Orthodontic Treatment and Teeth Whitening
If you have spent the last several months or years undergoing treatment to straighten your teeth, it can be disheartening when your braces are removed, revealing dull and discolored teeth. Teeth whitening is an excellent way to address discoloration and brighten the appearance of the teeth.
At Hodges Orthodontics in Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Kellyn Hodges offers a full range of orthodontic and cosmetic treatments to improve the appearance of your smile. Combining orthodontic treatment with teeth whitening is an option we offer as part of our comprehensive smile makeover packages.
The Timing of Treatment
The timing of your whitening treatment will vary depending upon the type of orthodontic treatment you undergo.
We can whiten teeth while patients are undergoing Invisalign®, the clear alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign is one of the most innovative and advanced clear aligner systems available. It is a modern approach to smile transformation that offers maximum convenience for your busy lifestyle.
The Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible. Additionally, because they are not bonded to your teeth like traditional braces, you can easily remove them. We recommend that your aligners only be removed for eating, brushing, flossing, special occasions, and during your teeth whitening treatments.
Incorporating Invisalign into our smile makeover process allows you to discreetly straighten your teeth while improving the color of your smile at the same time.
Traditional braces, however, use brackets and wires that are bonded to your teeth for the duration of your prescribed treatment plan. To ensure your teeth do not discolor during your treatment, you will need to adhere to a brushing, rinsing, and flossing routine after every meal.
Any foods or beverages such as coffee, tea, wine, and soda can easily stain your teeth around the brackets. We do not perform teeth whitening procedures while your brackets are in place. However, using special rinses and pre-made gel trays over the brackets and wires can lessen stains. Once your braces are removed, we will immediately begin our comprehensive teeth whitening treatment to give you the brightest smile possible.
A Dazzling White Smile and Straight Teeth
During your initial consultation, we will thoroughly discuss your goals, review your dental history, take X-rays, and conduct a dental evaluation. This will allow our team to create a unique and comprehensive plan to create the smile you have always wanted. We offer in-office and take-home teeth whitening packages.
We will discuss the best option for your needs during your consultation. However, it could change based on any discoloration we begin to see developing throughout your orthodontic treatment.
Teeth Whitening Options
Our in-house teeth whitening is a quick process we do in our office. It offers immediate results with minimal discomfort. We use a powerful, safe, peroxide-based bleaching agent that will dissolve stains.
Our other option is a take-home kit. This includes customized trays and teeth whitening gel. The gel-filled trays are to be worn for a prescribed amount of time each day until you reach your preferred level of brightness.
For our patients using Invisalign, we do not recommend that you use the bleaching gels in your aligner trays. These trays are designed to move your teeth, not whiten them.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Are you ready to achieve a stunning smile? At Hodges Orthodontics, our friendly and knowledgeable team is available to answer any questions you may have and schedule your initial consultation. Contact us online or call our office at 215-245-5100.
