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What is teeth whitening ?
Teeth whitening has become one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic dentistry. Teeth whitening is the process of removing stains and discolouration from teeth through a bleaching process to make them look whiter. The effectiveness of teeth whitening is well proven, it works. The effect is not permanent , however with maintenance and regular “ touch up ) the effect can be prolong.
Types of teeth discoloration.
There are basically 2 types.
Extrinsic stains
These are stains on the surface of the tooth . This type of stains may be due to food and beverages that stains teeth . For example, coffee ,tea , smoking etc. These extrinsic stains can be removed by the dentist during scaling and polishing.
Intrinsic stains
These stains are formed deep inside the tooth . It may be due to aging ,trauma or tetracycline antibiotics etc. These stains used to not removable , but with cosmetic bleaching procedures, these stains can now be removed.
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What are the types of teeth whitening available ?
There are basically 2 types of teeth whitening
1) Laser/in-office teeth whitening.
This procedure usually takes about 1 hour. A light activated peroxide base bleaching gel is applied to your teeth during this period and a laser light is used to activate the gel to commence the process of teeth whitening. Most dentist recommended that the lase whitening should be followed up by professional home whitening. The advantage of in- office whitening is that the result is instantaneous. As the bleaching agent used is of a higher concentration, more teeth sensitivity is expected, however this sensitivity is only temporary. |
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2) Professional home whitening kits –dentist supervise.
Customized trays with bleaching gel are worn overnights usually 7 – 14 nights. This method is less sensitive than the in- office technique however patient’s compliance is important. If done correctly, good permanent results can be obtain . |
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What should I know about take home whitening gels ?
Are the teeth whitening gels safe ?
The Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels are only available from your cosmetic dentist. The cosmetic dentist will supervise your treatment from the first visit consult to completion of your teeth whitening. Modern teeth whitening gels sticky, and viscous ,so it does not migrate to the gum to cause gum irritation. The gel includes advance formulation with Potassium Fluoride (PF) , which helps to improve the strength of your enamel , decrease sensitivity and reduce teeth decay.
How effective is take home gel for teeth whitening ?
Opalescence Take Home Gel are prescribed by your cosmetic dentist. Various concentration from 10% PF, 15%PF, 20% PF and 35%PF are available. After careful evaluation , your cosmetic dentist will prescribe the appropriate concentration to suits your teeth whitening needs. You will expect to see results after a few days.
What do you mean by customized treatment ?
Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels are delivered via a customized bleaching tray. Your cosmetic dentist will take a mold of your teeth and from this he will fabricate a customized tray to fit your teeth exactly.
Am I candidate for teeth whitening ?
A consultation with your cosmetic dentist is an important first step. A careful evaluation will be done to assess your suitability for teeth whitening . The following conditions might not be very suitable for teeth whitening.
Pregnant women or those on breast feeding. People who are light sensitive. In such cases, the take home bleaching is more suitable. Those with receding gums ,gum diseases, as well as sensitive teeth. Any cracked teeth, leaking fillings or tooth decay ,must be treated first.
Will my teeth be sensitive after the teeth whitening procedure ?
Generally some temporary sensitivity is expected during and after teeth whitening.
This is normal and will disappear after a few days. A desensitizing gel is usually provided in a take home kit and this should minimize the post treatment sensitivity.
Will teeth whitening really whiten my teeth ?
Generally yellow or yellow brown teeth will give better results than those with gray or blush-gray teeth.
Teeth with crowns,veneers, large composite fillings will not work with teeth whitening.
How long will the teeth whitening last ?
There will be some relapsed after 2 years. This however ,may be minimized with touch-up with the take home kit. Wearing the take home kit, 2 nights at 6 months interval, will minimize the relapsed of teeth whitening procedure.
How many shades will my teeth be whitened ?
It is possible to whiten your teeth by several shades. However if you desire very white teeth, A longer period of teeth whitening is required. This means more teeth sensitivity although the sensitivity is only temporary. However if you want really white teeth, than porcelain veneers will be a better alternative.
Dentist supervised take home teeth whitening versus in-office I hour teeth whitening.
The general consensus among dental professional is that take home dentist supervise teeth whitening can be more effective than in –office I hour teeth whitening. The superior teeth whitening results form take home teeth whitening is due to the accumulative effect of small doses of teeth whitening agent over a prolong period of 10 days or more.
For good long term results, touch up bleaching with take home teeth whitening kit should be done every 4 to 6 months.
For people with tetracycline stains or other dark stains, chair-side I hour teeth whitening will not work. Take home dentist supervise teeth whitening over a prolong period of few months however , produce much better long term results.
Dentist supervised take- home teeth whitening versus over the counter teeth whiteners.
Over the counter whiteners are generally not effective as the concentration is low. Moreover the standard stock trays are ill fitting and a result of this, the beaching agents leaks out in large amount resulting in a lot of gum irritation. Custom –tray for teeth whitening made by dentist on the other hand are well fitting. As a result, the bleaching agent tends to stay in close contact with the teeth allowing prolong period of teeth whitening without leaking out of the tray to irritate the gums. Over the counter bleaching agents tends to produce patchy, chalkly whiteness and in some case a blushish hue. On the hand, dentist -dispense take -home bleaching produce more even whitening. The dentist will also supervise your case closely and he will adjust the dosage or concentration of the teeth whitening agent accordingly to suit your teeth condition.
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