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Teeth Whitening - Dental Procedures Reviewed
Having discolored teeth is something that increasingly fewer people are willing to accept, and yet it's an issue from which many of us suffer. Discoloration can be caused by many factors including drinking too much coffee and tee, injured teeth and even from minerals found in ordinary drinking water. However various forms of tooth whitening procedures are now available, from inexpensive do-it-yourself options to much more expensive surgery techniques.
Having discolored teeth is something that increasingly fewer people are willing to accept, and yet it’s an issue from which many of us suffer. Discoloration can be caused by many factors including drinking too much coffee and tee, injured teeth and even from minerals found in ordinary drinking water. However various forms of tooth whitening procedures are now available, from inexpensive do-it-yourself options to much more expensive surgery techniques.
However it should be stated that having white teeth isn’t a prerequisite to having good health in general - it is possible to have discoloured teeth and still be fit and healthy. Teeth whitening is a purely cosmetic dental procedure.
Broadly speaking teeth whitening embraces a range of cosmetic dental procedures the objective of which is to change tooth color to a whiter shade. The most basic procedures involve simply the efficient use of a whitening toothpaste, gels or strips, a variety of which can be found at pharmacies and stores in most towns. These can in fact be very effective for reducing lesser discolorations in many cases. Then there are also the various surgery procedures, including bleaching and whitening by laser.
The outcome of teeth whitening procedures will vary depending upon the type of discoloration present, and also the health of the teeth themselves. The only thing in which there is any certitude is that the teeth will be a whiter shade than before. Using some products will only create a small change whilst others, particularly bleaching and laser whitening, will have a significantly more pronounced effect on the degree of whiteness obtained.
Several products, such as whitening toothpastes, will only be limited in their effect, since they can only address superficial discoloration of the teeth, and will not whiten more deeply. However the bleaching process can whiten teeth more deeply, addressing discoloration caused by other health factors, even inherited discoloration. But whatever the whitening process, creating a uniform whiteness of a tooth which was not uniform on color at the outset, is much more difficult to achieve.
Tooth whitening by using a whitening toothpaste or similar product is capable of removing only superficial stains. Bleaching is significantly more effective. Bleaching is carried out by fitting a tray over the teeth containing a bleaching agent. Through chemical reaction within the agent, oxygen is released which then penetrates the teeth. This has a bleaching effect which can be quite penetrating and capable of removing a variety of discolorations. However, the procedure will not affect fillings, crowns and other cosmetic items added to your teeth. This system works very well with yellowing teeth, but less well with brown or gray teeth.
Tooth whitening does not last for ever and, if the source of the discoloration is not removed, then over time the initial discoloration will start to return. To limit this, it will be necessary to repeat the whitening procedure at intervals. Note that although some bleaching and laser procedures can be carried out in one visit to the dental surgery, it is sometimes necessary for the whitening process to be carried out over a period of time.
The cost of tooth whitening procedures varies considerably from product to product and from dentist to dentist; from a couple of dollars for a tube of whitening toothpaste to many hundreds of dollars for bleaching and laser whitening, with the whole gamut of prices in between. Whitening your teeth at home is obviously the cheaper option and a variety of kits are available for purchase which do just that. Alternatively, your dentist might have available slightly more powerful whitening agents that you can buy. However the best results will normally be obtained by having your dentist carry out the procedure using the latest technology. Obviously at a certain cost, but there will normally be a big difference in results. Unfortunately, since a purely cosmetic procedure, insurance is unlikely to cover tooth whitening.
So we’ve now discussed several of the tooth whitening options available. However, before deciding upon a course of action to whiten your teeth, you would be well advised to consult with your dentist first, who will be able to advise which treatments will be the most effective for your particular situation and the nature of your tooth discoloration and tooth health.