The craze of makeover-themed TV shows in recent years practically has made household names of a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments.
Cost can be a barrier to undergoing many of those procedures - particularly in light of the current economic climate - but teeth whitening is one cosmetic option that is quite affordable.
Some Cosmetic dentists say that, cosmetic dentistry can be a very conservative treatment, such as bleaching or replacing darker fillings.
Most cosmetic dentists try other teeth whitening systems in their office, but some of them prefer the NiteWhite Teeth Whitening System.
It is a safe product that provides excellent results and the bleaching gel comes in a variety of flavors.
The Process Getting the teeth bleaching system begins with taking impressions of the teeth, which is done at some cosmetic dentistry office.
The impressions are sent to a dental laboratory, where custom-fitted trays are created to fit on the patient's upper and lower teeth.
At night after brushing their teeth, the patient squeezes some of the gel - which comes in melon, mint or cherry flavor - into each of the trays and places them over their teeth.
The system is designed to be worn all night, enabling the patient to wake up with brighter teeth.
For some patients, such as those who wear mouth guards at night to prevent teeth grinding or sleep apnea, DayWhite is a better solution, Wilmer said.
It operates similarly to NiteWhite, only it is worn for shorter periods during the day.
It is recommended that patients avoid smoking and eating or drinking foods and drinks that stain the teeth for 30 minutes after each treatment.
Using an electric toothbrush for daily oral hygiene helps keep the results longer.