A brilliantly white smile can transform your confidence and appearance, but professional teeth whitening isn’t right for everyone. At Tharp, Klaus, & Kelly Dental Clinic, we take a personalized approach to cosmetic dentistry, carefully evaluating each patient to determine if teeth whitening will deliver the safe, effective results they’re hoping for. Before recommending treatment, Drs. Greggory Tharp, Keith Klaus, and Martin Kelly perform comprehensive examinations to assess your oral health, understand your whitening goals, and identify any factors that might affect your candidacy.
Ready to find out if professional teeth whitening is right for you? Call our Flowood dental office at 601-939-4100 to schedule your candidacy evaluation. We welcome patients from Jackson, Pearl, Brandon, and throughout central Mississippi.
When you choose Tharp, Klaus, & Kelly Dental Clinic for your teeth whitening candidacy evaluation, you experience diagnostic precision that most practices simply can’t match. Our state-of-the-art facility houses technology that transforms how we assess your smile and plan your treatment.
Our digital smile design software and intraoral scanners create detailed 3D models of your teeth in minutes. No messy impressions. No guesswork. During your consultation, we can show you realistic previews of your potential whitening results on screen, helping you visualize your transformation before committing to treatment. This technology also reveals hidden issues—like hairline cracks in enamel or early decay—that might affect your candidacy but aren’t visible to the naked eye.
Our cone-beam CT scanner provides 3D images of your entire oral structure, revealing problems beneath the surface that could complicate whitening. We can detect bone loss from gum disease, root damage, or internal tooth discoloration that wouldn’t respond to external whitening. This level of diagnostic detail means no surprises mid-treatment.
Here’s what sets us apart: your entire journey happens right here in our Flowood office. Candidacy evaluation, treatment planning, the whitening procedure itself, and all follow-up care with the same team you trust. We don’t send you elsewhere for different phases. Drs. Tharp, Klaus, and Kelly personally guide you through every step, supported by staff who handle everything from scheduling to financing to post-treatment questions. This continuity of care has built the long-lasting patient relationships that remain our greatest source of pride after decades of serving the Flowood community.
Your oral health forms the foundation of successful teeth whitening. Before proceeding with any whitening treatment at our Flowood dental practice, we need to ensure your mouth is in good condition and free from active dental problems.
Gum disease—whether gingivitis or more advanced periodontitis—disqualifies you from teeth whitening until the condition is treated. Inflamed, infected gums react poorly to whitening agents, causing increased irritation, pain, and potential complications. The bleaching gel can penetrate diseased gum tissue more easily, leading to chemical burns and significant discomfort. We’ll treat any gum disease first, then proceed with whitening once your gums have healed completely.
Active tooth decay must be addressed before whitening treatment begins. When whitening gel contacts a cavity, it can seep into the tooth’s interior, reaching the sensitive pulp and causing severe pain. Additionally, whitening won’t improve the appearance of decayed areas—it only works on intact enamel. During your candidacy evaluation, we’ll identify and fill cavities, then proceed with whitening once your teeth are structurally sound.
Gum recession that exposes tooth roots creates problems for whitening candidates. Root surfaces lack the protective enamel covering found on tooth crowns, making them extremely sensitive to whitening agents. Exposed roots can cause intense discomfort during treatment and don’t respond to whitening the same way enamel does. If you have significant recession, we may recommend alternative treatments, gum grafting, or take special precautions to protect exposed areas during the whitening process.
Beyond specific conditions, candidates should have generally stable oral health. This means regular prophylaxis, good home care habits, and no active infections or inflammation. Starting with a clean, healthy mouth maximizes your whitening results and minimizes the risk of complications.
If you’re currently pregnant or nursing, we recommend postponing professional teeth whitening until after you’ve given birth and finished breastfeeding. While there’s no definitive evidence that whitening agents harm developing babies or pass into breast milk in significant amounts, we prefer to err on the side of caution during this important time.
Pregnancy also causes oral health changes that can complicate whitening treatment:
These factors make pregnancy an impractical time for teeth whitening. The good news? Your smile will still be waiting for you after your baby arrives, and postponing treatment doesn’t diminish the excellent results you can achieve later.
Professional teeth whitening works best for adult patients whose teeth have fully matured and developed.
We generally recommend waiting until at least age 18 before pursuing professional whitening treatments. Younger patients have developing enamel that’s more porous and sensitive than mature adult teeth. The pulp chambers inside children’s and teenagers’ teeth are also larger, increasing the risk of sensitivity and discomfort during whitening. Additionally, teenage teeth often continue to change color naturally as they fully mature, meaning whitening results might not be predictable or long-lasting.
For older adults, there’s no upper age limit for teeth whitening as long as oral health requirements are met. Many senior patients achieve excellent results and enjoy renewed confidence from their brighter smiles.
Existing dental work plays a significant role in determining your teeth whitening candidacy and requires careful consideration during treatment planning.
Professional whitening agents only affect natural tooth enamel—they have no impact on porcelain, composite, or other restoration materials. If you have visible tooth crowns, porcelain veneers, or dental bridges in your smile zone, whitening your natural teeth will create a color mismatch between your brightened natural teeth and your unchanged restorations.
This doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from whitening, but it requires strategic planning. Many patients in this situation choose to:
During your consultation at our Flowood office, we’ll map out exactly which teeth are natural and which are restored, helping you understand how whitening will affect your smile’s overall appearance and what additional treatments might be needed for ideal results.
If you’re considering dental restorations in the near future, timing matters significantly. We recommend completing your teeth whitening treatment first, allowing your teeth to reach their final shade, then having any restorations created to match your newly brightened smile. This approach ensures perfect color harmony across all your teeth.
If you already experience significant tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli, professional whitening may temporarily increase your discomfort. However, sensitivity alone doesn’t automatically disqualify you.
We can take several steps to make treatment comfortable for sensitive patients, including using lower-concentration gels, adjusting treatment schedules with rest days between applications, prescribing desensitizing toothpaste, and choosing systems like KöR that incorporate desensitizing agents. During your evaluation, be honest about your sensitivity levels so we can customize your treatment accordingly.
The cause and severity of your tooth discoloration affect both your candidacy and which whitening system we recommend. Surface stains from coffee, tea, and tobacco generally respond excellently to any professional whitening treatment. Deeper intrinsic stains from aging, genetics, or fluorosis require more advanced approaches but typically respond well. Tetracycline staining—the grayish banding caused by antibiotic use during tooth development—represents the most challenging discoloration but can often be improved dramatically with the KöR system, specifically designed for these difficult cases.
Good candidates understand what professional whitening can and cannot achieve. Whitening won’t create artificially bright “Chiclet” teeth—instead, it reveals your natural tooth color at its brightest. The treatment can’t change your teeth’s underlying structure or fix alignment issues, chips, or gaps. During your consultation, we’ll show you shade guides and discuss realistic outcomes based on your starting point, helping you set appropriate expectations.
Certain medical conditions may affect your whitening candidacy. Patients undergoing cancer treatment, those with severe autoimmune disorders affecting oral tissues, or individuals with specific allergies to whitening ingredients may need alternative approaches. Always disclose your complete medical history during your evaluation so we can make safe, informed recommendations.
Ideal candidates are willing to follow aftercare instructions to protect their investment. This includes temporary dietary modifications during treatment, consistent oral hygiene, and periodic touch-ups as recommended. If you’re unwilling or unable to maintain results through proper care, whitening may not be the best choice for you.
Understanding your tooth stain type helps predict your whitening results:
During your candidacy evaluation, we’ll identify your specific stain type and recommend the most effective treatment approach.
Yes, root canal-treated teeth can be whitened, though they may require special techniques and may not respond identically to your other teeth. Teeth without living nerve tissue can darken internally over time, sometimes developing a grayish appearance. Some dentists can perform internal whitening (placing whitening gel inside the tooth) or external whitening, depending on your situation. However, results on root canal-treated teeth may not last as long as on vital teeth, and the final shade might differ slightly.
No, active gum disease must be treated before proceeding with teeth whitening. Gingivitis and periodontitis cause inflamed, bleeding gums that react poorly to whitening agents, leading to increased irritation, pain, and potential tissue damage. The good news is that gum disease is treatable. Once your gums have healed and are healthy, we can proceed with whitening safely and effectively.
Yes, having metal fillings doesn’t disqualify you from teeth whitening candidacy. The whitening agents will safely brighten your natural teeth while leaving metal restorations unchanged. Since most amalgam fillings are placed in back molars that aren’t highly visible when you smile, the color difference typically isn’t noticeable.
If you do have visible metal fillings in your smile zone and the color mismatch concerns you after whitening, we can discuss replacing them with tooth-colored composite fillings that match your brightened teeth. We’ll review all your restorations during your candidacy evaluation and help you plan for the most aesthetically pleasing outcome.
There’s no upper age limit for teeth whitening as long as you meet the health requirements. Many senior patients achieve excellent results and love the confidence boost their brighter smiles provide. Older adults may have more intrinsic staining from decades of exposure to staining substances and natural aging processes, but this often responds beautifully to professional treatments like KöR. The key is having healthy teeth and gums—age itself isn’t a disqualifying factor.
If our evaluation reveals that you’re not currently a suitable candidate for teeth whitening, we won’t simply turn you away. Instead, we’ll explain the specific factors preventing treatment and develop a plan to address them. This might involve treating gum disease, filling cavities, or waiting for pregnancy to conclude. In some cases, alternative cosmetic treatments like veneers or bonding might better suit your needs and goals.
The only way to know for certain if you’re a good candidate for professional teeth whitening is to schedule a comprehensive evaluation at Tharp, Klaus, & Kelly Dental Clinic. Our experienced team will assess your oral health, discuss your goals, and recommend the best path forward for achieving your brightest, most confident smile. Whether you’re an ideal candidate for immediate whitening or need preparatory treatment first, we’re committed to helping you achieve the beautiful smile you deserve.
Don’t wait to find out if professional teeth whitening is right for you. Call our dental clinic in Flowood at 601-939-4100 today to schedule your candidacy consultation. We proudly serve patients from Jackson, Pearl, Brandon, Florence, Canton, and throughout the greater Mississippi area. Let Drs. Tharp, Klaus, and Kelly help you take the first step toward your dream smile!
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