May 15, 2019 By Paula

Will professional teeth whitening work for me?

Professional teeth whitening not only brightens your smile, it brightens your confidence! Dr. Helen Ragsdale offers both in-office and at-home professional solutions that help you achieve the whiter, healthier looking smile you desire. All of our practice’s treatments are approved by the American Dental Association to be safe on enamel, so you can whiten with peace of mind. While teeth whitening may not be the best cosmetic treatment for everyone, if you have healthy teeth and gums, you may be a good candidate for professional whitening. Read on to learn more about candidacy for this popular cosmetic service!

To schedule your cosmetic consultation to discover if professional whitening is right for you, call us at 512-346-4690.

The Science Behind Whitening

Professional teeth whitening refers to dental procedures that remove stains from the surface of teeth for brighter-looking enamel. It’s important to note that teeth stains fall into one of two categories:

Extrinsic Stains: also known as surface stains, these stains reside in the outermost layers of a tooth’s enamel. Patients acquire these stains from richly-colored foods and drinks. They can usually be quickly removed through whitening treatments because they don’t get past the first few layers of enamel.

Intrinsic Stains: These deep, internal stains are actually deep inside the inner tooth’s structure. Patients acquire intrinsic stains from injury or trauma to the tooth, side effects from certain drugs, or normal aging. Extrinsic stains respond well to teeth whitening, but intrinsic stains do not. For patients with deep, intrinsic stains, porcelain veneers are our recommended treatment for achieving a whiter, more uniform smile.

Dr. Ragsdale uses a bleaching technique for both in-office and take-home whitening procedures. Bleaching agents (powered by carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide solutions) remove extrinsic stains through chemical reactions. Stains are oxidized and lifted out of the porous enamel surface quickly, with results lasting for a year or more.

Determining Candidacy

When deciding if a patient is eligible for teeth whitening, Dr. Ragsdale first looks at the type of tooth stains a patient has. If they are extrinsic stains, Dr. Ragsdale then considers the following factors before recommending a specific whitening treatment:

Pregnancy: Women should hold off on receiving cosmetic dentistry treatments until after they are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding, as a precautionary measure.
Restorative Treatments: Existing dental restorations that are visible in the smile will not whiten like natural enamel. Patients with dental crowns, veneers, and composite fillings can experience uneven whitening effects. For this reason, we usually recommend these patients opt for porcelain veneers or dental bonding to enhance their smile.
Oral Health: A patient must be in good overall health before receiving cosmetic treatments. Worn enamel, cavities, or periodontal disease (gum disease) should be treated and eliminated before whitening.
Sensitivity: Patients with a history of sensitive teeth may experience sensitivity or discomfort from whitening treatments. Dr. Ragsdale may recommend a fluoride treatment before whitening begins, to provide an extra layer of protection for sensitive teeth.
Age: Teeth whitening is best for patients who are over the age of 16. This is because younger teens may still have developing teeth which are more prone to sensitivity from whitening agents.

Contact our Austin practice for information on teeth whitening!

If you want to enhance your smile through teeth whitening, schedule a consultation with Austin’s Laser Dentist, Dr. Helen Ragsdale. Our practice is proud to offer the newest cosmetic dentistry techniques and treatments that offer less invasive, yet dramatic results. Contact our practice today to schedule your consultation.

February 25, 2019 By Paula

7 Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening

You brush and floss faithfully. You visit your dentist regularly. But even the healthiest patients may have one or two aesthetic concerns regarding their smile. One of the most common cosmetic issues facing Americans today is dental discoloration. Staining can occur over time, due to frequent consumption of dark-colored foods and beverages. Fortunately, Dr. Helen Ragsdale offers professional teeth whitening to eliminate stains and dramatically brighten your smile. Today, we will explore seven benefits of professional teeth whitening and explain why dentist-supervised bleaching is safer and more effective than store-bought products.

Is your smile looking lackluster? Find out what professional teeth whitening at our Austin, TX practice can do for you. Contact us today at 512-346-4690 to schedule a consultation.

#1: Teeth whitening enhances your overall appearance.

The most obvious benefit to teeth whitening is enhanced aesthetics. When your smile is whiter and brighter, your overall appearance improves.

#2: It makes you more attractive.

Whether you’re looking for that special someone or you’ve been happily partnered for decades, a brighter, whiter smile can make you look and feel more attractive. In fact, a study conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 96 percent of adults think that a beautiful smile plays a key role in looking more appealing to the opposite sex.

#3: It gives your confidence a boost.

Once you see the dramatic results that teeth whitening can offer, you’ll want to show off your smile to everyone! When you do something nice for yourself, it makes you feel self-assured – and that confidence can have a positive impact on every facet of your life.

