Archive for the ‘Tooth whitening’ Category

Tooth Whitening Safety

Dec 9th, 08 / 0 Comments

How can one whiten teeth? Well, most people opt to do one of several things. Some choose to concoct their own at-home remedy, others choose to purchase a whitening product, and others go to a dentist for laser teeth whitening or a similar procedure. As you can see, to whiten teeth is to open yourself up to a world of choices. Dental teeth whitening is one of the fastest growing areas of cosmetic dentistry, and for a good reason. People like the idea of being able to rejuvenate the look of their smile in a quick and pain-free way. Dental teeth whitening opens the doors to such possibilities.

But just how safe is it to decide one day that “I want to whiten my teeth”? The answer to this depends on several things. Those that say “I want to whiten my teeth without spending much money” are those that concern not only us, but many dentists as well. When you choose to whiten your teeth, or undergo any sort of dental procedure for that matter, you are putting a lot on the line. While deciding to whiten your teeth may sound like a harmless endeavor, it can turn costly and damaging very quickly. This article will discuss what dangers lurk for those who decide it’s time to whiten their teeth.

The whitening of teeth is typically accomplished by applying Carbamide peroxide to the surface of the teeth. The peroxide is typically contained in a tooth whitening gel. The tooth whitening gel is placed in a whitening tray, and applied to the patient’s teeth. For some whitening procedures, a special light is used to activate the tooth whitening gel. For some of you, the whitening of teeth procedure may sound harmless. However, the main ingredient in these whitening gels (Carbamide peroxide) can prove dangerous. When whitening your teeth (via a professional procedure or at-home product) you need to keep this chemical away from your gums. Peroxide can be extremely damaging to your gums, and can render the whitening process unpleasant. This is one of the reasons why it’s a better idea to have your teeth whitened by a dentist. Teeth whitening dentists are very familiar with the damaging effects whitening gels can have on various parts of the mouth. Thus, they know how imperative it is the activity of these gels is isolated in the tooth region. Teeth whitening dentists are professionally trained to provide a safe environment for the patient during whitening procedures, and will more often than not keep the other parts of your mouth well protected. Consumers aren’t trained in properly handling these gels, and thus raise their risk of causing damage. Manufacturers of whitening products have offset this danger by reducing the concentration of Carbamide peroxide that their whitening products contain. This in return has rendered them more safe yet less effective than professional whitening treatments. Thus, whitening your teeth is obviously not as safe as some make it out to be.

How can you counteract some of the safety issues which tooth whitening poses? Here are some teeth whitening tips that will help you in that pursuit. For one, if you’re going to use an over-the-counter product, follow the directions explicitly. Many people enjoy deviating from some directions. Why they choose to do such a dumb thing is beyond us. However, the result can be disastrous. Pay attention to how much gel the product asks you to apply to the tray, and how the tray is to be properly positioned in the mouth. This is one of the best teeth whitening tips for those looking to take the cheaper at-home approach. Another important tip is to avoid the more abnormal sounding home remedies. Some people recommend swishing peroxide in your mouth or applying strawberries to your teeth. Such whitening remedies could prove dangerous and conducive to dental damage. You need to consult a dentist before attempting to utilize such remedies. The safer ones to stick to include using baking soda during your tooth brushing routine, as well as utilizing a toothpaste specifically designed for teeth whitening.

We hope we’ve done away with the teeth whitening safe rumor that’s been perpetuated by those who are poorly informed when it comes to teeth whitening. It should be apparent that the teeth whitening safe rumor has caused many people to make poor decisions when attempting to whiten their teeth. Exercise good judgment when selecting your specific whitening solution, and be sure to pay attention to instructions provided with a product or instructions issued by a dentist. Unless you’re a seasoned cosmetic dentist who’s performed this procedure on a routine basis, you should follow any instructions that are provided to you.

