%20(1).png)
.png)
Clermont Family Dentistry is excited to announce that our office is now open for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff.
Learn more.png){kind=icon}
Clermont Family Dentistry is excited to announce that our office is now open for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff.
Learn moreYou brush, you floss, you still see a yellow cast in photos. It’s frustrating—and common. Understanding where tooth stains come from helps you choose the right fix, whether it’s a quick polish, professional take-home whitening, or a different cosmetic solution altogether.
Extrinsic stains live on the surface. Coffee, tea, red wine, berries, tomato sauces, and tobacco leave pigments (chromogens) that cling to enamel. Plaque and tartar make a sticky landing pad, so cleanings help stain lift more easily.
Intrinsic stains are within the tooth. Causes include aging (enamel thins, dentin shows), early-life medications, trauma, or fluorosis. Intrinsic changes don’t respond as well to surface polishing; they often need supervised whitening or, for deeper discoloration, bonding or porcelain veneers.
You’ll get custom trays designed from precise impressions or scans, plus a professional-strength gel (usually carbamide peroxide). The trays hug the teeth, keeping gel where it belongs and saliva out—two keys to reliable results. Most people whiten once daily for 30–60 minutes over 1–2 weeks, adjusting as sensitivity dictates.
Strips and paint-on gels can brighten, but they rarely seal well near the gumline or around curved teeth. Custom trays cover evenly, reaching the spots that show in photos and around the edges of prior fillings or crowns (note: restorations won’t lighten—more on that below).
Whitening opens microscopic pathways in enamel for a short time, which can trigger zings with cold. To keep things comfortable:
Sensitivity usually settles within a day or two after you finish.
Whitening lifts natural enamel shades but doesn’t change the color of fillings, crowns, or veneers. If you plan future cosmetic work, whiten first and match new restorations to your brighter shade. Stubborn gray or brown bands (often from deep intrinsic causes) may improve, but if they don’t, bonding or veneers can mask them more predictably.
Organizations like the American Dental Association and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research note that peroxide-based whitening is effective and safe when supervised. Custom trays improve gel contact and reduce soft-tissue exposure. Evidence also shows that fluoride and desensitizing agents lessen post-whitening sensitivity. Bottom line: professional guidance tailors strength, timing, and maintenance so you get brighter teeth with fewer bumps along the way.
Will whitening weaken my enamel? No. The process changes light reflection by breaking up stains; enamel stays intact.
How white will I get? Everyone starts at a different baseline. Most people see a noticeable lift—often several shades—over 1–2 weeks.
Is in-office whitening better? It’s faster. Take-home offers more control and easy touch-ups; many patients use both at different times.
What if I have a crown on a front tooth? Plan for a shade mismatch. Whiten first, then time any crown replacement to the new color.
Ready to brighten up without guesswork? Contact Clermont Family Dentistry at (352) 242-1763 to Schedule a Consultation.
Get In Touch!
.png)
.png)