Achieve a More Youthful Smile with Teeth Whitening

For smiles affected by stains and discoloration, teeth whitening can restore the youthful, bright appearance of teeth. At West Lake Dental in Loveland, CO, Dr. Andy Maples performs in-office whitening treatments to remove stains caused by daily wear and tear on your teeth. Using a specialized ultraviolet (UV) light, he can enhance the effectiveness of the whitening product for dramatic results. We also offer a special bundle for patients who receive whitening in our office. You can take home customized whitening trays after your in-office procedure to maintain your vibrant new smile at home.

Candidates for Treatment

Teeth whitening has very few long-term risks, meaning a wide range of patients can experience the benefits of treatment. In general, candidates for whitening have mild to moderate discoloration.

However, there are certain conditions that may prevent you from receiving teeth whitening. Intrinsic stains on the deeper levels of the teeth generally do not respond to whitening. In addition, restorative materials, such as porcelain veneers and dental crowns, cannot be whitened. However, if you have a restoration and wish to proceed with bleaching, Dr. Maples can design a new crown, bridge, or veneer to match your newly whitened smile. 

The Whitening Process

If you decide to move forward with whitening, one of our dental hygienists will begin by cleaning your teeth and gums to ensure no food particles or tartar interfere with the whitening agent. Then we will place a protective coating over your gums to avoid any transfer onto the soft tissue. Once your teeth are prepared, Dr. Maples will apply the whitening gel to the surface of your teeth, making sure to evenly cover the enamel for natural results.

To help you maintain your new sparkling smile, we offer a special whitening bundle which includes an at-home whitening kit. 

We will leave the gel on your teeth for about 10 minutes to give the whitening agent time to work. Dr. Maples may also use the specialized UV light during this time. After 10 minutes, he will remove the gel. For most patients, we perform four rounds of whitening to achieve optimal results. A full whitening session typically lasts between one hour and an hour and a half at our Loveland dental office.