Whitening the teeth is one of the most common procedures performed in cosmetic dentistry since it is a fast, painless, and inexpensive technique to improve the appearance of one's smile.
Treatments for whitening (also known as bleaching) the teeth are available in a wide range of price points, time commitments, and patient dispositions.
Whiter teeth are prized equally by men and women. There are a variety of options available, such as bleaching kits for home use that can be obtained at your neighborhood pharmacy, one-hour whitening sessions that are professionally performed at a cosmetic spa or dentist's office, or both.
Nearly everyone who uses a teeth whitening product notices a modest to significant increase in the brilliance and whiteness of their smile. This is the case even for those who have sensitive teeth. Having said that, it is not a permanent solution to the problem of discoloration and needs maintenance or "touch-ups" for the effect to last for an extended period of time.
In this article, we cover all there is to know about teeth whitening, including the process through which teeth get discolored, the factors that lead to staining, the many different treatment techniques that are available, as well as the associated costs and hazards of each one.
What exactly is the difference between bleaching and whitening?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the word "bleaching" may only be used when the teeth are able to be whitened farther than their natural color. This rule only applies to goods that include bleach, which is often in the form of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
The process of restoring the natural color of the tooth's surface by eliminating stains caused by dirt and debris is referred to as "whitening." Therefore, according to the strict definition of the term, teeth whitener may refer to any substance that is used to clean the teeth, such as toothpaste.
Whitening is a phrase that is used more commonly than bleaching since it is seen to have a more positive connotation. This is true even when referring to goods that include bleach.
Because of its potency and speed of action, hydrogen peroxide is the bleach of choice for in-office whitening procedures, which take place under time constraints. Concentrations of hydrogen peroxide may vary anywhere from nine to forty percent when it is applied to the teeth in order to whiten them.
On the other hand, the bleach of choice for teeth whitening performed at home is carbamide peroxide, which has a slower-acting nature but eventually transforms into hydrogen peroxide. When compared to the potency of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide is around one-third as powerful.
This indicates that a solution of carbamide peroxide with a concentration of fifteen percent is about similar to a solution of hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of five percent.
Tooth Discoloration: The Difference Between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Stains
When it comes to discoloration of the teeth, stains may be divided into two categories: extrinsic and intrinsic.
Extrinsic stains are those that occur on the surface of the teeth as a consequence of exposure to dark-colored drinks, foods, and cigarettes, as well as ordinary wear and tear. These types of stains may be removed with a professional teeth whitening treatment.
Minor extrinsic stains on the surface of the tooth may be eliminated with regular brushing and dental cleanings to prevent further damage. Teeth whitening is one method that may be used to eliminate stubborn extrinsic stains. There are other methods. If you don't take care of persistent extrinsic stains as soon as you see them, they might work their way into the dentin and get embedded there.
Those stains that appear on the biting surface of teeth are known as intrinsic stains. Trauma, age, exposure to minerals (like tetracycline) during tooth development, and/or excessive absorption of fluoride may all cause intrinsic stains. Intrinsic stains are permanent and cannot be removed. It was formerly believed that inherent stains could not be removed by bleaching because they were considered to be too stubborn.
Whitening your teeth at home under the supervision of a dental professional and continuing the process over a period of several months or even a year may eliminate even the most ingrained intrinsic stains, according to the most recent research in the field of cosmetic dentistry. There are further cosmetic options available to address intrinsic staining, such as dental veneers, in the event that all other treatments are unsuccessful.
An Investigation into the Tooth Enamel
Because the enamel on our teeth is similar to porcelain, the majority of us are born with teeth that are brilliantly white. Tooth enamel is made up of very small rods of crystalline material and serves the purpose of protecting the teeth from the damaging effects of chewing, gnashing, trauma, and the acid assaults that are generated by sugar.
But as time passes, the tooth's enamel thins and wears away, allowing the yellow hue of the dentin, the substance that makes up the center of the tooth, to become visible through the openings in the enamel.
Dentin stays undamaged during normal chewing, however enamel experiences millions of microscopic breaks. These fissures, in addition to the gaps that exist between the crystalline enamel rods, are the ones that eventually get clogged with stains and debris. Because of this, the teeth will ultimately take on a look that is drab and lifeless.
Whitening your teeth eliminates stains and debris from your teeth, but it leaves the enamel gaps open and visible. Saliva may swiftly remineralize some of the fissures, while other gaps are filled up again with organic waste.
Why Do Teeth Get Stained in Certain Colors?
There is a one-to-one relationship between the color of one's teeth and one's age. Teeth get more yellow as a consequence of normal wear and tear, as well as the buildup of stains, as time passes. Whitening will certainly provide visible effects very immediately for teenagers, and these outcomes might be rather significant.
