Tooth Whitening
What
is tooth whitening?
Tooth whitening, also
known as tooth bleaching, is the use
of chemical agents to remove stains
from and lighten the color of teeth.
Tooth whitening can be performed via
one of several methods, including
chairside bleaching, dentist-supervised
at-home whitening kits, store-bought
kits, and whitening toothpastes. Dentist
supervision in the whitening process,
while more expensive, has proven to
be more effective and less troublesome.
Who
is a candidate?
People with stains
and discoloration are usually candidates
for tooth whitening. Almost any degree
of discoloration can merit tooth whitening,
though some types of blemishes will
whiten better than others. Teeth that
have turned yellow, orange, or brown
due to factors such as aging, smoking,
or drinking coffee tend to respond
particularly well; gray teeth that
have resulted from fluorosis or tetracycline
use tend not to lighten quite as much.
Fillings or bonding in the front teeth
are unlikely to whiten.
Persons who suffer
from extremely sensitive teeth, periodontal
(gum) disease, or worn tooth enamel
may not be good candidates for tooth
whitening.
What
are the different types of tooth whitening?
There
are numerous types of tooth whitening,
each varying in effectiveness, ease
of completion, and time required.
Some treatments are only capable of
removing surface stains, while others
can change the color of the tooth
many shades. Home treatments require
daily use over a period of days or
weeks, while there are in-office methods
that can occur in a few short visits
to a cosmetic
dentist over the same length of
time. While most bleaching agents
are unlikely to do the patient serious
harm, they can cause some discomfort.
Some bleaching methods protect the
gums and mouth from these chemicals
better than others.
Chairside
bleaching – also referred
to as laser whitening when a laser
is used – is a method of tooth
whitening that takes place in the
dentist’s office. This procedure
takes between half an hour and an
hour. The dentist begins by checking
for cavities and cleaning the teeth
thoroughly. Then, protective gel or
a rubber shield is applied to the
soft tissue in the mouth to protect
it. Next, a peroxide-based bleaching
gel is applied to the teeth and left
on for a predetermined length of time.
In laser bleaching, a laser is directed
at the teeth to enhance the bleaching
effect. Several visits may be necessary
to whiten particularly troublesome
teeth. The procedure is very quick
and effective. Problems are also less
frequent in chairside bleaching than
in other methods because the dentist
is in control.
A
dentist-issued at-home tooth whitening
kit is nearly as powerful as chairside
bleaching. In this form of treatment,
the patient’s teeth are checked
for cavities and cleaned, then fitted
for a mouth tray. This tray fits much
more snugly than those available over
the counter, and rarely results in
complications with the peroxide formula.
It is also light and unobtrusive enough
to be used while sleeping or at work.
The dentist also provides the patient
with a peroxide whitening gel that
is usually more powerful than over-the-counter
formulas. The dentist may instruct
the patient to wear the trays overnight
or periodically during the day. Treatment
may last anywhere from two to six
weeks.
Whitening
toothpastes generally do not
bleach the teeth, but instead rely
on abrasive substances that polish
them. They tend to remove only the
most superficial of stains, so don’t
expect the teeth to whiten much. Whitening
toothpastes be good for maintaining
a level of whiteness after a more
powerful whitening treatment has been
undertaken.
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