Quick, economical, safe and effective--those four words describe the benefits of professional teeth whitening from your Westland, MI teeth whiteningdentists--Dr. Dennis Aylward, Dr. Brent Carey and Dr. AllisonCarey. Applied as in-office or as at-home cosmetic treatments, professional teeth whitening changes stained tooth enamel by as many as eight shades of color. By itself, or in combination with other aesthetic dental services from Carey & Aylward DDS, teeth whitening makes your smile--and you--look and feel years younger.

How Teeth Whitening Works

The best candidates for teeth whitening are older teens and adults with healthy teeth and gums. That means no active tooth decay or gum disease and few to no existing restorations, such as fillings and dental crowns. Your Westland, MI dentist will examine your mouth before deciding whitening is a good option for you.

The best whitening candidates are also fastidious about oral hygiene practices at home, and they come to Drs. Carey or Dr. Aylward semi-annually for their routine check-ups and cleanings. Additionally, good candidates don't smoke as tobacco stains teeth and is bad for gum health.

Regarding the actual procedure, the dental team uses a powerful hydrogen peroxide gel. The peroxide targets the organic material which stains teeth--foods such as blueberries and curry and beverages such as coffee, tea, cola and red wine. The peroxide lifts these intrinsic stains right out of tooth enamel quickly, and because the process is professionally supervised, little to no tooth or gum sensitivity results.

With a decision made to use professional teeth whitening, the team proceeds by inserting a plastic dam into your mouth. This thin and flexible device protects the soft oral tissues from the gel. Then, the gel is swabbed on and allowed to penetrate. You simply relax in the dental chair as the gel does its work, and after about an hour, the technician rinses it off. Teeth are an amazing three to eight shades brighter in color.

With the at-home treatment, you would use custom-fitted acrylic trays that fit snugly over the top and bottom teeth. You fill them with a less concentrated peroxide gel and wear the trays for the prescribed amount of time daily. After a week or so of applications, teeth are whiter by three to eight shades--just as with the in-office version.

Keeping a White Smile

To maintain that bright tooth enamel, your dentist recommends:

  • Twice daily brushing and once a day flossing as advised by the American Dental Association
  • Six-month cleanings and check-ups
  • Limiting staining foods and beverages (drink iced tea with a straw)
  • Drinking several glasses of water a day to wash tooth surfaces and to stimulate saliva
  • Getting occasional whitening touch-ups
  • Smoking cessation

With these good habits, your whitened smile will look great indefinitely!

Find Out More

To learn if professional teeth whitening is right for you, arrange a cosmetic dentistry consultation with Carey & Aylward DDS in Westland, MI. Asks about its benefits and about the other aesthetic treatments these skilled dentists offer. Call (734) 425-9130 for an appointment.


Westland, MI Dentist Carey & Aylward, DDS, PC
32540 Warren Road Westland, MI 48185 (734) 425-9130 Dentist in Westland, MI Call For Pricing Options