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Cost of Tooth Whitening

Dec 9th, 08 / 0 Comments

Anyone who’s looking to renew the look of their smile is naturally curious about teeth whitening cost. Like any other dental procedure, tooth whitening can cost a pretty penny. As you will learn in a minute, teeth whitening cost is controlled by several factors. However, those of you that are embarrassed by your yellow or otherwise discolored teeth will find that the cost of teeth whitening is well worth it. Putting the cost of teeth whitening aside, the procedure itself can give you a big sense of pride of confidence.

Your geographical location has some bearing on what teeth whitening price you should expect. Cosmetic dentists in some areas offer the procedure for a reduced cost, while dentists in other areas cater to more high-paying clientele. Nevertheless, location does indeed affect teeth whitening price. Teeth whitening prices are also controlled by the specific type of procedure you choose. Some of the whitening procedures are much cheaper than others. Teeth whitening prices will range from high to low, depending on the effectiveness of a particular procedure. This doesn’t mean that cheap teeth whitening procedures are ineffective. Rather, cheap teeth whitening treatments are for those with limited financial resources that want to rejuvenate their smile with the limited resources they have. Most dental tooth whitening procedures done by a professional cosmetic dentist tend to start at $150+ per arch. Again, this does not accurately reflect what all dentists will charge for the dental tooth whitening procedure. While this may seem exorbitant, one need remember that tooth whitening cost can be offset with health insurance. Some insurance companies will agree to cover the tooth whitening cost, given the circumstances are right. It is best that you talk with your insurance carrier first for more details.

Sometimes teeth whitening costs discourage people from seeking the services of a cosmetic dentist, and instead encourage them to seek at home treatments. Teeth whitening costs can be substantially reduced by choosing to go this route. However, you need to remember that the results of such a treatment aren’t always as magnificent. At home kits and whitening toothpastes offer consumers with limited discoloration a perfect alternative. Dentist tooth whitening is often not necessary for these consumers. However, for those with more severely stained or darkened teeth, dentist tooth whitening is recommended. You should choose what whitening route you want to take depending on the sort of money you have available. For example, a patient with a limited number of money won’t be able to cover dentist tooth whitening. In this scenario, laser tooth whitening shouldn’t be considered. However, others will be able to flip the dentist tooth whitening without troubles. The optimal whitening route will depend on a particular patients financial status as well as his/her whitening needs.

It should now be evident that tooth whitening cost is influenced by a variety of different factors, some which we can control, and others which we can’t. There are a plethora of different teeth whitening procedures available to consumers, each with their individual merits. Consumers should explore each of their options to determine which would suit them best before opting to go with a specific whitening procedure.

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Teeth Whitening Procedure

Aug 20th, 08 / 0 Comments

In recent times, people have become increasingly concerned with the shade of their smile. I mean, who could blame them? Celebrities constantly flaunt their pearly whites in front of photographers, whose photos end up in public hands. Fortunately, those of us lacking pearly white smiles can turn to teeth whitening for a dramatic transformation.

Teeth whitening, teeth whitening, or tooth bleaching refers to the same procedure in cosmetic dentistry. Recent studies have indicated that teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure in the world. Most people in society find white smiles utterly attractive, hence why many are more than ready to spend several hundred if not several thousands of dollars to improve the look of their smile.

As children, most of us had white teeth. Unfortunately, as one grows up and sheds their baby teeth, their smile begins to dim in color. The darkening effect is exasperated as our teeth undergo mineral restructuring and changes in enamel porosity. When combined with our eating and maintenance habits (or lack thereof), it’s anything but surprising to see why our teeth lose their white glow.

The teeth whitening procedure utilizes various chemicals to bring out the radiant glow of our teeth. Whitening kits typically make use of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide to help the teeth regain their white appearance. These two chemicals, referred to as oxidizing agents, make their way into the teeth (via the porous enamel) and proceed to erase stains. The bleaching agents can even make their way into the dentin, bleaching it as well. Despite popular belief, the bleaching effect does not permanently linger. Those who undergo a whitening procedure should expect their teeth to return to their normal shade within several months. Keep in mind, the return to a more natural shade could be expedited by your eating habits. You can often opt to go in for follow-up appointments to have your teeth re-whitened, thus enabling you to maintain your white smile.

