WHITENING
Whitening is a very conservative
and non-invasive approach to creating a brighter and more appealing smile.
Teeth can often take on a darker and unattractive appearance with age or
from contact with staining substances. Tobacco, coffee or tea, juices,
poor hygiene, genetics, and natural aging can cause the discoloration.
Bleaching has become very popular for a whiter and brighter smile because
it's fast, simple and inexpensive with excellent and predictable results.
HOW
IT'S DONE
There are two commonly used
methods for bleaching: at-home and in-office. Both begin with an office
consultation to determine if the patient is a good candidate for the bleaching
process. The at-home technique is least expensive. The in-office method
(power bleaching) allows the dentist to place a higher concentration of
an oxidizing agent to the teeth.
TYPES
OF TEETH WHITENING PROCEDURES
AT-HOME
METHOD
A custom mouthpiece or "tray"
is made by the dental office to fit your teeth. This tray fits over the
patient's teeth and holds the bleaching material against the teeth for
a specified period of time. There are different concentrations of bleach
that are worn via the tray for 30 minutes per day for an average of 10
to 14 days. The regimen will be determined by the dentist and may differ
for each patient. If the teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold, a
"desensitizing" material may be used in the same tray on alternating days.
Results are usually excellent with this method and the trays can be used
to remove to remove future staining.
IN-OFFICE
METHOD (Power Bleaching)
The gum tissues are covered
to protect them from being irritated by a higher concentration of the bleaching
material. The bleach may be then activated by a high intensity light or
a laser to accelerate the process. This method is usually repeated at separate
appointments. Most patients require a touch-up after one to five years,
depending on the patient's habits and desires.
WHAT
ABOUT OVER-THE-COUNTER OPTIONS?
Both at-home and in-office
treatments are considerably more effective than the whiteners available
at retail outlets. The over-the-counter products have much lower concentrations
of bleach and sometimes use materials and ill-fitting trays that can cause
damage to the teeth and gums.
|
