Professional Teeth Whitening in Richton, MS
A bright, sparkling smile is an indicator of good dental health.
But it’s also more than that.
A beautiful smile also provides clues to others about your self-esteem, your confidence, your age, your self-care, and much, much more. We live in a society that values these qualities, and if your smile isn’t as bright as it could be, you might be making an impression you never intended.
At Richton Dental Care, we have a simple, affordable solution – professional teeth whitening!
Customized Take-Home Whitening for Your Convenience
When you schedule a consultation with Dr. Darby to discuss teeth whitening, he’ll present you with your options so that you can choose the whitening solution that will work best for you. While over-the-counter whitening kits are an option, many patients who come to us have already tried these and found that they did not get the results they were hoping for.
We recommend our customized take-home whitening system. You’ll receive trays made from impressions of your own teeth for the best possible fit and results, along with prescription strength whitening gel. We’ll show you how to use the system, which you can do in the privacy of your home, at your own convenience, and, of course, we’ll be here to answer any questions you might have.
Getting the Best Results from Your Whitening Treatment
We recommend that you have your teeth professionally cleaned prior to whitening. This will remove traces of plaque and tartar that can mar your results or cause them to look uneven. If you are overdue for a cleaning, you might find that a professional cleaning is all it takes to significantly improve the appearance of your smile!
If it’s time for a cleaning, give us a call and we’ll find a time that works for you.
Follow our directions for the best results. Using excess whitening gel will not whiten your teeth faster, but it may increase sensitivity or cause the gel to ooze out from the trays and get onto sensitive soft tissue.
What about Drugstore Whitening Kits?
So why do kits from the drugstore usually give such disappointing results?
These kits are designed for a mass market, and since they are meant to be used without the supervision of a dentist, the strength of the whitening product is limited. Instead of customized trays that keep the gel where it belongs and a professional strength whitener, over-the-counter kits use “one size fits all” trays and gel with a very low concentration of whitener. It’s easy to see why the results aren’t great.
Additionally, some drug store products rely on abrasives to scratch away surface stains. These abrasives can be bad for your enamel and actually result in more staining in the future. Professional products work differently. They penetrate the enamel to remove deep, set-in stains.
Are You Ready for a Whiter Smile?
Give us a call today to schedule a cleaning or a consultation with Dr. Darby! You’ll be thrilled with your brighter, more beautiful smile!
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your overall goals and the causes and level of your staining.
Most whitening toothpastes rely on mild abrasives to "scrub" away surface stains. One problem with this, however, is that most problematic staining doesn't occur on the surface. Stains from food and drink penetrate the enamel and become trapped beneath it, and whitening toothpastes and other over-the-counter remedies simply can't touch these stains. Even worse, the abrasives in whitening toothpastes can actually harm the enamel, making the yellowish dentin beneath more apparent. Plus, this enamel destruction contributes to sensitivity.
If you're considering using a whitening toothpaste, we strongly recommend that you discuss your options with us first. We are happy to recommend a product that can help you remove surface stains without damaging your precious enamel. We can also discuss other options to improve the appearance of your smile, especially if your staining goes deeper. Professional teeth whitening products will actually "flush" out stains that are trapped beneath the enamel to give you the beautiful, healthy, youthful appearance you are seeking.
Call our practice today to schedule a cleaning or a consult with Dr. Nick Darby and find out which products will help you get the results you are seeking.
After whitening is done, it is normal for the teeth to become slightly darker and reach a stable color about one week after. While many dentists prefer to do "touch-ups" or whitening when needed, Dr. Darby prefers to do regular maintenance. Much like you need to wash your car on a regular basis if you want it to always be clean and shiny, you need to do regular whitening if you want your teeth to always be at their brightest. As long as your whitening trays still fit, you can continue to wear them and put whitening gel in them. You may need to whiten between once per week to once per month to keep your pearly whites white. Dr. Darby will tailor a specific regime to your individual needs.
We offer whitening gel for purchase in our office. Your trays can be retained and reused indefinitely, as long as they fit and are in good shape. Certain lifestyle choices such as coffee consumption, red wine, tobacco use, and even colorful fruits and vegetables can quickly stain your teeth. Certain medications, even mouth rinses, can also stain your teeth. Brushing your teeth and maintaining regular professional dental cleaning appointments will help protect your smile.
Teeth whitening can make your teeth sensitive, but there are effective ways to help prevent it. For each patient that is whitening their teeth, Dr. Darby recommends a sensitivity toothpaste such as Sensodyne or Colgate Sensitive, and they both work equally well. One week before whitening, you should start brushing your teeth with one of these toothpastes and you should continue throughout and beyond the whitening process. During whitening, Dr. Darby recommends placing a small amount of the toothpaste in your tray and wearing it for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after each whitening session.
Sometimes the occasional pain or zinger will happen in spite of your best efforts, and for this pain Dr. Darby recommends whichever over the counter pain medication you usually take to relieves headaches or muscle pain.
If sensitivity continues, try taking a day off in between treatments or leaving your trays in for a shorter period of time.
Thankfully, many people who follow these steps do not experience much discomfort with the whitening process and are thrilled with the final results.
Our Team
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Dr. Nicholas Darby DDS
Dr. Nicholas Darby was born and raised in Senatobia, MS, where he was a graduate from Senatobia High School. Dr. Darby received his undergraduate degree in biology from Louisiana Tech University. While enrolled at Louisiana Tech, he was a member of the Bulldog football team. After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he attended LSU School of Dentistry and received his DDS degree in 2008.
Since 2008, Dr. Darby has been practicing general and family dentistry in Mississippi and is now excited to be serving the town of Richton and all surrounding communities. ...
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