DEFINITION:
Tooth whitening is a procedure that lightens the colouration of the enamel and the dentin of teeth, using whitening solution. The solution contains carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, after prolonged contact with the tooth, the solution breaks away the pigments formed with the years.
There are a few important considerations that should be noted about teeth whitening, such as:
•Yellowish teeth whiten better than grayish teeth.
•Smokers should refrain from smoking for better results.
•Smoking during the treatment increases cancer risks.
•The bleaching effect is not permanent; touch-ups should be done every six, twelve, or eighteen months depending on the use of tobacco, coffee, tea, and red wine.
•In the cases of extremely stained teeth (i.e. caused by tetracycline), the patient may require up to six months of at home whitening, or many in office treatments. If the teeth also have restorations, it is recommended to put crowns or porcelain veneers to have a faster and better result.
•The degree of whitening can vary from one person to another.
The choice of the teeth whitening type depends on the need of the patient. Those different types include:
•Whitening toothpastes
All the toothpastes slightly remove the stains from the tooth surface through light abrasion. Some toothpaste specifically containing whitening agents allow removing more stains. However, this is a cleaning process, not a whitening process.
•Whitening strips
Also purchased in pharmacies, the strips are thin and covered with a peroxide based gel. They also have to be used for 30 minutes, twice a day, for 14 days. The strips and the gels contain a lower concentration of peroxide than the products used by the dentist.
•At home whitening supervised by a dentist
This technique uses individualized trays, made from impressions taken of the teeth, which are filled with peroxide based gels. It allows maximum contact with the teeth, and minimum contact with the gums. They should be worn for a few hours a day, or during the night, for a period of two weeks or more, depending on the degree of whitening desired.
For more information, please visit http://www.complexmdex.com/TeethWhitening/
•In office whitening
This method employs bleaching of the teeth in one appointment at the dentist. The procedure first involves the application of a protective gel on the gums, because it may be irritated by the peroxide. Then, the bleaching agent is applied directly to the teeth, and the whitening is accelerated by heat or a light source. The concentration of peroxide is higher, generally leading to better results.
For more information, please visit http://complexmdex.com/TeethWhiteningLaser/
Teeth whitening can be associated with a few risks, including:
•Temporary tooth sensitivity
The tooth sensitivity is temporary, disappearing within a few days. It can be reduced by either reducing the exposure time with the whitening trays, by interrupting the whitening for a few days, or by applying a fluoride based gel on the teeth before bleaching. An alternative to those solutions is to brush teeth with a desensitizing toothpaste preceding the whitening treatment.
•Temporary irritation of the gums
Irritation of the gums is also temporary. It can be reduced by gently removing the excess bleaching gel on the gums with a cotton swab.
APPLICATIONS:
Darkening of teeth can be caused by plaque or tartar recovering the teeth, changing colour from the use of tobacco, coffee, tea, or red wine. By removing the tartar and polishing the teeth during a dental cleaning, these stains disappear. However, the stains can be lodged inside the enamel and the dentin of the teeth, caused by a cavity, tobacco, certain medications taken at a young age like tetracycline, or too much consumption of fluoride. In those cases, teeth whitening is required to eliminate the dark colouration of the teeth or of the stains.
SOURCES: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org).
WebMD, better information, better health (www.webmd.com).
