Causes of Tooth Discoloration

Teeth whitening at our Columbus, Ohio cosmetic dental office is an effective solutions to improve your smile and address tooth discoloration. Several factors can contribute to discolored teeth, many of which are easily controlled or corrected. Common causes of tooth discoloration include:

  • Foods and beverages, such as fruit juices, berries, tea, and coffee
  • Smoking
  • Natural wear and tear
  • Injury to the tooth

Stains from foods, beverages, and smoking are typically extrinsic stains, meaning they affect the outer surfaces of the teeth. These types of stains can be easily treated with professional teeth whitening, offering a fast and effective way to restore your smile.

How Teeth Whitening in Columbus, OH Works

Most whitening systems use a whitening agent that is painted onto or otherwise applied to the surface of the teeth. The agent is left for a specific amount of time and then is removed. Some whitening techniques require multiple applications, while others can lighten the teeth by several shades in a single office visit.

The basic approaches to teeth whitening include:

  • Traditional in-office professional whitening
  • Zoom! Advanced Power is done in-office
  • KöR Teeth Whitening
  • At-home professional whitening
  • GLO Science Professional
  • Over-the-counter, at-home treatment

While over-the-counter whitening is a popular option, it is not as effective or as long-lasting as professional teeth whitening performed by or prescribed by a cosmetic dentist like Dr. Michael Firouzian. The whitening agents used in the office are more powerful than those available in your local grocery store, and typically lighten teeth seven to ten shades after a single one-hour whitening session.

With our new 3D printer, we can even produce whitening trays for you in-house, and you don’t have to bite down into a tray of impression material. We just literally wave a wand over your teeth and send the image to your printer, which produces the trays right then and there.

Third Generation Zoom! Teeth Whitening

The Third Generation Zoom! Advanced Power In-Office Whitening System is a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure. It’s safe, effective, and fast–very fast. In just over an hour, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. Third Generation Zoom! Advanced Power Whitening is ideal for anyone looking for immediate results. The convenience of Third Generation Zoom! Advanced Power in comparison to days of wearing trays and gradual whitening makes it the perfect choice for the busy individual.

The procedure is simple and painless. It begins with a short preparation to isolate your lips and gums. We then apply the proprietary Third Generation Zoom! Advanced Power Whitening Gel, which is activated by a specially designed light. Teeth typically become at least six to ten shades whiter, sometimes more. A five-minute fluoride treatment completes the procedures. You’ll be amazed by the results. In most cases, teeth get even whiter the first few days after the procedure.

GLO Science Professional Teeth Whitening

Trusted by thousands of dental offices, GLO Professional Whitening is one of the best whitening products on the market. With both an in-office and take-home option, it’s perfect for any patient who either wants an instantly white smile or a patient who gradually wants to whiten their teeth.

So, what makes GLO so unique? GLO uses its own patented GLO Vials which are designed to make applications easy and drip-free. The hydrogen peroxide whitening gel takes seconds to apply, doesn’t run onto your gums, and prevents tooth sensitivity. The GLO Vials also feature an air-tight seal so the whitening gel stays fresh and active, even after opening.

After applying the whitening gel to your teeth, it will penetrate your teeth and evaporate vaporizing stains to whiten your smile. Next, you will use the Guided Light Optics (G.L.O) Accelerating Technology device to accelerate the whitening process. The device uses special light reflectors and heat resistors in a mouthpiece that delivers direct warming heat and LED light to the whitening gel to expedite the process.

The GLO Science whitening system provides your teeth with amazing whitening power with fast results and no sensitivity afterward.

KöR Teeth Whitening Columbus, OH

In addition to Zoom! Advanced Power, Dr. Firouzian now offers a revolutionary new teeth whitening treatment called the KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System. Developed by world-renowned teeth bleaching expert and cosmetic dentist, the KöR Whitening System is considered the most reliable and effective treatment available today.

There are many tooth whitening options available for improving the appearance of discolored teeth. This page explains the KöR whitening system, but which teeth whitening approach is right for you can only be determined in consultation with a Columbus cosmetic dentist.

The Benefits of KöR Tooth Whitening

Some of the most significant benefits of KöR include:

  • Removal of tetracycline stains (previously thought impossible)
  • Causes little to no tooth sensitivity
  • Safe for both teeth and gums
  • Whitens your teeth up to 16+ shades
  • No need to give up coffee, tea, or wine
  • Permanent whitening results
  • Produces natural-looking results

If you’ve been disappointed with teeth whitening results in the past, you should try the KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System. You will be surprised and delighted at the difference.

The KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System allows the teeth whitening process to be more flexible. You can choose to whiten your teeth at home, or you can undergo an in-office whitening session to quicken the process. Based on your goals and the current condition of your teeth, Dr. Firouzian can help you decide upon a treatment plan that is right for you. All it takes is some periodic home maintenance to ensure your KöR teeth whitening results last a lifetime.

