Teeth Whitening
 Why would I need teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening, also known as bleaching, is a common procedure that many people do to brighten their smile. Tooth discoloration occurs in the enamel and can be caused by different types of medication, coffee, tea, and cigarettes. Discoloration can also be linked to genetics or getting older. As a person ages, their teeth often become darker due to changes in mineral structure as the enamel becomes less porous. Teeth that have either yellow, brown, or orange colors respond better to whitening; lighter colors can still be whitened to your desired shade.
How does it work?
There are many different methods that can be used to whiten your teeth. Many at-home methods make use of peroxide gel strips that are applied once or twice daily. In-office procedures tend to give faster and more effective results. In-office techniques use hydrogen peroxide gel along with an ultraviolet light to facilitate the process. The process occurs over a series of one hour appointments. Dr. Sands will first examine and clean your teeth to make sure there are no complications such as cavities or loose fillings. Next, he will make you a custom-fit mouth tray for your teeth which he will then coat with the hydrogen peroxide gel solution. The gel works as an oxidizing agent and lightens the shade of the tooth. It penetrates the porosities in the rod-like crystal structure of enamel and oxidizes interprismatic stain deposits. After some time, the dentin layer underneath the enamel also becomes bleached. Light is used to accelerate the bleaching process.
How well does it work?
Because each person is different, it is hard to say for sure how well and how long teeth whitening will last. In addition to genetic factors, the degree of how well you take care of your teeth after getting them whitened will affect the outcome. Heavy consumption of coffee, soda, and other teeth staining beverages and foods can decrease the longevity of the procedure. Many people can go from one to three years without the need for additional whitening touch-ups. You can usually expect to see a two to three shade improvement on a dentist’s shade guide, although it is difficult to determine this for sure as it depends on the person and on the type of discoloration.
Are there risks involved?
The risks and side effects involved in teeth whitening and minor, although there are some things you should keep in mind. The most common side effects are temporary increase in tooth sensitivity and mild irritation of the soft tissues of the mouth, particularly the gums. Tooth sensitivity often occurs during early stages of the bleaching treatment. Tissue irritation most usually results from the mouthpiece tray rather than from the whitening gel. These conditions are usually temporary and only last for 1 to 3 days after the procedure. If you have particularly sensitive teeth and/or gums, you should let your dentist know before hand. A more serious risk may be damage to the enamel which results from prolonged exposure to bleaching agents. Although less common, damage to the enamel can be severe. However, this usually results from excessive use of at-home bleaching products as opposed to the professional care Dr. Sands can provide.
For more information on Teeth Whitening, contact us
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