Brighten Your Teeth with Tooth Whitening (Bleaching) – Tuscaloosa, Northport, and Surrounding Areas
For a Brighter, More Confident Smile
Teeth whitening treatments are among the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures available today. In under an hour, and in just one appointment at our Tuscaloosa office, you can safely and effectively brighten and whiten your smile up to ten shades.
Reveal a more confident smile today! Contact Fikes & Wagner Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule a teeth whitening treatment in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Why Teeth Stain
The porcelain-like enamel of teeth is naturally white. However, over time, a variety of factors can cause stains to build up; eventually, these stains become resistant to brushing and even regular in-office dental cleanings. As we age, cracks begin to appear in our tooth enamel from the normal wear and tear of chewing. These microscopic cracks are vulnerable to bacteria and build up with stain-causing debris as a result of repeated exposure to darkly pigmented beverages—such as red wine, coffee, tea, cola—or tobacco use.
In addition to lifestyle factors, teeth can become discolored due to simple aging. When enamel wears down over time, it becomes increasingly transparent, allowing the darkly colored tooth core (dentin) to show through. The result is a smile that appears dull or gray.
Teeth whitening treatments can remove or dramatically reduce the appearance of heavy stains and restore teeth to a bright, youthful shade of white.
Zoom!® Whitening Treatment
At Fikes & Wagner Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we are proud to provide patients with the advanced Zoom!® teeth whitening treatment. In less than an hour, the Zoom!® system can whiten teeth up to ten shades, providing you with immediate, dazzling results. Take a look at our patient gallery to see what an incredible difference teeth whitening treatments can make!
When you arrive to have your teeth whitened, the current shade of your teeth will be determined by matching them to a series of gradated porcelain wafers. After the bleaching process, the comparison will be repeated to see how many shades your teeth have whitened with treatment. While some patients emerge from treatment with teeth that are ten full shades whiter, your individual results will depend on your unique case and the severity of the stains.
To begin the bleaching treatment, Dr. Fikes or Dr. Wagner will insert cheek retractors to expose the teeth being treated. To guard sensitive gum tissue from irritation, the dentist will apply a liquid rubber dam or hardening resin. Once your gums are protected, a 25-percent hydrogen peroxide bleaching gel will be painted onto your teeth. The whitening power of the gel is accelerated through exposure to the light of the Zoom!®Advanced Power Chairside Lamp. Over the course of your treatment session, the gel will be reapplied roughly every 15 minutes. During this time, you will be free to relax, watch television, or read a magazine.
Once your teeth whitening treatment is complete, you will see immediate, dazzling results. Contact Fikes & Wagner Family and Cosmetic Dentistry to learn more about the Zoom!® teeth whitening treatment available at our Tuscaloosa, Alabama office.
The Opalescence® Whitening System
Available as an in-office or at-home treatment, the Opalescence® whitening system uses a chemically activated formula to produce stunning results without heat or UV rays. The whitening formula also comes with an enamel-strengthening boost in the form of potassium nitrate and fluoride, so your brightened teeth will be better guarded against cavities. Like the Zoom!® treatment, an in-office Opalescence® treatment can dramatically whiten your smile in under an hour.
For patients who would prefer to whiten their teeth at home, Dr. Fikes and Dr. Wagner can provide, and supervise your use of, Opalescence® Take Home Whitening Gel. For the most effective home whitening experience, you will be provided a bleaching tray that has been custom-crafted to fit the unique contours of your mouth. In just one week, and in the privacy of your own home, you can achieve a dramatically whiter smile.
Maintaining Brighter, Whiter Teeth
For a short period after your whitening treatment, you may be advised to avoid the consumption of darkly pigmented wine, tea, cola, and coffee, or to sip these beverages through a straw. Avoiding tobacco will also greatly reduce the amount of future staining to your teeth.
While teeth whitening treatments can make incredible improvements in your smile, the results are not permanent. However, our whitening systems are designed to help prevent the recurrence of stains so that, with proper care, your brightened smile can last for years.
Your dentist may recommend that you return for periodic touch-ups, which may be as infrequent as once a year. And, as always, maintaining a thorough oral hygiene regimen is best way to make sure your teeth remain healthy and radiant as long as possible.
Learn More about Teeth Whitening
Experience the confidence that comes from a bright, white, youthful smile. Join the many patients who have been thrilled with the results of their teeth whitening treatments— contact Fikes & Wagner Dentistry in Tuscaloosa, Alabama today.