When someone is in their twenties, their teeth may start to develop a yellowish tinge, which may make whitening them more difficult. By the time you reach your forties, the yellow will have turned brown, and you may need to do extra care. By the time a person reaches their fifties, their teeth have likely ingested a variety of staining agents that are notoriously difficult to remove, but not impossible.
Initial color: Everyone is born with a tooth color that may vary from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey, and this color gradually becomes more intense as time passes. In general, yellow-brown is more sensitive to the effects of bleaching than green-grey is.
Both a translucent appearance and a slender build are inherited characteristics that tend to grow more evident with age. Even while every tooth has some degree of translucency, those that are opaque and thick offer a number of advantages, including the fact that they seem whiter, display more shine and may be lightened with bleach.
Teeth that are already thin and translucent, such as the front teeth, contain less of the pigment that is required for bleaching than teeth that are thicker and more opaque. Dentists that specialize in cosmetic dentistry claim that there is only one issue that cannot be improved by having one's teeth whitened, and that is transparency.
The use of coffee, tea, cola, carrots, oranges, and other foods and drinks with intense pigmentation, especially on a regular basis, may result in significant discoloration over the course of one's lifetime. In addition, acidic foods like citrus fruits and vinegar are factors that lead to the erosion of enamel. As a direct consequence of this, the surface will become more see-through, revealing an increased amount of the yellow dentin underneath.
When a person smokes, nicotine deposits on their teeth have a brownish appearance. These deposits progressively soak into the tooth structure, causing an inherent discoloration.
Tetracycline is a drug or chemical that may cause dark grey or brown ribbon stains on teeth, which are exceedingly difficult to remove. These stains can occur during tooth production.
Fluorosis is a discoloration that is characterized by the emergence of faint white lines on the teeth, and excessive ingestion of fluoride leads to fluorosis as well as accompanying regions of white mottling.
Grinding: Stress is the most common cause of teeth grinding, which includes gnashing, bruxing, and other similar behaviors. Grinding may contribute to micro-cracking in the teeth and can cause the biting edges to darken.
Accidents like falls and other traumas may cause significant fissures in the teeth, which can then gather a great deal of discoloration and debris over time
How Much More Whiteness Is Possible? It Is a Question of Aesthetics
The findings are very subjective and vary significantly from one individual to the next. A great number of people are pleased with the result very instantly, while some can be dissatisfied.
Before beginning any kind of teeth whitening procedure, it is important to consult with your dentist to get an accurate estimate of the results you may expect to get and when to expect results.
Which Whitening Methods Are Available to You?
There are now three primary methods that may be used to whiten teeth. Each of these three uses a different amount of peroxide over a longer or shorter period of time, depending on the concentration.
Take-Home Kits That Are Professionally Distributed
The majority of dentists believe that take-home whitening kits that have been properly supplied may generate the most effective effects during the course of treatment. Kits that may be taken home include a peroxide gel with a lower dosage that is simple to apply and can stay on the teeth for at least an hour (sometimes overnight).
The lesser the proportion of peroxide, the longer it may sit on the teeth without causing any harm. Bleaching trays, which are similar to mouth guards and are created to the patient's exact specifications, are used to apply the gel to the teeth. There is a wide variety of prices, from $100 to $400.
In-Office Bleaching and Polishing
The most significant color improvement in a very short amount of time is the primary advantage of in-office whitening. After the gums have been covered with a paint-on rubber dam, the next step in this process involves the application of a peroxide gel that has a concentration that is quite high. This gel is applied to the teeth by a dentist or an experienced dental technician.
The goal of this procedure is to whiten the teeth and remove stains. In most cases, the peroxide stays on the teeth for a total of sixty minutes, broken up into many periods of fifteen to twenty minutes each (at most).
Those patients who have stains that are extremely resistant to removal may be given the recommendation to come back for one or more further bleaching sessions, or they may be requested to continue using a system that they may use at home. On a national scale, the cost is around $650 for each visit on average.
Products Available Without a Prescription
Over-the-counter bleaching is the option for teeth whitening that is both the least expensive and the most convenient. This method requires the use of a store-bought whitening kit, which contains a bleaching gel with a concentration that is lower than that of the take-home whiteners that are professionally dispensed.
It is possible to apply the gel to the teeth using paint-on applicators, strips, or trays that are universally sized. As opposed to bespoke trays, which may whiten an individual's whole smile, this method may only whiten a few of the front teeth in most situations. The price varies from twenty dollars to one hundred dollars.
Possible Risks
When the operations are carried out in accordance with the directions, teeth whitening treatments are regarded as risk-free. However, you should be aware that bleaching comes with a number of potential dangers, including the following:
- Irritation of the gums: More than half of the people who use peroxide whiteners report experiencing some degree of irritation of the gums as a consequence of the bleach concentration or from contact with the trays. Irritation of this kind may normally linger for many days, but it will go away after the bleaching process has been terminated or the peroxide content has been adjusted.
