinking coffee, tea, and dark sodas or you were simply born with teeth that appear off-white, there are more options than ever before for whitening your teeth. But if you’ve tried whitening toothpaste or other at-home treatments, and just aren’t getting the results you want, it may be time to consider professional whitening treatments. 

Types of Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments

Whatever the reason you’re considering professional teeth whitening, the results are sure to be faster and longer lasting than over-the-counter methods. There are two options—and either is sure to get you smiling bright again.

 

In-Office Teeth Whitening

In-office teeth whitening offers lots of advantages, and faster, more effective results top the list. In fact, in about an hour, you’ll leave the office with a noticeably brighter smile.

An important benefit not to be ignored is the deep cleanings, which can help with your overall oral health. After the cleaning, the dentist will then:

 

  • Treat your teeth with a high strength whitening solution made from hydrogen peroxide to penetrate the layers of your teeth and break down stains
  • Use a laser or bright ultraviolet (UV) light to trigger a reaction in the peroxide 
  • Rinse the solution and repeat the process until you get the results you want
  • Coat your teeth with a paste or gel to reduce sensitivity 

At-Home Teeth Whitening with Custom Trays

Over-the-counter strips and trays can’t provide the comfortable fit offered by your dental office. And a professional treatment allows a medical strength whitening gel that you can’t buy in a store. If you don’t have time to sit in the dental chair for an hour or just want a quick touch-up before a big event, custom-made trays for at-home teeth whitening may be your best solution — and can give you great results in just a few weeks. And it’s just as convenient as it sounds: You can whiten your teeth for a few hours while watching TV, napping, taking a long drive, or whenever it works best for your schedule. 

Want even faster results? Talk to your dentist about combining an in-office session with at-home treatments.

Your Future Looks Bright

Choosing an office with an experienced cosmetic dentist is key to getting the results you want. North Park Family Dentistry has an expert team ready to help in Edmond and its surrounding areas. If you want to boost your confidence, consider professional teeth whitening with us.

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8 Great Reasons to Consider Invisalign® Clear Aligners

Clear aligners offer a convenient and affordable way to straighten your teeth and improve your oral health. Whether you’re an adult looking to discreetly fix your tooth alignment or a teen looking for an alternative to metal braces, Invisalign® may be your best solution.

About Invisalign® Dental Braces

Invisalign® uses a series of removable, clear aligners—custom-made just for you—to gradually move your teeth into proper alignment. Each set is designed to move your teeth slightly as you wear them for two weeks. Then, that set is replaced by the next set of trays, and so on. 

8 Great Reasons Invisalign® is Better than Braces

If you want straighter teeth, there are a lot of options in Edmond. It’s a big decision, so you need to do some research about the pros and cons of clear aligners versus traditional metal braces and wires. Here’s an overview.

1. Comfortable, Removable Solution

The aligners are removable and fit snugly over your teeth. Worn about 20-22 hours each day, the goal of the aligners is to get your teeth to gradually shift. And of course, any method of moving teeth can cause discomfort. But Invisalign® trays have soft, smooth edges and no metal brackets or wires to poke, cut, or irritate your gums and cheeks.

2. Better Appearance

Because Invisalign® trays are clear and nearly invisible, they provide a very discreet way to straighten your teeth and improve your smile—which most adults prefer.

3. Quicker, Predictable Results

Most people complete Invisalign® treatment in six to 18 months, which is faster than wearing traditional, metal braces. The Invisalign® software also predicts how your teeth will move over time, so you know what to expect at every step along the way. 

4. Fewer Dentist Visits

With Invisalign®, you’ll have fewer visits to the orthodontic office than if you choose traditional braces. And there’s no need for adjustments and repairs. Your occasional visits are simply for checking your progress and getting your next set of aligners. If you live a busy life, fewer visits may prove to be a big benefit. 

 5. Improved Oral Health

Since misaligned teeth contribute to oral health issues — like tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and tooth erosion — as your teeth straighten, you’re less likely to develop these problems.

6. Easy Cleaning

Invisalign® aligners are removable, so they’re easier to clean than braces. Braces are stuck in place and can be hard to clean around. You simply use tap water to clean your Invisalign® trays.

7. Freedom to Eat and Drink What You Like

With clear aligners, you won’t have any food or drink limitations. Just remove them before you eat and drink whatever you like, whenever you like. 

8. Non-Invasive Scanning

With traditional braces, your orthodontist has to take physical dental impressions to form a mold of your teeth. With Invisalign®, a 3D digital scanner captures images your teeth, then computer software produces the digital replica needed to create your aligner trays.

Invisalign® in Edmond

Invisalign® could be your answer to new-found confidence through a more beautiful smile. If you live in or near Edmond, the skilled team at North Park Family Dentistry has the experience you need to ensure the best possible results. Call today for a free Invisalign® consultation.

 

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Top 3 Benefits to Custom-Fit Dentures

There are a number of reasons why people lose teeth: traumatic injury, gum disease, and tooth decay to name a few. No matter the reason, missing teeth affect your appearance and can affect your oral and overall health.

About Dentures

Dentures are appliances that replace teeth missing from your mouth. Dentures are removable, so many people choose to sleep without them and remove them for periods of time while at home. That makes them a convenient solution — even a cost-effective one — if you’re missing more than one tooth.

There are two types of dentures:

  • Full Dentures. Also called complete dentures, full dentures are a great solution for people who are missing all their teeth. With a complete denture set, all your teeth are replaced.
  • Partial Dentures. Partial dentures, which attach securely to your natural teeth that are still in place, are designed for those only missing some of their teeth. Many people opt for partial dentures because they typically cost less than permanently replacing each missing tooth individually.

The Benefits of Dentures

Over 40 million Americans choose to wear dentures. That means a lot of people recognize the convenience, cost-effectiveness, and other advantages of dentures. Here are three great benefits for you to consider.

 

1. Better Chewing Function

If you’re missing teeth, you likely have created the habit of chewing only on one side of your mouth. And missing teeth can cause excessive wear and misalignment of your natural teeth.

Distributing your food on both sides of your mouth — along with having a complete and aligned bite — can help you chew up food properly. Dentures also allow you to chew foods in the back of your mouth, which is where most of your chewing should take place.

Whether you have full dentures or partial dentures, fully chewing your foods is the best way to start the digestive process. And healthy digestion leads to better overall health.

2. Improved Speech

Your teeth, tongue, cheek muscles, and lips work together for proper speech. Missing teeth throw off the positioning of these key elements. Therefore, it affects your speech in a number of ways:

  • Poorer pronunciation. Front teeth are needed to form many sounds in the English language. 
  • Slurred speech or lisp. When teeth are missing, especially when your tongue can’t properly align with the front teeth, it often causes slurred speech, mumbled sounds, or even a lisp.
  • Whistling. A gap in your teeth can cause a whistling when you breathe or try to talk.

Dentures offer a great solution. Filling the gaps in your mouth with dentures makes it easier to speak, breathe properly, and pronounce words clearly.

3. More Confident Smile

Dentures have helped many millions of Americans find their smiles again. If you’ve noticed your face sagging in new ways after losing your teeth, replacing those teeth with dentures can fill out your face and restore your normal profile. And when you choose high-quality dentures that look like your natural teeth, it greatly improves your confidence as well.

High Quality Ensures the Best Results

If you’re looking for quality dentures, Edmond residents won’t have to look far. For the best results, be sure to find a dentist office that focuses on patient satisfaction, uses high quality products, and offers denture repair like the skilled team at North Park Family Dentistry.

 

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North Park Family Dental

Hours

Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm