Cosmetic dentistry is one of the latest fashions. More and more people (not just artists) are into this new trend which includes among other procedures teeth whitening. There is more than just one way to improve your smile. Teeth whitening options include: whitening toothpaste, at-home bleaching and in-office bleaching.
This kind of cosmetic dentistry is recommended for people with healthy teeth without fillings, crowns or other dental work and with healthy gums. Specialists advice against using such teeth whitening procedures if the person is under 16 (these procedures can and will irritate the pulp because the tooth hasn't reached maturity yet), pregnant or lactating, has sensitive teeth or allergies (in case of an allergy to hydrogen peroxide the person should not use a bleaching product), gum disease, worn enamel, cavities or exposed roots. Exposed roots do not have the enamel layer teeth normally have and so the bleaching products do not work.
It is essential for any dental problem to be treated before undergoing a teeth whitening procedure. For example the penetration of any bleaching product into an existing cavity can cause sensitivity, a sensation of disconfort. Any whitening procedure should be taken before dental work is done (such as fillings, crowns, bonding or veneers) in order to match the degree of whitening to your new tooth color. Cosmetic dentistry works hand in hand with the treatment of oral disease. Smokers should also be informed that teeth whitening procedures, in their case, will have a limited effect which can be increased should they refrain from smoking especially during the treatment.
Bleaching, and cosmetic dentistry in general, helps people with yellowish tones to have a brighter smile. Still, patients with other tones such as brown, grey or purple are likely not to have spectacular results. A special case is the one of teeth stained by tetracycline with a blue-grey tone that may require up to 6 month of teeth whitening treatment with no surprising results. However, people with stained teeth are better candidates than the ones with veneers or crowns for cosmetic dentistry.
Teeth whitening procedures include whitening toothpaste. The surface stains as well as the deep ones on your teeth are easily removed through the daily use of a professional whitening product. This kind of whitening procedure is the combined result of the action of mild abrasives and hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching substance. At-home bleaching refers to whitening gels and strips applied to the surface of the teeth. They contain a bleaching agent and have to be used 2 times a day for 14 days. Results can be seen in 1 month and last up to 4 months.
These do-it-at-home teeth whitening procedures are less effective than in-office procedures, the degree of whitening being much lower, but they are a lot less expensive. Still, they require the supervision of the dentist to check the progress of your teeth and if there are any signs of gum irritation. That is why more and more people go for a supervised whitening system. Cosmetic dentistry is no easy job. Such a system of cosmetic dentistry includes tray-based tooth whitening procedures. It can be done at home or in a dentist's office. A tray is filled with a whitening solution (gel) which contains hydrogen peroxide (a bleaching agent). This tray is placed over the teeth and is worn for a couple of hours a day or at night (much more comfortable). Specialists recommend wearing this for 4 weeks depending on the gravity of the problem and the level of whitening you want to reach.
The advantages of this kind of cosmetic dentistry done in a dentist's office are the following: before the use of a bleaching agent, a protective gel is applied to the teeth and the process is completed faster with the use of heat/laser light. Laser bleaching (Argon/Power bleaching) has become one of the most popular procedures of cosmetic dentistry. Teeth whitening removes stains and discoloration turning your teeth a few shades lighter. Cosmetic dentistry is followed by a very careful dental care: patients are advised to avoid products that may stain their teeth such as tea, coffee, to use a straw if possible and not forget to brush at least 2 times/day.
There are many reasons for undergoing a teeth whitening procedure such as: gaining confidence, self-esteem and a younger appearance all with the help of a brighter smile. The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to achieve individual optimum whiteness while still looking natural.
Teeth whitening is just one procedure included in the big family of cosmetic dentistry. Other treatments for a dazzling smile are: enamel shaping, bonding and veneers. They are recommended for people with chipped, cracked or misshapen teeth. Visiting a dental day spa will make you feel 20 years younger. They take care of you from head to toes and especially of your smile. Their primary focus is that through the use of cosmetic dentistry and especially teeth whitening procedures to improve the appearance of a patient's oral cavity.
So, in a modern society driven by trends, cosmetic dentistry is one sure way to have a brighter smile. No matter if you decide for at-home bleaching or in-office treatment, your beautiful smile will dazzle everybody and make you feel better and most importantly healthy.
A smile on a face is worth more than money. It can create magic. But discolored teeth can hamper this magic. So often we get anxious about our bad teeth, especially when we see that our teeth are loosing their shine and white look. But not any more. Science has helped us to solve this problem by providing us the technique of artificially whitening our teeth, called Tooth whitening.
In the field of dentistry, this teeth whitening is popularly known as Tooth bleaching. It is considered a common procedure in general dentistry, but actually it is a special part of cosmetic dentistry.
At our early age we possess a beautiful setting of white teeth, but as we grow older our teeth start darkening. This happens due to many reasons- changes in the mineral structure of the teeth, by bacterial pigments, foodstuffs, and tobacco(for smokers).
The procedure utilizes some oxidizing agents like hydrogen peroxide which breaks down to hydrogen mono peroxide inside the mouth, in order to lighten the shade of the tooth. This agent penetrates into the enamel and oxidizes the stain deposits, in course of time the underlying dentine layer gets bleached. There are two ways for this bleaching. In the process called Office Bleach, a high concentration of these oxidizing agents is applied for a short time. It gives quick results but there remains a danger of chemical burns of the soft tissues. So some precautions are taken while applying this method. A light cured protective layer is used which is painted on the gums, with care so as to protect the soft tissues.
The second way involves utilization of a thin mouth guard or a strip with a low concentration of oxidizing agent, for a long time say for several hours a day for at least five to fourteen days. This is often called over-the-counter bleaching or take- home bleaching. Obviously, this is a much slower method with less risk to the soft tissues.
This does not end here as tooth bleaching may have some side effects, which may include chemical burns. This happens if high-concentration of oxidizing agent gets in contact with the unprotected, exposed tissues that may discolor the mucous membranes.
Tooth whitening is a very recent trend. A few years ago it was not widely known to many people. But it all happened due to the rapid spread of American culture worldwide, where it first became popular. Now many countries follow the process and many people have taken it as an important part of their dental care.
Both Clint Jhonson & Jerry Cahill are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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