Those wishing to have their teeth whitened can elect to either visit a cosmetic dentist or purchase an at-home whitening kit. Teeth whitening performed in a dentist’s office typically entails the application of a bleaching agent on the teeth for a limited amount of time. This time can range anywhere from half and hour to an hour. Many patients are asked to sit under a special light, which activates the bleaching agent. The use of a light can also expedite the teeth whitening process. Before the bleaching process gets underway, a dentist applies a special protective substance to the gums to protect them from the bleaching agent. As we’ve mentioned above, the cosmetic dentist can choose to use either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agent. The former will eventually transform into hydrogen peroxide while inside the mouth. The usual whitening gel contains either thirty-five percent carbamide peroxide or around ten percent hydrogen peroxide.

Take home teeth whitening kits are considerably less powerful than in-office procedures. Most kits either come with application strips or a mouthguard that is meant to be lined with the bleaching agent. Instead of being applied for an hour or less, those who purchase an at-home kit are expected to keep the gel applied to their teeth for a few hours a day (for one or two weeks). This should give the weaker bleaching agent sufficient time to make its way into the enamel. People using take home kits need not be concerned over gum damage with their kits. The take home teeth whitening kits often contain far too small amounts of hydrogen peroxide to cause any damage to the gums.

As with other procedures, results with at-home teeth whitening kits have been known to vary. Some have reported seeing results in as little as a few days. Others report seeing minimalist results, even after pursuing the treatment for its entire duration.

Most dentists recommend in-office treatments as take home whitening kits are lacking in several areas. For one, the mouthguard or strips are limited in their ability to adequately surround the teeth. Thus, there is a potential chance that some parts of the teeth may remain unbleached. Those that are set on an at-home procedure should consult their local cosmetic dentist’s office to see whether they offer custom whitening kits. These kits tend to perform better than store-bought teeth whitening kits.

Bleaching treatments tend to be successful in whitening a patient’s teeth. However, one should remember not to have exorbitant expectations. Some stains simply won’t go away, no matter how many bleaching treatments you undergo. Further, staining caused by some sources (such as antibiotic treatments) may require longer treatment to give the bleaching agent ample time to reach the location of the stain. People with some pre-existing dental conditions (whitespots, dental caries, etc.) may respond poorly to whitening treatments. Trials have shown that those with yellow teeth respond best to whitening treatments.

While mostly safe, teeth whitening does have its risks. For one, a patient may suffer from burns and increased sensitivity. The latter is merely temporary and should subside as irritation in the gums settles. Please be aware that over-use of whitening treatments can cause increased sensitivity and can also lead to enamel damage. At-home kits tend to be the culprit of enamel damage.

Those with dental conditions (such as sensitive teeth, gum problems, etc.) should first consult their general dentists before undergoing any sort of whitening procedure. Likewise, those allergic to peroxide should also veer clear of whitening treatments.

Not everyone is a candidate for teeth whitening. Women who are pregnant should wait until after giving birth to get their teeth whitened. Children under the age of sixteen are also ill-equipped to undergo a whitening procedure. Children this young could sustain pulp damage from such a procedure.

Please be aware that whitening will not affect the color of most restorative pieces (veneers, gold crowns, etc.). It can, however, reverse damage wrought on these pieces due to staining. However, it can slightly impact the color of restorative pieces manufactured of a composite-like material (composite fillings, etc.).

Most dental professionals (as do we) recommend prospective teeth whitening patients consult with their general dentists before undergoing a teeth whitening procedure. While tooth bleaching is not a very dangerous procedure, it’s always best to be safe.

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