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different types of dentistry such as cosmetic dentistry,
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Types
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Teeth Whitening
One of the biggest dental concerns
that people face relates to the color of their teeth. Ideally, teeth should be a bright white but unfortunately this is
often not the case. Stained teeth occur
over time and although this condition does not have any adverse health effects,
it creates an unpleasant effect on a person’s smile. A great smile is an asset that everybody wants to have and the
presence of yellow or brown teeth can cause people to become insecure about
their smile. By obtaining teeth
whiteners, a person becomes much more confident in their smile, which will only
have positive benefits socially.
For this reasoning, teeth whitening have become one of the most popular procedures
performed in the field of cosmetic dentistry.
Teeth whitening is essentially a procedure that is designed to reverse
the effects of teeth discoloration.
Although coffee consumption, tobacco use, tea consumption, antibiotic
use, and soda consumption are just some of the activities that can contribute
to teeth discoloration, the main reason for teeth discoloration is aging. The best way to reverse the appearance of
stained teeth is by undergoing teeth whitening treatment.
There are numerous options available for individuals that want to obtain a teeth
whitener. The effects of these
different teeth whiteners are immediately apparent for the user and teeth
whitening systems such as Zoom and Britesmile claim to be able to make a person’s
teeth up to nine shades whiter. There
are numerous teeth whitener techniques available to individuals such as:
chemical whitening, mild acid whitening, abrasive teeth brightening, and laser
teeth whitening. All of these
techniques have their individual merits and drawbacks. Therefore, if you are interested in
obtaining a teeth whitener, you should choose the teeth whitening technique after
a careful consultation period with your dentist.
Rather than analyze the different teeth whitening techniques that are
available, the general categories of teeth whiteners will be examined. There are essentially three general
categories of teeth whitening that the different teeth whitener techniques fall
under. These options are: in-office
bleaching, at-home bleaching, and whitening toothpastes.
In-office bleaching refers to all teeth whitening procedures that are
performed in a dentist’s office.
Otherwise known as chairside teeth whitening or one-hour bleaching,
in-office bleaching involves the application of a bleaching agent on a patient’s
teeth. This bleaching agent contains
hydrogen peroxide, which is the key ingredient in this teeth whitener. Under the in-office bleaching procedure, the
dentist activates the hydrogen peroxide contained within the bleaching agent
with either a light or laser source, depending on the specific teeth whitener
technique that the dentist is using.
How this works is that once the hydrogen peroxide has been activated, it
breaks down into water and a radical (compound constituent). In this state, the radical attaches itself to
stain molecules. The stain molecules
become weak, which allows oxygen to reach and whiten the tooth enamel.
At-home bleaching is another teeth whitening option that follows
similar principles as in-home bleaching.
Under this procedure, the patient obtains a peroxide-based bleaching
solution from their dentist or pharmacist.
Contained in this bleaching kit are carbamide peroxide gel and a
mouthguard. Under this treatment, the
patient places the peroxide gel into the mouthguard. Considering the numerous at-home bleaching teeth whitener
products that are available, the duration and frequency of the treatment will
depend on the product.
However, much like in-office
bleaching, at-home bleaching products work under the principal of
oxidation. In at-home teeth whiteners,
the caramide hydrogen breaks down into water and a radical (compound
consituent). Once it is in this state,
stain molecules are weakened and oxygen is able to reach and whiten the user’s
tooth enamel.
The final teeth whitening option
that is available is whitening toothpastes. Unlike other teeth whitening systems, whitening toothpastes do not
contain peroxides. Rather, they contain
polishing agents that are more capable of removing deeper teeth stains than regular
toothpastes.
Although everybody wants white
teeth and teeth whitening are generally a safe and effective procedure, it should
be noted that some individuals are not the best candidates for teeth whitening. For individuals that have tooth-colored
fillings, bleaching may have a negative impact on your teeth’s aesthetic
appearance. If you are considering
teeth whitening, consult a dentist for their assessment.
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Learn about dental terminology
and educate yourself with our comprehensive dental glossary.
Dental
Glossary |
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Learn about the different
recognized dental specialties in dentistry. Orthodontics, prosthodontics,
endodontics, periodontics and more.
Dental
Specialties |
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