People today are far more cognizant of their looks, and therefore one of the most sought after treatment procedures in the field of Cosmetic Dentistry is Teeth Whitening. Teeth whitening is considered as one of the safest and most conservative dental cosmetic procedures. Even individuals with healthy teeth try whitening systems for brighter smile, while others with stained teeth are looking for some solution.
Drinking coffee, tea, cola and smoking are the most common causes of teeth stains, whereas it can also result from your genetic make-up, ageing, antibiotic (tetracycline) use, excessive fluoride use or those old fillings.
The first step to teeth whitening is getting your teeth cleaned regularly – brushing and flossing twice a day. Toothpaste typically has small particles of silica, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate to grind off stains from the teeth. However a professional cleaning occasionally will help keep stains out of micro-cracks in the enamel.
There are many products to whiten teeth, e.g., Whitening Strips, Whitening Pen, Whitening Gel, Laser Whitening, and Natural Whitening.
Power Bleaching (Laser Bleaching), uses light energy to accelerate the process of bleaching in a dental clinic. Different types of light can be used, such as Halogen, LED, or Plasma Arc.
One of the less know types of teeth whitening system is Internal Bleaching (Walking Bleach), which is performed on the tooth that has undergone root canal treatment but is discolored due to internal staining of the tooth structure. Unlike other teeth whitening methods which brightens tooth from the outside, internal bleaching brightens tooth from inside out.
Gel bleaching is performed with high-concentration gel in the dental clinic however low-concentration agents are advised at home. Hydrogen peroxide is typically used in treatments done in professional clinics while the Carbamide Peroxide is slow-acting and found in most over-the-counter products. These products can be applied by wearing customized thin flexible trays filled with the bleaching agent.
It is however most important to get your teeth checked by a dentist before using any of these whitening systems. Your dentist will examine your health and dental history, examine the hard and soft tissues, any placements and conditions of restoration, and sometimes perform an x-rays investigation to determine the nature and depth of possible irregularities.
It is wrong to assume that – all teeth whiten the same, as some of those stains which are deep-seated will not go even with professional cleaning. Moreover crowns and fillings will not change its color when considering teeth whitening. All whitening gels are not the same, and that sometimes it requires weeks to see the results. It is best that you see dentists first, even if you are just considering over-the-counter methods. Your dentist can show you what you can hope to expect.
Lastly, if you are planning to undergo the whitening or bleaching process, remember the following:
· Bleaching agents cause sensitivity and can aggravate gum diseases.
· It may be painful if you have "sensitive teeth" caused by open dentinal tubules.
· Crowns, fillings and veneers will not be bleached. If you have veneers on the front teeth, they may need to be replaced in order to match your other teeth.
· Some teeth whitening methods could end you up with unnaturally white teeth. Over-bleaching is known in the profession as "over-white teeth" aka "Hyperodonto-oxidation".
· Rebound, or teeth losing the bleached effect, particularly with the intensive treatments (products that provide a large change in tooth color over a very short treatment period, e.g., 1 hour).
So remember to trade carefully, between looks and health.
About the author:
Dr. Payal Chaudhuri B.D.S., M.D.S.
The author of this article is a Registered Dental Practitioner in India.
She is also associated with a Dental College in Gurgaon, India.
E-mail: dr.payal@hotmail.com
3 comments:
Very informataive and succint .
Is walking bleach available in India?
Yes, it is available.
Post a Comment