Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening or teeth bleaching are popular forms of cosmetic dentistry among men and women, young and old. It completely changes the color of your teeth bringing them whiter and brighter. Teeth whitening treatments are available to suit each person’s desired result, their budget and time frame.

Whitening or bleaching is the perfect solution for people with stained or discolored teeth who want a shiny white smile.

Teeth whitening is a treatment works and allows you to achieve almost any shade of white. The spectrum ranges from mild to dramatic depending on the type of treatment chosen. However, teeth whitening is not a permanent solution and care needs to be taken to maintain the results. You may even need a touch up after 1-2 years.

Both the terms teeth bleaching and teeth whitening are used to describe this technique. It is called bleaching when the products contain bleach and when the teeth are whitened more than their natural color. Teeth whitening, however, refers to any treatment that restores a tooth’s natural color.

You are born with natural teeth color but this changes over time. Some of the causes of teeth discoloration or teeth staining are obvious while others are not so common. Some factors only mildly affect your teeth color while others can stain them quite significantly.

Most people who are unhappy with the color of their teeth make good candidates for teeth whitening. Some people who have particular mouth or teeth issues may need to discuss which type of treatment is best for them with their dentist while others may be advised to avoid teeth whitening altogether.

As there are so many different teeth whitening treatments available these days, the cost of each procedure varies significantly. The cost can also reflect what the degree of results you will obtain. Home whitening kits are generally cheaper than in-office whitening and the cost of teeth whitening abroad is generally cheaper than in Western Countries.

Professional teeth whitening includes a number of different procedures: chemical whitening, abrasive whitening and laser whitening. There are many variations of these procedures and, of course, combinations of them but most treatments fall into the three categories.

Some individuals don’t have time to make a dental appointment and then spend an hour or two getting their teeth whitened. That is why they choose at-home teeth whitening kits that they can use at their leisure. These may not always be as effective as professional treatments but they are usually much cheaper.

Compared to other cosmetic dentistry procedures, teeth whitening does not have as many risks and side effects. There are a number of potential complications that patients should be aware of so make sure you discuss these with your dentist first.

A Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening

The color of your teeth can have a huge impact on your appearance. If your teeth are stained or discolored you might feel embarrassed to smile or just not very confident talking to people. If this is the case, you are probably a good candidate for teeth whitening.

Having shiny white teeth is very popular and increasing numbers of people are seeking out teeth whitening treatments. Most people are good candidates but it is always best to speak to your dentist before undergoing any procedure so you can make an informed decision.

There are a number of teeth whitening risks and side effects that you should be aware of but the dentist will explain these to you. These generally increase the more dramatic your teeth whitening procedure is. Fortunately the risks and side effects are not as severe as for some other cosmetic dentistry procedures.

People Who Are Good Candidates For Teeth Whitening:

· Patients with healthy teeth and gums

· People whose teeth have not been restored, that is, do not have fillings

· Someone whose teeth has been affected by the various causes of teeth discoloration

· Patients with yellow rather than gray teeth respond to whitening better

· People who have realistic expectations of their treatment and who are willing to make the effort to maintain their results.

People Who Are Not Good Candidates For Teeth Whitening:

· Patients with receding gums

· People with very sensitive teeth in general

· Someone whose teeth are sensitive to the main component in the whitening solution

· Pregnant or lactating women

· Children under the age of 16 – teeth whitening could irritate the enlarged nerves of their teeth or cause them to become overly sensitive.

· Patients with gum disease or worn enamel

· People with cavities – cavities have to be treated beforehand because the whitening solution might pass through the decay and into the sensitive inner tooth areas

· Someone with exposed roots – there is no enamel layer for the whitening to act on

· Patients with fillings, crowns or other restorations – these dental restorations will not respond to teeth whitening so the final result will be uneven. If possible, try and get any dental restorations you require two weeks after your whitening treatment

Risks and Side Effects of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is an excellent way to treat stained or discolored teeth. It is also a fairly safe procedure which means that most people are good candidates for teeth whitening. There are, however, a number of issues which will need to be discussed with your dentist beforehand so that you know what to expect and what to do should any teeth whitening risks and side effects occur.

The following is a list of potential teeth whitening risks and side effects:

Over bleaching: If you or the dentist bleaches your teeth too much, you will have very white teeth. The aim is to go for a shade lighter than the whites of your eyes.

Fading: Teeth whitening methods are not permanent. Some last longer than others but day to day wear and tear as well, the consumption of certain drinks and foods and other causes of teeth discoloration will lead to stained teeth again.

Uneven bleaching: This teeth whitening risk and side effect is more common in patients who have dental restorations. In addition, some stains will not respond to whitening.

Reduced tooth enamel: Continuous use of at-home teeth whitening kits can wear away at your teeth enamel. It is generally recommended that in-office teeth whitening is only carried out every 1-2 years so as not to damage your teeth further.

Teeth sensitivity: This is usually only a short term teeth whitening risk and side effect that varies in severity.

Irritated gums: As with teeth sensitivity, this is also a short term teeth whitening risk and side effect that varies in severity. Talk to your dentist if you have particularly sensitive gums.