Cosmetic dentistry has become a real industry in our days. Because there are so many factors leading to discoloration of teeth (like tobacco, red wine, cola drinks, coffee, tea and certain foods), some solutions were needed. This field of expertise mainly refers to the modification of aspect of a patient's oral cavity, and not to the treatment of organic, structural, or functional oral disease and it gives to the patient the opportunity to obtain a whiter smile. In the past, most dentists were using dental fillings made of gold or similar metals and covered with porcelain structures. Now only porcelain or materials looking more like the natural teeth are used to give a more pleasant aspect.

When we refer to teeth whitening we must take into consideration some basic information. Through cosmetic dentistry one can easily obtain whiter teeth, but should be well informed about this whole operation. Almost anyone can be a candidate for bleaching procedures, but details like oral health, age, pregnancy issues are major problems for this process. Usually the whitening process is not recommended for children under 16, because it may cause irritations of the pulp or make it more sensitive. Pregnant women or persons who have cavities and suffer from different allergies also should not appeal to this technique before getting informed about the implications of this procedure. Also people with certain diseases of the oral cavity should not try whitening their teeth until they have solved their problems, in order to avoid reactions like the irritation of tender gums.

If all these issues are taken into consideration there are no risks involved in the process of teeth whitening. For sure the question "What options do I have if I decide to appeal to cosmetic dentistry?" will cross your mind after you found the typical implications. The options cosmetic dentistry offers people when deciding to whiten their teeth are the following ones: using a whitening paste, using strips and gels, tray-based whitening products, in-office whitening solutions and laser bleaching.

When talking about the cost of these variants of cosmetic dentistry, there are some major differences in price. The most inexpensive way is obviously buying a tooth paste, which unfortunately is not exposed to teeth long enough to achieve significant whitening, but it does maintain the color you already have. The second method costs little as well and it implies using whitening strips and gels which can be easily found in drug stores.

One of the two most expensive options of teeth whitening is the In-Office Whitening solution, but has the advantage of obtaining immediate results. The In-Office Whitening solution also offers the possibility of applying some veneers on your teeth. Veneers are thin layers of porcelain made to fit on the front surface of a tooth and have the advantage of giving the opportunity of improving the position of the teeth as well as the color and shape. The second expensive method - the laser bleaching ? is the less recommended way of teeth whitening because of the fact that by using a high-concentration of hydrogen peroxide with heat can cause a higher sensitivity or pulp damage, reason for which many dentists do not encourage the use of this technique. Some minor second effects associated with it are the temporary increase in tooth sensitivity and mild irritation of the soft tissues of the mouth (especially gums). They disappear within 1 to 3 days of completing the treatment.

The process of teeth whitening is not a complicated one, and we cannot speak about a certain technique associated with the procedures mentioned above, but they all function on similar principles of light activated whitening. There are no known complications associated with teeth whitening in cosmetic dentistry.

All of the methods mentioned should be supervised by a dentist though, no matter which one of them you decide to use. The dentist can adjust the treatment so that the patient will be totally pleased. He can treat the problems in-office directly or he can decide to combine the take-home solutions with the in-office ones. There are many treatment options in order to address your specific needs. There is no disadvantage if you decide to benefit from teeth whitening. The only problem can be a high cost, but as we have shown, there are solutions for each person, no matter the social condition. One can use a take-home kit and still obtain some good results if used properly and guided by a dentist. So, either you decide to use a take-home kit, or resort to the in-office solution from the beginning, you can easily whiten your teeth with little effort and money.