Who doesn’t want
a great smile? Tooth whitening has become an up and coming
procedure in recent times. Tooth whitening involves the use
of peroxide-based materials to whiten teeth. Most dentists
use an in-office and/or at-home whitening system to achieve
the desired results. Prior to tooth whitening, the patient
must get all cavities filled, and the gums must be healthy.
The in-office systems use 35% hydrogen peroxide gels coupled
with a high intensity light to whiten the teeth. The gums
need to be protected with some systems, and then gels are
placed on the teeth. A laser or plasma arc light source activates
the peroxide to oxidize stains on the tooth surface. In about
an hour, the teeth become four to six shades lighter. At-home
systems most often use 10 to 20% carbamine peroxide gels to
oxidize stains. The dentist makes impressions (molds) of the
mouth, and then has soft mouth trays made. The patient is
fitted with the trays, and then is instructed to place a thin
ribbon of the gel into the tray and wear while sleeping. Most
whitening occurs in one to two weeks. In difficult cases,
trays may need to be worn for up to six weeks. I have found
that a combination of in-office and at-home systems works
the best, and routinely achieve between 12 to 15 shades of
whitening. The procedure is safe when monitored by a dentist,
and does not damage the tooth in any way.
|
