Providing Teeth Whitening in the Gainesville and Jefferson, GA Areas

We provide custom-made whitening trays at no charge to patients who have completed orthodontic treatment at Howell Orthodontics and also offer these custom whitening trays for purchase to patients who do not need braces. Opalescence® whitening gel, to be used in the whitening trays for use at home, is available at Howell Orthodontics at an affordable price. This whitening gel contains carbamide peroxide which actually bleaches the tooth enamel. Opalesence® gel is approved by the American Dental Association, is completely safe, and has delivered amazing results in whitening our patients' teeth.

Teeth whitening can have minor side effects and you should speak with your doctor if these become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. This sensitivity often can be lessened with the use of sensitivity-blocking toothpastes. In most cases, this sensitivity is temporary and should resolve once the treatment is finished. Some people also experience soft tissue irritation, either from placing too much gel in the tray, making the gel to come in contact with the tissues, or a tray that doesn't fit properly. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with Dr. Howell.

Whiteners do not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish teeth will probably bleach well, brownish teeth may bleach less well, and grayish teeth may not bleach well at all. Likewise, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have had tooth-colored fillings or crowns. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. In these cases, you do have other options, such as porcelain veneers.

Whitening Toothpaste

All toothpastes help remove surface stain from your teeth through the action of mild abrasives. "Whitening" toothpastes in the ADA Seal of Acceptance program have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Unlike bleaches, these ADA accepted products do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.