It is completely natural for teeth to lose some of their brightness over time. Daily habits
like drinking coffee or tea can leave behind stains that regular brushing simply cannot fix.
At my office we whiten with custom take-home kits, using trays made to fit your own teeth. We
do not do in-office whitening, and that is a deliberate choice. Whitening comes down to
contact time, meaning how long the gel actually stays against the tooth. A single visit in the
chair cannot match what a well-fitted tray does at home, so the take-home kit is simply where
the better result comes from. A custom tray also keeps the gel on your teeth instead of your
gums.
I always recommend a routine cleaning right before you start. That lets us remove any hidden
tartar buildup so your results come out smooth and even.
One thing worth knowing: whitening only works on natural tooth structure. It will not lighten
a crown, a veneer, or a tooth-colored filling. That is exactly why we usually want to whiten
before that kind of work rather than after. Then I can match your new crowns, veneers, or
fillings to your brighter shade, instead of matching them to a shade you are about to change.