Some smile improvements take time. For example, it will take at least two visits to our office, spread out over a week or more, for us to add dental veneers or a dental crown to your smile.

But what if you need a great-looking smile in less time than that? Maybe your pal finally arranged for you to have dinner with a coworker who you’ve been admiring from afar. Or maybe you received an unexpected invite to an occasion like a wedding, where lots of photos will likely be taken.

For a whiter smile in about an hour, call Carmichael Dental Care at 334-600-1423.

Get a Whiter Smile With a Teeth Whitening Treatment

We offer an in-house teeth whitening treatment using professional-strength gel from respected brand Opalescence. It has a higher percentage of whitening ingredients than products sold at a drugstore, so your smile will get several shades brighter. You’ll smile more confidently at any social event!

To avoid irritation, we’ll cover your gums and tooth roots with a protective barrier and also use a device called a retractor to keep your lips and cheeks away from the powerful gel. You can watch TV or listen to music while we do all of the whitening work!

We can also supply you with gel and custom-made whitening trays you can use at home to maintain your whiter smile. The trays will make it easy for you to completely cover your teeth. No more messy strips!

Practice Good Oral Hygiene to Keep Your Whiter Smile

Maintain your whiter smile by brushing and flossing your teeth every day. Visit us at least twice a year for professional dental cleanings. During cleanings we’ll remove surface stains and polish your teeth so they look and feel good. Smoking stains your smile, so you should quit if you want to keep your brighter look.

Many foods and beverages can also stain teeth, including red wine, tea, and coffee. You’ll slow the staining if you rinse your mouth out with water after consuming them.

Don’t Have an Hour? Get a Whiter Smile in Minutes

It’s possible to make give your smile a whiter appearance even if you’ve only got a few minutes. Appear is the important word. Unlike teeth whitening or other cosmetic dentistry procedures, the color of your teeth won’t actually change. However, these suggestions will work in a pinch.

Lipstick can make your teeth look whiter, if you choose the right shade. Counteract a yellow tone in teeth with lipstick that has blue or purple undertones, such as berry, plum, or true reds. If your teeth look gray and dingy, use a lipstick with copper or bronze undertones.

You can also create contrast and brighten your smile by applying a bronzer or self-tanner. A natural tan works too, if you’ll be spending some time in the sun. Even wearing dark colors near your face can help, especially to create the appearance of a whiter smile in photos.

Got a Bit More Than an Hour? Try a Bonding Treatment

Another quick option for covering discoloration is dental bonding, a treatment we can usually complete in just one visit to our office. Our dentists use layers of tooth-colored resin to hide stubborn stains that don’t respond well to whitening treatments, along with other minor flaws like chips or uneven edges. We’ll clean your teeth, then apply an acidic gel that helps the resin stick to teeth. After applying the resin, we “cure” it with a special blue light. The final step is a polish.

Dental veneers or dental crowns are other options for covering deeper stains that don’t respond well to whitening. Both treatments involve our dentists taking impressions of your teeth, then sending them to an outside dental lab that will produce your custom-made restorations. Both procedures last longer than bonding, at least a decade with proper care. Porcelain veneers or crowns are also more resistant to staining than dental bonding.

Our Montgomery, AL dentists will be happy to discuss all your options for a whiter smile with you, so you can select the one that will work best for your smile. Call us today at 334-600-1423.