Teeth whitening

[Hazel30]

I have yellow teeth from years of smoking and drinking a cup of coffee everyday and realy want the best option to whiten my teeth based on my habits.  I've tried crest white strips and they didnt work for me.  I dont want to go through a bunch of pharmacy stuff and achieve no results so what are my options.  I understand the whitening will not last forever since I smoke and drink coffee but at least last a few years.  Is bleaching at the dentist office my best choice.

thank you

[scottma]

Extrinsic stain can be removed by prophylaxis procedure. After removal of  extrinsic stain, then evaluate if you really need vital bleaching of natural tooth.

[mamaboulet]

Whitening at the dentist is expensive and isn't always covered by insurance (cosmetic), but they do a better job than the OTC products. If you do get your teeth whitened, be prepared for them to be quite sensitive for a while. Usually the dentist will apply a fluoride treatment to help with the sensitivity and recommend that you use some kind of fluoride rinse.
The procedure involves a strong hydrogen peroxide solution and bright light. Teeth cleaning before whitening is recommended I think.