Whitening Your Teeth? What to Consider

With the variety of tooth whitening products available today, it is now easier and more accessible than ever. Whitening your teeth can come in the form of toothpaste, over the counter whitening strips, take home bleaching trays from your dentist, and in office bleaching. It is important to find out which method is appropriate and best suited for you.

The first step before whitening your teeth should include an exam and cleaning at your dental office. For best results, surface staining and heavy build-up should be removed from your teeth to ensure a clean slate to allow proper penetration of the whitening solution. It is also important that your dentist determine if you are a good candidate for whitening. An individual with a large amount of decay or active periodontal disease will want to address these areas before beginning whitening therapy. How often you should whiten is something that should be determined by you and your dentist.

It is important to understand that when whitening teeth, only natural teeth and tooth structure can be whitened. Due to this, not everyone is a good candidate for whitening. Crowns and Veneers which are constructed from a variety of materials from porcelain to gold, will not be altered by the whitening gel. Tooth colored fillings are also restorations that will remain the original shade after whitening is completed. This is most applicable when addressing the esthetics in the front of the mouth.

Individuals that typically have sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures in their mouth should be aware that whitening may have the effect of heightened sensitivity for a prolonged period of time that can last anywhere from a week to a month. It is also of importance to note that teeth that present with a hue of gray to dark brown, or patients that had a history of tetracycline use may not achieve their desired result. In these cases the shade will improve, but the degree of improvement varies.

Now that we have determined that you are a good candidate for whitening, it is time to decide which method is best suited for you. Toothpastes are the least expensive method, but require the longest period of time to improve tooth shade and often are not as effective at achieving the whitest smile possible. Over the counter whitening strips are another available method. Whitening strips can improve the shade a reasonable amount but typically only cover the front teeth and are not customized to fit your smile. Individuals with rotated or malpositioned teeth will have a hard time achieving the desired result with the whitening strips as they do not conform to these teeth accurately. Bleaching trays are fabricated at your dental office from impressions taken of your teeth. These customized trays cover all of your teeth completely. You will then be given bleaching material and can expect to see results in a typically case in 1-2 weeks. In office bleaching is the most expensive method and is typically completed in one appointment and as such is an instant way to achieve a bright smile.


Kendall Wood received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Kendall is a member of the American Dental Association, the Oregon Dental Association, and the Southern Willamette Dental Society. You can visit his dental practice website at http://www.corvallisdental.org

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Are Professional Laser Teeth Whitening Techniques Better?

The latest advancement in laser whitening gel is used with an in-office laser that results in a very fast and effective bleaching system. The gel is applied to the teeth after appropriate gum and mouth soft tissue protection is placed. Then, a laser light is used to activate the chemical in the gel that has been especially designed to absorb energy from the light and quickly penetrate tooth surfaces. This technique results in a very fast laser whitening effect.

The ZOOM teeth whitening system is an example of this type of system. The length of time needed for full color restoration of course depends on the amount and type of tooth enamel discoloration apparent. Although very fast, many dentists are wary of this process due to the potential of gum and soft tissue discoloration.

The cost of this very fast laser whitening can vary based on your location with many of the larger cities being more expensive than other areas. Laser teeth whitening process in a professional dental office can be expected to cost between 250 and 500 dollars on average for the full treatment.
Generally speaking, the price of teeth whitening increases with the number of in-office treatments required. So the more discolored the teeth, the more visits are required and the potential of a higher total cost. Dental insurance typically does not cover laser whitening as it's considered cosmetic.

Remember though that once the dentist has you in the office, they will want to do a complete exam to check for general dental health. Few if any dentists will do a whitening treatment on teeth that need corrective dental work done. That is, a good cleaning, cavities filled, etc.

Dentists, like all professionals, will push to get all the business they can from you. It's in your best interest though to carefully consider the importance of good dental health. So if it comes to a choice between teeth whitening and good dental health, your best interests are served by having a solid set of teeth even if they may not be as white as desired. This means that if you want whiter teeth from a dentist office, plan on a full commitment to total tooth care and mouth health.

Laser teeth whitening treatments though are not more effective on whitening teeth than many quality custom tray home products. Though much faster results are available, you run the risk of gum and tissue damage due to the aggressiveness of the products used in laser whitening. Teeth sensitivity can also be an issue.

So the results are in. Much faster and expensive laser teeth whitening or a slower though probably safer home teeth whitening solution, the choice is yours.

Abigail Franks writes on a variety of subjects which include family, travel, health, and business. For More information on Laser Teeth Whitening visit the site at [http://www.4-home-teeth-whitening.com/laser-teeth-whitening.html]

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