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Posts Tagged ‘Tooth Bleaching’

Laser Teeth Whitening Procedure â?? Key Facts

January 9th, 2010

Laser teeth whitening is also known as power bleaching or whitening. Even though it seems to be a little expensive, lots of people who are very concerned about their smile, especially actors, artists and those in the media prefer it to other teeth whitening procedures, as the results are faster and for the excellent.

Laser teeth whitening technology is the latest and superior tooth whitening systems are available today. It takes just an hour to undergo this kind of treatment. The treatment is very simple and painless when laser teeth whitening system is used. The procedure starts with a little preparation before getting into it actually. The dentist first cleans the teeth and it is very important because if the germs and plaque are present, it will hinder the whitening process. The lips and the gums are isolated before the procedure and a whitening gel is applied on the teeth by activating a specially designed light on it. The results are amazing as the teeth will be six to ten times whiter than the previous color and sometimes more than that can also happen. For people with extreme discoloration, one session may not be enough to achieve desired results and hence the treatment might be repeated until the white coloration is noticeable. Of course it is to be done with the consultation of the dentist.

In the laser tooth whitening process, a rubber dam is placed on the teeth to guard the gums and a whitening product is painted on the teeth and then laser light is focused on the chemical to stimulate to change the color of the teeth. The gel activated by light used in the laser teeth bleaching procedure was developed after many years of research. The formula of the gel is scientifically done with the help of hydrogen peroxide, which is ph-balanced. When the gel is activated by light, it penetrates the teeth removing the deep discoloration and stains. A take-home laser teeth whitening procedure is also available, which works the same way as the laser teeth whitening techniques except for the fact that it needs to be worked on for three nights.

Laser teeth whitening procedure is more or less a spa procedure. When the procedure takes places the machine used to perform the procedure allows the person to relax on a comfortable chair with a movie or music to be viewed or heard. But unfortunately, it is not for every one and anyone, as the dentist needs to check the dental health of the person before getting into the procedure.

Laser whitening treatment involves lot of money as it is considered to be an expensive dentist assisted procedure. However, the cost of the procedure might vary from dentist to dentist and the clinic where it is performed. If a research done on the above subject, one may get the treatment at a competitive price. After the procedure, the patients have to be very careful in taking care of the teeth. The dentists advise not to consume foods or drink products that stain. Smoking too should be avoided. People who have undergone laser treatment will find their teeth vulnerable to cold or hot items, but these symptoms vanish within a few days.

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Achieve the Perfect Smile With Teeth Whitening

December 30th, 2009

Whoever said that the first impression is the strongest one was right. Apart from a nice suit, a great haircut and a confident character, a beautiful white smile is a must-have. One could think of whitening toothpaste, but it only works on surface stains because the concentration of bleaching agent is very low. This is why cosmetic dentistry is needed.

It is a discipline within dentistry that focuses in the modification of appearance of a patient’s oral cavity, thus it is altered to match the patient’s subjective concept of what is pleasing. Teeth whitening appeals to everyone who desires a fresh and young look and because the process is pretty simple and fairly affordable, it has become popular all around the world.

Cosmetic dentistry can be a very simple procedure like reshaping a front tooth or it can be more complex involving all teeth. The most common procedure is teeth whitening. It represents a procedure that lightens teeth and helps remove stains and discoloration.

A popular choice is the in-office bleaching. This type of dentistry is performed in the dentist office and requires several visits. A bleaching agent is applied on the teeth, and a special light is used to enhance the action of the agent. Laser bleaching is a similar whitening procedure, but, instead of light, the dentist uses a laser. This method is mainly used for removing stains from aging, tobacco and coffee, but it is also possible that the tooth may be stained on the inside, because of certain substances in the human body. Teeth whitening, the most popular procedure, improves the appearance of teeth at a lower cost than other techniques. The only disadvantage is that it must be repeated from time to time to help maintain a bright color.

Another procedure in this ever expanding field of cosmetic dentistry is the use of tooth veneers. They represent a good alternative because they require little or no anesthesia. The dentist simply glues a specially-shaped porcelain or plastic over the front of your teeth, but unlike the bleaching technique they are not as natural-like.

Cosmetic dentistry does so much more than just making your teeth look whiter. Especially teeth whitening doesn’t sacrifice the quality of teeth like a bridge does, because neighboring teeth are not altered to support an implant or other elements, so you could say it’s a tooth-saving technique. Most of all you will gain confidence. This, in turn, will allow you to speak, smile and eat with comfort and a lot more confidence. A carefully chosen dentist office will make you say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures or pastes and glues.

A major problem involving teeth whitening is that bleaching may not improve your smile if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth. The whitener will not affect the color of these materials causing them to stand out in your whitened smile. If this is the case, in the field of cosmetic dentistry there are other options like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.

Mainly used by movie or rock stars, cosmetic procedures are now universally affordable because of the new tooth whitening kits. This means that you can perform almost the same procedures that the dentist does. Home done teeth whitening may be faster and cheaper, but it is not recommended if you have oral problems. It is better to have the opinion of a specialist than suffer from irritations or minor sensitivity. However, the choice belongs to you and with the help of cosmetic dentistry you can have the smile of a superstar.

Considering all of this, cosmetic dentistry is becoming more and more popular. As a plus, the spread of American culture worldwide, where a beautiful smile equals a “Hollywood smile”, is quite motivating. Either for closing a major contract with the smile of a winner on your face or to bring an extra spark on your teeth for your loved one, teeth whitening is the solution and it seems its here to stay.

