Teeth whitening is the process of removing stains and discolouration from teeth and improving their colour through a bleaching process to make them look “whiter”.
For heavily stained teeth, a procedure as simple as a scale and polish from a dental hygienist can significantly improve their appearance.
Most cosmetic dental practices offer a combination of immediate, in-surgery teeth whitening and professional take-home tooth-whitening kits with custom-made trays. Both procedures are based on a bleaching process that uses a peroxide-based compound of varying strength (3%-30% peroxide). The higher the concentration of peroxide in the compound, the more powerful the bleaching compound is. While this makes it more effective at whitening the teeth, it also has greater potential to cause damage to the surrounding gum tissue and your lips.
Protection during tooth whitening
It is very important that your dentist isolates your gums and lips with
a protective material in order to avoid any potential damage or burning
of your soft tissue. Home whitening kits usually have a low
concentration of peroxide so that there is less chance of any damage
occurring. Recently, high-strength home whitening kits purchased online
and from certain stores have attracted media attention with horror
stories of people with badly burnt lips and gums. It's for this reason
that teeth whitening is a procedure that should always be carried out
under the supervision of a dentist.
Home teeth-whitening kits
Take-home tooth whitening kits provide more permanent results over a
longer time scale, whereas laser tooth whitening offers immediate
results. A combination of the two provides the perfect solution to both
immediate and long-term whitening needs.
How much whiter will my teeth look?
This varies from individual to individual, and also depends on the type
of whitening system used. Some people respond very well to teeth
whitening and have dramatically whiter teeth as a result, whereas
others may notice very little difference at all. Your dentist will be
able to advise you on the likely results given your teeth.
Does it hurt? What are the side effects of teeth whitening?
Some people experience no pain or sensitivity with their teeth.
However, the majority of people will experience some kind of
sensitivity either during and/or after the initial treatment. This is
usually described by patients as sporadic, sharp shooting pains coming
from their teeth. This should settle down after approximately 48 hours
though. Your dentist may give you a special gel or mousse to apply to
your teeth to help with the sensitivity. It is advisable to avoid hot
or cold food and drinks within the first 48 hours of your whitening
treatment.
Which teeth-whitening brand or system is the best?
There are many different brands of professional teeth-whitening
systems, each claiming to provide the best results. The most popular
systems are Zoom!®, as featured on Extreme Makeover, Opalescence® ,
BriteSmile® and the latest Enlighten system. Each system has its pros
and cons, and your dentist will be able to advise you on which system
would be best suited for your teeth.
How much does teeth whitening cost?
This depends on many different factors, including
- The specific clinic where your whitening is performed.
- The teeth-whitening system used.
- The location of the clinic.
- The skill of the dentist performing the treatment.
Reviewed by: Dr Amjad Malik
www.cosmeticdentistryguide.co.uk
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