Dentistry for Discolored Teeth

Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Arlington, Tysons Corner, Fairfax, Reston, and Washington D.C.

Maybe you are a fan of red wine, enjoy dark cola, or you are an avid coffee drinker. If this sounds like you, your teeth may have picked up stains over the years. Depending on your degree of discoloration, teeth whitening can help you achieve a brighter, whiter smile.

At Softouch Dental Care in Oakton, Virginia, we believe that a whiter smile can enhance your life. Our experienced dental team is dedicated to your comfort and your excellent dental results.

You have several options for whitening your smile:

In-Office Tooth Whitening

At Softouch Dental Care, we use the Zoom! tooth whitening system. This unique and innovative method of teeth whitening can brighten your smile by five to six shades in just an hour. The Zoom! tooth whitening system has received considerable praise and publicity since its inventor appeared on ABC’s Extreme Makeover reality show. Zoom! is safe, fast and effective.

Northern Virginia cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Chung will apply the whitening solution to your teeth, and for 20 minutes he will activate the agent with a special light source. This process is repeated three times until your smile is brighter and more dazzling. You may feel an increased level of tooth sensitivity during and after the procedure. This is normal, and will fade. If it becomes intolerable during treatment, there is a desensitizing gel that can be applied to alleviate any tooth sensitivity.

Dentist-Dispensed Take-Home Tooth Whitening Kits

Another option for tooth whitening is dentist-dispensed take-home kits. These are whitening trays created to your specific bite, which whiten your individual smile in a uniform manner. Dentist-dispensed take-home trays use a professional strength whitening gel along with desensitizing gel to ensure your comfort as you whiten your teeth.

You will use the take-home kit for several weeks, and will notice a dramatic change in the brightness of your smile. Take-home trays afford more variety if you want to lighten you teeth one or several shades. They are also portable, so you can take them with you when you travel. Although take-home trays are more affordable than in-office tooth whitening, it does not offer as dramatic results as the in-office procedure provides.

Porcelain Veneers

If your teeth are so badly discolored that they are unresponsive to tooth whitening procedures, you may be a candidate for porcelain veneers. Veneers are thin shells made of porcelain that fit over top of your natural teeth like a cap. Your natural teeth are shaved down so that the veneers can be securely attached. The veneers are then permanently secured with a bonding agent.

Any discolorations will be hidden by the veneers, which are translucent like your natural tooth enamel. This means that your veneers will look just like your real teeth, so nobody will be able to tell that you have them. Because they are made of porcelain, our veneers are resistant to staining and will provide a long-lasting, aesthetically-pleasing smile.

If you are interested in brightening your smile, please contact our Northern Virginia cosmetic dentistry to schedule your smile consultation with Michael K. Chung, D.D.S. Our offices serve Oakton, Tysons Corner, Reston, Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington, Washington D.C. and the Northern Virginia area.