Teeth Whitening for That Sparkling Smile

Teeth whitening is the most common and widely adopted cosmetic procedure. Teeth whitening is removing stains from the tooth surface and restoring the natural colour of the teeth. Teeth whitening by a dentist is a one-time procedure performed. With the improvements in dental technology, advanced whitening treatment procedures are now available, which give reliable and long-lasting results.

For better results, do get it done from a trained dental professional.

Types of Stains:

1.    Intrinsic Stains: These are difficult to remove as they are embedded in the enamel.
2.    Extrinsic Stains: These are removable easily because they are present on the outer surface of the enamel.

Factors responsible for tooth staining are:

•    Food and drinks: Some foods and beverages, like coffee, tea and wine, include tannins. Tannins attach colours to the enamel of your teeth and give intrinsic stains. If you drink these beverages, you’re more at risk of yellow teeth.

•    Smoking: Smoking and chewing tobacco is terrible for health in many ways and is especially bad for teeth. The nicotine in cigarettes leaves brown color on the enamel of teeth and can add to the list of things that cause discoloration of your teeth to that list.

•    Drugs or medication: Chemicals found in certain medications can also discolor your teeth and leave permanent stains.

•    Grinding: The habit of grinding teeth, which usually occurs during sleep in medical terms, is known as bruxism. Bruxism can wear the enamel of teeth. The enamel is a white substance; the next layer, “dentin,” under the enamel, is yellow.

•    Old age: There’s a direct correlation between ageing and staining of teeth. With age, the enamel of teeth wears away gradually, and the yellow dentinal layer comes out, giving a yellow appearance to the teeth.

TEETH WHITENING PROCEDURE 

Teeth whitening procedure can be done in two ways:

1) In-office teeth whitening procedure

2) Home teeth whitening procedure

In-office teeth whitening procedure:

When a teeth whitening procedure is done within the dental office, it is called an In-office teeth whitening procedure. The dentist does the whole procedure under carefully monitored conditions to ensure the safe use of bleaching agents to get visible results immediately. After a complete scaling of teeth, the dentist applies a medium on the gums to separate and prevent them from bleaching agent and afterwards, the bleaching agent is applied to the teeth. This process is repeated several times until desired shade of color is achieved using either the bleaching light or heat or lasers.

ADVANTAGES OF PROFESSIONAL TEETH WHITENING AT A DENTIST

•    Teeth whitening by a professional is the most effective way to whiten your teeth. Although it costs a bit more, you’ll achieve significant colour restoration with the help of a dentist.

•    During a teeth whitening procedure, the dentist places a high-concentration peroxide bleaching agent on your teeth. Usually, this stays on your teeth for intervals of 15-20 minutes.

•    If the teeth aren’t severely stained, the patient can walk out of the dentist within an hour with a shiny white smile.

•    Many dentists also use laser teeth whitening treatment. Even though laser teeth whitening costs more, it is certainly less harmful to your enamel.

Home bleaching

Home bleaching can be performed at home. After a complete scaling, the doctor fabricates customized dental trays to fit your teeth. The bleaching material is then loaded in these dental trays and then applied to the teeth with the help of these dental trays. The doctor does the first session of bleaching at the clinic and then explains the procedure to the patient with simple instructions, which the patient can easily carry out at home. After the number of times you have been asked to repeat the procedure; you get the visible results.

How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

The teeth whitening procedure cost depends upon a lot of factors. The method used for teeth whitening is crucial to calculating the cost for whiter teeth. While home teeth whitening kits are cheaper, they’re ineffective and don’t give lasting results. Professional teeth whitening costs a bit more but saves more money in the long run.

Home teeth whitening kits usually cost less, but the results depend on the brand. These home whitening kits can be found in drug stores or pharmacies as they’re prevalent.

Every dental practice price their teeth whitening procedures according to the severity of the case. The cost will depend on the number of whitening sessions the patient has and also depend on the equipment the dentist uses to perform procedures. Laser whitening is usually more expensive than bleaching procedures. 

The Risks of Teeth Whitening

Just like all medical procedures, teeth whitening comes with a few risks. Home whitening significantly can cost you and your health and can prove to be more expensive, especially if you’re resorting to home remedies.

•    Tooth sensitivity: Bleach is a strong chemical. The patient may feel increased sensitivity after having teeth bleached. Sensitivity to hot or cold, pressure, or touch can cause pain. This sensitivity usually only lasts a few days. A dentist can recommend medication to reduce the pain.

•    Gum irritation: Peroxide used in teeth whitening procedures can irritate gums. Dentists put a guard on gums when they’re working with peroxide to bleach teeth. However, over-the-counter kits don’t provide this safety measure.

•    Technicolor teeth: If you have implants, dental crowns, or veneers, the results of teeth whitening may be different than you expect. Bleach doesn’t affect these restorative tools. So, your surrounding teeth may become whiter after bleaching than the fake teeth. This phenomenon is called “technicolour teeth.”