A brighter smile can change the way you feel about yourself and how others see you. At Silk Dental Delray Beach (formerly Marc Bilodeau DMD), we combine careful diagnostics with modern whitening science to deliver predictable, natural-looking improvements. Whether you want a subtle refresh or a noticeable lightening, the right approach begins with a thorough evaluation to make sure whitening is a safe and suitable option for your smile.
Discoloration has many causes, and not every product or technique is appropriate for every patient. Our priority is to protect tooth structure and soft tissues while delivering results patients can be proud of. We use professional-strength systems applied under clinical supervision so you get effective whitening without unnecessary risk.
Before any treatment begins, our dentists assess oral health, identify restorations or areas of concern, and discuss realistic expectations. That conversation guides whether an in-office procedure, a custom take-home system, or an alternative cosmetic solution will best meet your goals.
Every whitening plan we create starts with a focused exam. We check for cavities, gum inflammation, cracked teeth, exposed roots, and old restorations that could affect safety or the final appearance. Addressing these issues first helps ensure whitening proceeds comfortably and predictably for our patients.
Once cleared for treatment, we outline options that align with your schedule and desired outcome. In-office whitening can produce dramatic changes in a single visit, while custom take-home trays provide gradual, controlled whitening that fits busy lives. Patients often appreciate having both options available depending on their needs.
We also tailor the intensity and duration of treatment to reduce sensitivity and protect enamel. By personalizing concentration, exposure time, and follow-up care, the practice aims to maximize brightness while minimizing discomfort and unwanted effects.
Tooth color is influenced by both surface stains and changes inside the tooth. Surface or extrinsic stains from coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco darken the enamel over time. These are typically the easiest to remove with professional cleaning and whitening treatments.
Intrinsic discoloration originates within the tooth and can result from genetics, certain medications taken during tooth development, dental trauma, or aging. As enamel thins with age, the yellowish dentin underneath becomes more visible, producing a darker appearance that often responds differently to whitening.
It’s also important to recognize that dental restorations—fillings, crowns, veneers, and bonding—do not change color with bleaching agents. Identifying where restorations exist helps set expectations and may influence whether whitening or restorative replacement is the better cosmetic path.
Professional whitening falls into two main approaches: supervised in-office procedures and dentist-prescribed take-home kits. In-office treatments use higher concentrations of peroxide applied under controlled conditions, producing faster, more noticeable results often within a single appointment.
Custom take-home systems use personalized trays that fit snugly to your teeth, allowing lower-concentration whitening gel to be applied over several days or weeks. This method offers greater flexibility and can be gentler for patients who prefer gradual improvement or experience mild sensitivity.
Both options are delivered with clinical oversight, which improves safety and helps manage side effects. During the consultation, our team discusses the advantages of each method and recommends the approach that best suits a patient’s oral health, lifestyle, and cosmetic goals.
Whitening agents typically rely on peroxide compounds that penetrate the enamel and break down stain molecules through oxidation. Hydrogen peroxide works quickly and is often used in in-office applications, while carbamide peroxide releases hydrogen peroxide more slowly and is common in take-home products.
The concentration and contact time determine the degree of lightening and potential sensitivity. Clinically supervised systems balance these factors so patients achieve meaningful whitening while reducing unnecessary irritation to tooth nerves and soft tissues.
Because whitening alters chromogens—the molecules responsible for color—results vary by the type and depth of staining. Some intrinsic stains respond more slowly or require combined strategies, and our team will explain realistic timelines and expected improvements during your consultation.
Preparation often starts with professional cleaning and addressing any active dental disease. Treating cavities, repairing cracked restorations, and resolving gum inflammation before whitening not only improves safety but also helps create a uniform, long-lasting result for patients.
After whitening, teeth are temporarily more receptive to staining. We advise avoiding highly pigmented foods and beverages and refraining from tobacco for at least the initial recovery period to protect newly whitened enamel. Using desensitizing toothpaste and following recommended home-care steps can reduce transient sensitivity.
Long-term brightness depends on good oral hygiene and occasional touch-ups when needed. Patients who want to maintain results over months or years often combine routine maintenance with an at-home regimen or periodic professional applications tailored by our team.
At Silk Dental Delray Beach (formerly Marc Bilodeau DMD), we take a conservative, patient-first approach to cosmetic care. If you’re considering teeth whitening, our dentists will evaluate your oral health, explain your options, and recommend a plan designed to deliver safe, natural-looking results. Contact us to learn more about whitening and whether it’s right for your smile.
While an overwhelming selection of over-the-counter teeth whitening products is readily available for purchase at stores or online, it's imperative to keep in mind that the healthiest and most effective methods of care are those professionally supervised by your dentist. With a teeth whitening procedure provided by our office, we can safely, comfortably, and effectively transform your smile by up to several shades in a short amount of time.
Teeth whitening offers a simple and non-invasive way to whiten and brighten your smile. Whitening products contain various strengths of biologically safe hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide that act as bleaching agents on stained or discolored dental enamel. By breaking the stains into smaller pieces, these bleaching agents make the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter.
Every patient is different, and despite the fact that many people experience no sensitivity or pain with a professional teeth whitening, there are some that do. Although considered a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, some temporary discomfort during and following the procedure may ensue. It helps to stick to room temperature beverages for a few days following a teeth whitening. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication as you would for a headache. If you have a history of sensitive teeth, we may select a gentler formulation of whitening products or an alternative procedure.
It's essential to keep in mind that every patient has unique needs and specific requirements of care. In general, individuals with yellow tones to their teeth respond best to teeth whitening. Brown and grayish tinted teeth respond less well to bleach and may require significantly longer dentist-supervised tooth whitening regimens or alternative cosmetic treatments. Finally, teeth whitening may not be recommended in the presence of sensitive teeth, worn enamel, and significant gum disease.
For darkly stained teeth, a whitening procedure may not provide the cosmetic results desired. In these cases, we'll talk about alternative options such as porcelain veneers or full-coverage crowns.
Teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. The fact that whiteners do not affect the color of existing dental fillings, veneers, bonding, crowns, or bridges on the front teeth remains an important consideration when choosing the best cosmetic option in care.
As a rule, the healthiest and most effective methods of teeth whitening are the ones managed and supervised by your dentist. You can count on our office to provide the most effective, safest, and satisfying professional-strength options to whiten, brighten, and lighten your smile! Stay away from over-the-counter products, which may be overly abrasive or put the health of your teeth and the surrounding soft tissues at risk. While these products may work when healthy teeth and gums are present, they're often ineffective or problematic when sensitive teeth, exposed roots, cavities, broken fillings, cracked teeth, or loose dental work are the case.
How long your teeth whitening lasts depends on your lifestyle. Your eating, drinking, and smoking habits can have a significant impact on maintaining your result. Of course, the best way to ensure that your smile stays healthy and beautiful is a good daily oral healthcare regimen, along with regular dental checkups and cleanings.
It's essential to keep in mind that as a cosmetic dental procedure, a teeth whitening may not be covered by your insurance plan. We understand the financial considerations involved in care and do our best to help you get the treatment you need without any additional stress or delay. We offer several payment options and financing plans to make things easier.
At the office of Silk Dental Delray Beach (formerly Marc Bilodeau DMD), we want every patient to enjoy the benefits of a smile that is as beautiful as it is healthy. In addition to offering a comprehensive range of advanced services to keep your smile in tip-top health, we also provide leading-edge cosmetic solutions to transform less-than-perfect-looking teeth into ones that dazzle.
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