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Tooth Whitening

Teeth
can change their colour over time due to smoking, coffee, tea and certain
medication. Whitening is a dental treatment when they remove tooth stains by
scale and polish method and discolouration by a bleaching process. It is a
popular method because aesthetic smile improvement can be quickly achieved. There
is a wide range of whitening treatments available, from home kits to immediate
whitening in the dental surgery. They share the same method, based on bleaching
that applies a peroxide based compound(3-5O%). Home kits contain lower
concentrations and they have to be used on repeated occasions but their effect
last longer. Laser whitening has immediate results but they do not last as long
as the home kit.
The degree of whitening depends on individual factors and the type of whitening
method used. False teeth cannot be whitened.
If you have tooth decay, that should be treated first, and those who have gum
disease or have extremely sensitive teeth are not recommended to undergo
whitening. It is strogly contraindicated for children, pregnant and breastfeeding
women.
The procedure
The dentist or the hygienist will thoroughly clean the teeth, this procedure is
called scale and polish. Then the dentist carefully isolates the gums, lips to
avoid damage and burning of these soft tissues then takes a digital photo of
the shade of your teeth. The bleaching compound contains around 15-5O% hydrogen
or carbamide peroxide, so it is very
important to protect the surrounding soft tissues. Cheeks and lips are kept
away with a special device and eye protection is provided as well. Then the
dentist applies the whitening gel to the surface of the teeth and light is used
for an hour to activate and speed up the lightening process. During the
process, active oxygen penetrates the tooth enamel surface removing stains
without damaging the surrounding structures. When the process is completed, the
compound is removed. Some extra fluoride treatment after bleaching can decrease
the sensitivity of the teeth.
Different systems
Power bleaching systems they apply light(laser, halogen) during
bleaching to speed up the process.
Among the most populars are Zoom!, BriteSmle, Opalescence and Enlighten. Your
dentist will be able to choose the method that will give you the best results.
Home
kits
Your dentist makes mouth guards that are fabricated to your teeth, and the precise
fit enables to use slightly stronger bleaching gels than with the over the
counter kits.
The whitening effects usually lasts for several years but this also depends on
your diet and inherited factors.
It is important to bear in mind that the degree of the bleaching effect is
always individual.
Advantages
relatively low cost
quickly improves smile results
safe
does not require removal of healthy tooth structure to improve appearance
Disadvantages
tooth and gum sensitivity
temporary sore throat
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