KöR Teeth Whitening Trays

The whitening trays used for KöR treatment are different from other types of take-home trays. KöR whitening trays are made of a thin, form-fitting plastic that seals the whitening bleach inside of the tray, preventing the gel from leaking into your mouth or touching your gums, which can cause irritation. Since KöR trays are meant to be worn while you sleep, they are designed with maximum comfort in mind. Best of all, the whitening gel remains active for 6+ hours – twelve times as long as the 30-minute average of conventional whitening gels.

Brighten Your Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening in Columbus, OH

To find out what kind of teeth whitening is best for your teeth, call us today at (614) 848-5001 to schedule an appointment with our Columbus, Ohio dentist.

Teeth Whitening FAQs

Although there are many brands of over-the-counter teeth whitening products available to you, they often do not work very well, and can actually do more harm than good. Their one-size-fits-all approach means the applicators do not come in contact with all your teeth, the bleaching agent may irritate your gums, and they can be very messy. Tooth sensitivity and uneven whitening are usually the end result.

Having your teeth whitened at the Firouzian Dentistry means your teeth are whitened using ZOOM!, which can get your teeth several shades whiter with no tooth sensitivity problems in a very short time. Dr. Firouzian also provides take-home whitening kits that are custom fit and work very well.

Although we can make your teeth match your aesthetic desires, they will not stay white forever. You still need to eat and drink, and many of the things you ingest will stain your teeth. While you can prolong your whitening by avoiding staining foods and beverages, brushing and flossing daily, and using a professional take-home whitening kit, you may want to revisit Dr. Firouzian for in-office treatment once a year.

The teeth whitening procedure, whether performed in-office or with a take-home kit, is very safe and effective. Dr. Firouzian’s number one priority is your safety and comfort and will discuss the procedure with you prior to undergoing it. ZOOM! Advanced Power In-Office Whitening is painless and effective with no sensitivity issues.

It depends on your genetic tooth enamel. Some people naturally have a whiter tooth enamel than others. For some patients, GLO can whiten their smile up to 10 shades while other patients might only whiten a few shades. If you haven’t reached your desired shade of white yet, continue using your at-home GLO whitening product unless you start experiencing tooth sensitivity.

We don’t recommend using GLO with traditional braces because it doesn’t allow you to apply the whitening solution to every area of your tooth. The brackets can prevent you from applying the whitening gel evenly which can make your teeth look very discolored once you get your braces off. If you have traditional braces, wait until you get them off to use GLO whitening.

If you use a treatment with removable aligners like Invisalign, you can remove them to use GLO whitening as long as you stay within your recommended aligner wearing time per day (20 hours). Talk to Dr. Firouzian if you’re interested in whitening your teeth during your Invisalign treatment to find out if it’s right for you.

Yes, it’s safe to use on any unnatural tooth surface like porcelain veneers, dental crowns, fillings, bridges, etc. However, it’s important to note that GLO whitening won’t affect their color, only the color of your natural teeth. Therefore if your restorations are currently the same color as your teeth, whitening your teeth can make your restorations stick out because they will be a darker color than your natural teeth after your treatment.

Yes! Whether you’re whitening in our office or at home, you should absolutely brush AND floss your teeth before. Removing plaque from your teeth will allow the whitening gel to evenly whiten the entire surface of your tooth. If your teeth aren’t clean, you might end up with spots of white and yellow on your teeth.

After completing your whitening treatment, you should wait at least 20 minutes before eating or drinking anything. To extend your results, try to avoid foods and drinks that stain your teeth.

The fastest way to achieve a whiter smile is with our in-office GLO whitening. It works significantly faster than the take-home kit that whitens gradually. In less than an hour, you can leave our office with significantly whiter teeth.

If you use the take-home GLO whitening kit, you do not need to store the GLO Vials in the refrigerator. They can survive at room temperature thanks to their patented design that uses a hermetic seal to keep the formula fresh until its used

It depends on how you treat your teeth. If you avoid foods and drinks that stain your teeth as well as habits that might stain like smoking, and you take good care of your oral hygiene, your results can last for a year or longer. If you notice your results fading, you can always use our take-home kit to freshen it up every once in a while.

No! You’re in complete control of how white you want your teeth to look. Talk to Dr. Firouzian about your desired level of white and he will advise you on how to get there. You don’t have to have unnaturally white teeth unless that’s what you desire.

GLO uses a special formula to make each and every tooth whitening treatment sensitivity-free for all patients. The unique formula stays put on your teeth and off your soft tissue like your gums. Patients who experienced sensitivity with other whitening products can safely whiten with GLO without any sensitivity problems.

Yes! GLO is formulated by a cosmetic dentist in the US using only the highest quality and safest ingredients.

No! The UV light mouthpiece uses LEDs that produce safe 470 nm blue light. It won’t harm your skin, eyes, or anything else it comes into contact with. It only helps accelerate your whitening treatment!