#4: You could be perceived as more trusting.

Can a brighter smile make you more trusting? A research study by Kelton Global reports that 73 percent of Americans would be more likely to trust an individual with a nice smile over someone with a beautiful car, good fashion sense, or a successful career.

#5: Teeth whitening is affordable.

There are several cosmetic procedures that can enhance the appearance of your smile, including dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or Invisalign®. However, teeth whitening is actually one of the least expensive treatments compared to all of these.

#6: Dentist-supervised teeth whitening is safe.

There is no shortage of over-the-counter whitening options today. From pastes to rinses to strips, the choices can be pretty overwhelming. It is important to understand that store-bought products often contain harsh, abrasive ingredients, and are far more likely to damage natural enamel and restorations. In contrast, professional teeth whitening is safe, gentle, and effective. Additionally, Dr. Ragsdale can work with you to achieve the right shade for your aesthetic goals.

#7: It offers fast results.

Whether you choose in-office whitening or a take-home kit, you can achieve the smile you desire quickly. Our take-home kits can brighten your teeth in just seven to ten days, while our chairside treatments can achieve dramatic results in just one hour. Ask Dr. Ragsdale which option is right for you.

Bonus Benefits for Our Patients

In addition to the seven advantages explored above, our patients can enjoy even more benefits. Once we provide custom bleaching trays, patients can benefit from free whitening for life – as long as they keep their routine hygiene appointments. This is an excellent way to keep your smile looking its best while maintaining optimal oral health.

Contact Austin Laser Dentist Today

If you are looking to enhance your smile, explore your teeth whitening options at our Austin, TX practice. We offer both in-office and take-home procedures. Each treatment plan is tailor made according to the needs of the individual. Contact us online or give us a call at 512-346-4690.

September 18, 2018 By Paula

Aesthetic Dentistry Gives You a Reason to Smile!

You practice good personal hygiene, style your hair and choose your clothes with care—but when was the last time you thought about how your smile looks? Good daily oral hygiene and routine dental care are often enough to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. However, healthy teeth don’t always look as beautiful as we would like. Sometimes it takes a little aesthetic dentistry to make your smile glow.

Few of us have a smile as bright as those we see on TV, because many of our favorite foods and beverages leave pigment stains on the teeth. With time, even strong tooth enamel can become worn away by the acids we consume every day. Even teeth that received orthodontic treatments in the past can shift out of alignment, given enough time. You can take steps to counteract the visible impact of time on your smile, with aesthetic cosmetic dentistry treatments.

Would you like to learn more about aesthetic dentistry? Austin TX dentist Dr. Helen Ragsdale uses modern cosmetic dentistry techniques to transform smiles and help patients feel more confident and attractive. Call us at 512-346-4690 to set up a consultation.

Aesthetic Dentistry is Safe and Effective

Many conscientious patients pay close attention to the health of their teeth, but mistakenly assume that cosmetic treatments may damage their oral health. The truth is that cosmetic and general dentistry have advanced side-by-side. As science has invented new, better ways to protect and restore teeth, we have also developed safe ways to make teeth look more beautiful. As oral health professionals, we would never provide treatments that have a detrimental effect on the health of your teeth or gums.

If you’ve ever wished your healthy smile looked whiter or brighter, Helen Ragsdale, DDS, provides several safe cosmetic dentistry techniques you may wish to learn about. These techniques allow us to target the flaws that prevent you from loving your smile, giving you only the improvements you want.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Many patients use whitening toothpastes or strips at home, but no over-the-counter products work as effectively or as predictably as professional whitening treatments. Dr. Ragsdale offers several whitening treatment options, which means you can lighten your smile gradually over a period of weeks, in the comfort of your own home—or all at once. With one-day Zoom whitening, pigment stains are removed all in one visit, leaving the teeth up to nine shades lighter.

Treatments for Cracked, Chipped, and Fractured Teeth

There are many ways to restore a tooth that’s sustained structural damage. Whether a tooth has been chipped, cracked, or eroded by acidic foods and beverages, there is a conservative treatment option that can make your tooth look and feel whole again. A dental crown can restore a single tooth, as can cosmetic bonding, or porcelain veneers.

Aesthetic Gum Reshaping

Some patients look at their smile and wish they had been given less gum tissue and more tooth. This is sometimes referred to as a “gummy” smile, and it has an easy solution: laser gum contouring. Also called “crown lengthening” or “gum lift,” this treatment aesthetically reshapes the gum line to create a more harmonious balance of tooth enamel and gum tissue. Since major changes in appearance can be achieved with only minimal reshaping, this procedure is far more conservative than traditional gum surgery.

