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Friday, February 27, 2009

Tooth Whitening Procedures

By Shauna Peterson

A number of people desire a brilliant smile with sparkling white teeth. In an attempt to achieve this whitening effect, they consume lots of money on teeth whitening products. Tooth bleaching is just one of the few teeth whitening treatments available that can substantially transform one's teeth.

The most popular teeth whitening method is known as bleaching. It is chosen by a lot of people because of its low price. Bleaching can be used to whiten teeth that have been stained by coffee, cigarettes or tea and for teeth that have not been properly brushed. A significant advantage to bleaching lies in the fact that none of the tooth's surface (known as the enamel) is removed during treatment.

As every person is different, so is the color of their teeth. Some persons have pearly white teeth, while others have not been so lucky. That is why, before choosing such a whitening procedure, a visit to the dentist is compulsory. Smokers, persons who drink a lot of coffee and tea and those who fail to brush their teeth properly are the one who frequently undergo such treatments.

Your dentist will tell you if you're a good candidate for teeth whitening and will recommend an appropriate treatment. During a whitening procedure, the dentist will first apply a gel or rubber shield to your gums so that the soft tissue will not be damaged. Then he/she will apply the bleaching product to your teeth by means of a tray. The tray should fit the shape of your mouth. After your in-office treatment is complete, the dentist will give you some instructions and additional whitening trays so you can continue the treatment at home.

The active substances in professional whitening procedures and take-home products are carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. When applied to the teeth, the Oxygen molecules are broken down and pushed inside your teeth, more precisely, inside the enamel. Here the oxygen works to lighten the teeth. Even though this may appear to be a simple procedure, it may take three to four weeks until the treatment is completed and the full results can be seen. This tends to be the case with at home whitening kits. Whitening treatments performed in a dentist's office tend to have a more immediate whitening impact.

Patients who cannot afford professional-grade whitening but wish to have quick results aren't quite out of luck. You can shorten the time you have to wait for whiter teeth by choosing a product that can be left on the teeth for eight hours a day. You can put the tray into your mouth when it's time to sleep. This treatment will show its results in no more than a week.

Laser teeth whitening is one of the fastest whitening treatments currently available. As in the case of bleaching, the dentist will place a rubber shield that will protect the gums and the tissue from damage. The whitening substance will be then applied. The laser light will be used to boost the effect of the chemicals applied on the surface of the teeth. The whiter color will be achieved in about one hour. However, the dentist's permission is necessary for this treatment.

The effects of whitening treatments can last up to three years and may differ from one person to another. Of course, if you keep on smoking and consuming beverages and foods that can stain your teeth, the effect is less likely to last long. After the treatment, your teeth may become sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. However, these symptoms usually disappear within a few days.

It is good to know that the effects of the treatment will not last forever. That is why the patients need to take good care of their teeth afterwards.

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