How do I choose the right shade of white for my teeth?

Opinions of white and not white enough vary from person to person, as does the effectiveness of bleaching products. Some people simply don't get much change in color from bleaching.

When I have done smile makeovers for models or pageant contestants, it almost seems as if there is no such thing as too white. With the bright lights shining and camera lenses doing what they do, the smiles that look natural in daily life don't look as nice.

Usually, this level of white cannot be achieved by bleaching products and are actually porcelain veneers. All whitening of natural teeth is temporary, so if a result was too white, if given enough time the smile would rebound to something more normal. Having said that, I have never bleached a smile and had someone complain that it was too white.

If you are a person that is modeling or on a stage of any kind, very white teeth may be good for you. MOST people are not, so a less white, softer coloring would be more natural. For some people, the bright, unnatural look is what they want.

A lot of the natural appearance of veneers is from the dentist using a talented lab. Natural teeth are more than one color, a blend of yellows and whites. Even veneers that are unnaturally white, when blended by a talented ceramist, can look very natural. When you see a monochromatic chicklet smile, you can bet that it was not done by a highly skilled ceramist.

The whiteness teeth can achieve varies by their inherent color.

• Really dark or stained teeth cannot be significantly whitened
• Yellowish teeth can be made whiter
• Normally white teeth can be significantly whitened

However, consistent or over-bleaching can yield an unnatural bluish hue. I have seen too many cases of over-bleached teeth that looked and were unhealthy.

The shade of white is all based on personal preference. Some people want the Hollywood look. Others want their teeth to look white but natural.

As with all light-accelerated whitening systems, you cannot pinpoint the exact color that you want to achieve out of the treatment.

Everyone’s teeth whiten differently, depending on your diet, your oral health, and the types of stains that you are trying to whiten. It is impossible to end up with glow-in-the-dark teeth like Ross on Friend’s because everyone has a threshold color that they will eventually reach and cannot go beyond. This will be your natural tooth color without any stains.

To get the unnaturally white tooth colors, you’ll need to explore other, more invasive options, such as veneers or implants. Personally, I like the idea of whitening better because you get to show off your natural teeth looking their very best. If your teeth are healthy, then you’ll have amazing results from the WhiteSpa treatment and will be extremely happy and satisfied with the natural, refreshed look that a whiter smile can lend to your appearance.

It is important to establish realistic expectations from the treatment. Some clients may not be able to ever achieve their idealized “Hollywood white” color because of their individual oral health situation and the diet they ate as a child. Developing an appropriate, individualized whitening plan for each individual client is an important aspect of the Beyond WhiteSpa treatment and we offer online training on how to do this.

TV and celebrities have made the super white look very much in demand. I think, though, that for most people this is much too white. Your dentist has shade guides that can show you the best color for you.

It is important to also consider the type of stains on your teeth. Dark or grey stains are harder to whiten and special care must be taken. Yellow or brown stains are easier to whiten and bring to a brighter shade. White spots are often caused by taking in too much fluoride; we can blend in these spots through teeth whitening but we need to monitor the whitening process.

Keep in mind that crowns (caps), veneers, bridges and fillings do not whiten. If you have these, especially in the “smile zone”, on the teeth people see when you smile, you need to work with your dentist to make sure you approach whitening the right way. A restoration that blends in today will stay the same color when you whiten the rest of your teeth and will stick out as discolored after bleaching.

The only tip I feel is necessary is to choose a shade that is right for you - one that suits you and your skin tone. You don’t want a white that no one notices, whilst at the same time you don’t want to be blinding your friends.

• One common line of thought is not to make you teeth whiter than the whites of your eyes.
• More importantly is for the patient and the dentist to communicate as to what the patient’s expectations are and then letting the dentist help guide the patient as to what is appropriate for that patient’s age and gender.
• There is no “right” shade of white. But it is important for the patient and the dentist to agree before treatment is started as to what is the final goal as far as color is concerned.