Comprehensive Smile Makeovers

If you are not happy with your smile, visit Austin Laser Dentist Helen Ragsdale and we’ll schedule a smile makeover for you. During this appointment, you will tell us what you don’t like about your smile, and we will explain the cosmetic treatment options available. Smile makeovers often consist of multiple treatments, used conservatively, to create a smile you will feel great about sharing with the world. Patients are always the guiding factor for a smile makeover, and you decide how big or small you want the changes to be.

Call our office to learn more about aesthetic dentistry, Austin TX. Helen Ragdale, DDS will help you uncover your best smile and feel confident again. Call us at 512-346-4690 to schedule an appointment.

January 6, 2016 By Paula

Whiter Teeth for Austin

Have you tried any over-the-counter teeth whitening products? If so, did you get the whiter teeth you wanted?

Probably not. Teeth whitening is the most popular procedure in cosmetic dentistry, but with so many options to choose from when it comes to whitening your smile, you may have difficulty determining which products and procedures will actually give you a bright white smile.

Austin cosmetic dentist Dr. Helen Ragsdale offers several teeth whitening services at her Austin and Round Rock dental offices.

LaserSmile for Whiter Teeth Now

With a total treatment time of only 45 minutes, LaserSmile is a fast and easy way to whiten your teeth. This procedure is safe, effective, and allows you to leave your appointment with a smile that is up to ten shades lighter than when you took a seat in the dental chair. For post-treatment touch-ups, Dr. Ragsdale will provide you with top and bottom bleaching trays and a syringe of professional-strength whitening gel to use in the comfort of your own home.

Zoom! Chairside Teeth Whitening

As the most well known teeth whitening system, Zoom! involves a revolutionary, light-activated whitening gel that whitens teeth instantly. The entire procedure takes about one hour, and teeth in some cases, teeth can be lightened up to eight shades. As with LaserSmile, Dr. Ragsdale will provide you with at-home teeth bleaching trays to maintain the results of your treatment.

Turbo At-Home Teeth Whitening

For patients who wish to whiten their teeth in the privacy of their own home and at their convenience, Turbo At-Home teeth whitening is an effective way to lighten your teeth an average of five shades. The process begins when you come to our office to have impressions made of your upper and lower teeth. These impressions will be used to fabricate custom bleaching trays. Once your trays are ready, load them with the professional-strength whitening gel and wear them approximately one hour a day for seven to ten days, unless otherwise instructed by Dr. Ragsdale.

As you can see, you have many options when it comes to cosmetically whitening your smile. For more information or to reserve an appointment, call our Austin , Tx dental office at (512) 346-4690.

January 6, 2016 By Paula

Teeth Whitening Options in Austin TX

Which Teeth Whitening Options are Right for Me?

So you’ve decided you want to try to make your teeth a little bit whiter. Perhaps you smoke or use other tobacco products, drink a lot of coffee, or just want to restore the pearly luster your teeth had when you were younger. You know you want whiter teeth, but you’re just not sure how to go about achieving that shiny smile. What are your teeth whitening options? The tooth-whitening section at your local drug store can be confusing, with pastes, gels, trays, and strips. Today, Austin dentist Dr. Helen Ragsdale explains some of the at-home whitening technologies, in addition to the whitening services she offers in her Austin dental office.

Whitening Strips and Gels

Whitening strips and gels are similar, as both are peroxide based. The gels usually come in a small bottle, and the gel is painted on the teeth with an applicator or small brush. You can generally expect to see results within a few days and those results can last up to four months. Whitening strips are thin, clear sheets that are coated with peroxide-based gel. The results are similar to paint-on whitening gels.

Whitening Toothpastes

Toothpastes in general remove some surface stains because they contain abrasives. Whitening toothpastes often contain polishing or chemical agents that can supplement the stain removal process.

Whitening Trays

Tray-based whitening systems are available both over the counter and from your dentist. To use these, a patient fills the mouthguard-like trays with a peroxide agent to bleach the teeth. The mouthguard is left in the mouth for a specific time period each day, for a week or longer, depending on the level of staining and desired degree of whitening.

Laser Whitening

Dr. Ragsdale offers the fastest way to achieve a beautiful smile. Laser whitening with Dr. Ragsdale is safe, effective, and immediate. The treatment lasts about 45 minutes, and only 24 of those minutes involve use of the laser. The treatment is gentle and can brighten your smile by as many as nine shades. Patients will also receive top and bottom bleaching trays for at-home touchups.

Schedule a Consultation

The best way to know which whitening agent would be best for you is to speak with Dr. Ragsdale. To schedule an appointment with Austin’s gentle laser dentist, contact our office at (512) 346-4690.

Austin Laser Dentist - Helen Ragsdale DDS