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Professional Teeth Whitening or in Home Teeth Whitening?

November 1st, 2009

As recently as a few years ago, whitening one’s teeth was an involved process that entailed several long trips to the dentist as well as exorbitant bills. Many advances in the dental industry and in the teeth whitening industry have made having a whiter, brighter smile possible for more and more people.

Today consumers are able to purchase their own teeth whitening kits and use them in the convenience of their home as well as having a professional application done in a dentist’s office. But what are the differences and which method is the smarter, more effective choice? Consider the following facts and decide whether professional teeth whitening or an in-home kit is the best for you.

Price

The price of a professional tooth whitening session can be substantially higher than an in-home method of application and insurance rarely, if ever, covers a cosmetic procedure. Most in-home kits use the same ingredients and the same gel or solution used by dentists, although they may be of a lower concentration making the need for more frequent treatments.

Consider the cost of one professional application and the anticipated result as opposed to the cost of an in-home treatment to produce the same results and see which is more cost effective for you. If your teeth are only in need of lightening just a few shades, it may be financially wiser to try an in-home kit first.

Comfort and Ease of Use

Some people may find it easier to have a dentist handle their teeth whitening, while others have found that the process is easy enough to do on their own at home.

Most whitening methods in a dentist’s office use a special blue light which emit no harmful light or rays. This light is directed toward the teeth after the whitening solution or gel is gently painted onto the surface of the tooth with a small brush. The light activates the whitening properties of the solution and speeds up the process. There are in-home kits today that come equipped with a similar blue light in order to achieve the same results.

There are also tray-based professional methods of teeth whitening in which the dentist takes an impression of your teeth and sends it off to a lab to be fabricated. You then return for your session with personalized trays for maximum comfort and effectiveness. The better the fit of the mouth tray, the better the results will be since the gel or solution will be in constant contact with the teeth.

Most in-home whitening kits that are tray-based have mouth trays that are to be dipped into hot water before use so that they take the shape of your individual mouth adding to the comfort and creating a better fit.

Convenience

For many people with busy lives and schedules, finding the extra time to go to the dentist for a tooth whitening session seems impossible. By choosing to use an in-home kit instead, they can whiten their teeth when they have the time and can reapply as often as needed without additional trips to the dentist. Other people may see that time at the dentist during their whitening treatment to be a relaxing and much needed rest.

Results

Most professional teeth whitening methods can produce immediate and dramatic results after only one application, which is ideal for people with considerable staining and also for dark spots caused by tetracycline. Certain professional treatments can last up to two whole years as well. But people with milder staining may decide that an in-home kit is more cost-effective for them even if they need a few extra applications than they would at the dentist.

Safety

Both professional and in-home methods of whitening your teeth are completely safe. One of the main active ingredients used in any effective whitening gel or solution is hydrogen peroxide, or a derivative. Hydrogen peroxide has been labeled safe for dental purposes for over a century and several whitening toothpastes contain it as well. Numerous people have even reported that their gums were actually healthier after having their teeth whitened due to the healing and anti-bacterial properties of the peroxide.

There is a small percentage of people who may experience mild sensitivity to hot and or cold substances after having their teeth whitened. For those people, the discomfort should subside within 24 hours and a mild analgesic may be used for relief.

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Teeth Whitening: Frequently Asked Questions

October 31st, 2009

How can a teeth whitening method be chosen?

It depends on the individual’s needs and goals regarding teeth whitening. A dentist can advise about various methods and the procedure which will suit him. Also, he will be in a position to explain about the teeth whitening procedure, side effects, if any, cost, results one can expect out of the procedure and so on. This will enable the person choose the best teeth whitening procedure out of the laid out options before him. How do the teeth whitening procedures make the teeth white?

The bleaching gel containing either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is broken down into oxygen molecules. These oxygen molecules get into the tiny pores of the dentin and the enamel to break the stains which are blocking out the light. This enables the light pass through the teeth as the stains are broken into small pieces making the teeth to look lighter. Teeth containing stains which are of yellow or brown color produces very best results, from the teeth whitening procedure. If the teeth contain blue to grey or dark brown stains, it will be very difficult to bleach, as they would have been deeply embedded in to the teeth structure. These hard stains can be treated with tetracycline and the results can be seen only after three weeks time, and some may even take six months to see complete results out of the procedure. Will the patient undergoing such teeth whitening procedure experience any discomfort?

The range of discomfort experienced by patients may vary from individual to individual and also depending on the procedure used. Many adults do not even feel any discomfort and even if they feel any discomfort it is to the minimum level. If the discomfort lasts for more than 2 days, it has to be consulted with the dentist. The pain tolerance should be discussed with the dentist, so that he can devise a procedure or combination of procedures to treat accordingly. What results can be expected after the teeth bleaching procedure?

The results may vary from person to person. It is up to the person to take care not to further stain the teeth by avoiding tobacco, red wine, or foods which stain to make the results stay for long. The teeth should be flossed, brushed and kept clean to maintain the brightness. Normally the bleaching lasts for about 1 to 3 years. Since the decalcified spots are a kind of white spots which affect the calcium content of the enamel and are very difficult to be treated by just bleaching the teeth. The dentist may prescribe a paste which is a micro abrasion material used to polish and clean the teeth. Who is the ideal candidate to undergo teeth whitening procedure?

A person who is mature enough to understand the complete procedure, who is suffering from marked and stained teeth, who has some knowledge about the procedure, who is in very much need to improve the confidence level and appearance through teeth whitening, who can expect realistic results are all suitable to undergo the teeth whitening procedure.

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