Teeth Whitening
TEETH WHITENING
Teeth whitening treatment is one of the most common cosmetic dental treatments. Your teeth can potentially get eight shades lighter with the in-office treatment within an hour or you can opt for at-home treatment by wearing the teeth-whitening trays. There is another alternative to get the whitening treatment or products, that is to purchase over the counter. These over-the-counter products includes paint-on, toothpaste, strips and gels, however most of the time, these products lead to disappointment. Carbamide or hydrogen peroxide is one of the main ingredients in the tooth whitening products.
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In-office treatments usually produce quicker and obvious results while at-home treatments provide teeth whitening at the convenience of the patient's home. Patients are to obtain recommended treatments by consulting the dentist on their dental conditions.
Teeth whitening is safe and effective. While in-office treatments produce quicker and more visible results, at-home treatments provide convenience at the patient’s own premise. Over-the-counter products do not work for everyone neither do they customized to everybody. Patients are advised to consult their dental practitioner to get a proper diagnosis and recommendations based on their individual conditions.
Main causes of discolored teeth
- Medication or intrinsic staining - There are some medication such as fluoride or tetracycline, will cause staining on the teeth. It is not advisable for children to take any tetracycline especially during those formative years of tooth development before the age of 8.
- Genetics - Everyone is born with different shades of teeth. Some are just born with teeth that are not as white as others.
- Trauma - Teeth that are broken, chipped or hit in an accident may discolor, it is often due to bleeding within the tooth. Root canal fillings, silver and composite fillings can help to change the tooth color.
- Tooth fillings - Fillings with silver and composite, or even root canal fillings can discolor teeth
- External or extrinsic staining - Dietary preferences such as smoking and drinking beverages such as coffee, wine or tea will cause staining to the teeth which can be polished off initially. However, if the stains build up over time, professional help is required.
- Aging - As our teeth are porous, superficial stains penetrate into the teeth and stain the actual tooth structure. Unlike skin and bone, human teeth stop growing after they are fully formed. The enamel layer will get thinner due to wear and tear and the dentin layer will get darker and more intense as time goes by. Eating food with high colors such as coffee, red wine, cherries and even soy sauce will cause staining.
Patients with these pre-existing conditions may lead to tooth sensitivity after tooth whitening treatments
- Patients below the age of 16. Patients at or younger than this age group tends to have a more active or larger pupal tissue (the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth)
- Patients with exposed dentin at the neck of the tooth due to gum recession. The over consumption of carbonated beverages will result in exposed dentin.
The final result of a teeth whitening process is determined by these factors
- Structure of the teeth (genetics)
- It is comparatively quick and easy to whiten a tooth that has thick enamel layer to achieve satisfactory results.
- Concentration of the whitening gel - The more concentrated the whitening gel, the more efficacy it is to whiten the teeth. While producing desired results, high concentration whitening gel tend to also create teeth sensitivity among patients. It also means that though lower concentration whitening gel takes a longer time for it to work its magic, it is less discomfort too.
- Time - The duration of the whitening determines the optimal results, where most of the time, longer whitening time gives more desired results.
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