- Bleaching may induce a brief increase in sensitivity to temperature, pressure, and touch. Bleaching can also create sensitivity to light. This is more likely to take place during the in-office whitening process, which utilizes bleach with a greater concentration.
Zingers are aches that spontaneously shoot down the center of a person's front teeth and may be experienced by certain people. Those individuals who have gum recession, large fissures in their teeth, or leaking as a consequence of poor restorations are at the highest risk of experiencing sensitivity as a result of teeth whitening.
It has also been shown that redheads have an increased likelihood of experiencing tooth sensitivity and zingers, and this is true even for redheads who do not have any other risk factors. Whitening often causes a sensitivity that disappears after a day or two, but in rare instances, it may linger for as long as a month. When it comes to patients with sensitive teeth, some dentists suggest using toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate. - Teeth with a technicolor appearance result from the fact that restorations, such as bonding, dental crowns, or veneers, are unaffected by bleach and, as a result, keep their natural color even as the teeth around them become whiter. This ends up giving the patient what is often referred to as "technicolor teeth."
Shade Guides
Shade guides are the instruments of choice for making before-and-after comparisons of tooth color in dental offices. These are portable screens that show a large variety of tooth colors in a range. (Dentists often utilize them for selecting crown colors and hues for other restorations.)
The Vitapan Classic Shade Guide has long been recognized as the one that sets the standard for the others. This uniform tooth-color nomenclature is provided by this shade guide standard, which contains 16 different shades and arranges them in a logical progression from light to dark within four different color groups.
Whitening may sometimes lighten the color of teeth by nine or more shades, although the majority of people who bleach their teeth will likely only experience a change of two to seven shades as a result of the procedure.
Important Caveats
Before deciding to have your teeth whitened, you should give some thought to the following precautions, in addition to the risks that have already been mentioned:
- The full effects of bleaching do not become visible for around two weeks after treatment has been administered. If you are planning to have ceramic restorations placed and want to be sure that the color matches that of your freshly bleached teeth, this is an essential aspect to take into account.
- There is no amount of bleaching that will result in teeth that are "unnaturally" white.
- It is recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding refrain from getting their teeth whitened. It is not yet known what effect if any, ingested bleach could have on the developing fetus or child.
- If the whitening of your teeth is part of your treatment plan, any cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers, or other restorations should not be put on for at least two weeks after the bleaching has been completed. This will guarantee appropriate adhesive bonding, proper function, and correct shade matching.
- At the gum line, recessed gums often expose their root surfaces, which are yellowish in color. It has proved to be challenging to bleach off that yellow hue.
- After bleaching, it is quite probable that tooth-colored restorations will need replacement in order to prevent the technicolor appearance.
Keeping Your Results Up to Date
Dentists are likely to prescribe the following in order to prolong the effects of recently whitened teeth:
- After whitening your teeth, you should stay away from meals and drinks that are dark in color for at least a week.
- Maintaining very good oral hygiene by cleaning and flossing one's teeth after each meal and before going to bed.
- Follow-up or maintenance whitening that may be done at home – either right away or as seldom as once a year – might be considered.
- Drinking dark-colored drinks with a straw whenever it is convenient to do so.
So Now How much does teeth whitening cost?
The price of having your teeth whitened might vary fairly noticeably from one product or treatment to the next.
Teeth whitening performed by a professional in an office setting is the most costly option, costing an average of $650 per visit throughout the US (but prices may range anywhere from $500 to $1,000). The procedure, on the other hand, has the advantage of being carried out by an experienced dental expert, which makes it more likely that you will have the results you are hoping for.
On the other end of the price range are over-the-counter strips and trays, which you can get from your neighborhood drugstore or grocery shop. These options do not need a prescription.
The price of these solutions may vary anywhere from $20 to $100, making them an appealing alternative for those who want to improve the appearance of their smile without incurring the greater costs associated with having professional whitening done.
When using these less expensive, low-concentration peroxide whiteners, it is essential to bear in mind that the effects may vary greatly from one individual to the next.
You could be a suitable candidate for professionally distributed take-home kits if you're searching for a solution that falls somewhere in the center between getting your teeth whitened professionally and using over-the-counter treatments.
These kits, which vary in price from $100 to $400 and need a prescription from a dentist, have the ability to give results that are comparable to those you would get in-office at the hands of a dentist.
It is important to keep in mind that the results of teeth whitening are not permanent. This means that if you want to keep your whiter smile, you will need to continue undergoing treatments even as the benefits of the treatments begin to wear off.
0 comments:
Post a Comment