Teeth Bleaching Offers Patients A Brand New Smile

By Sherry Gross


People who long for a whiter smile, should consult their dentist about professional whitening. Teeth bleaching provides an effective way for many people to enjoy whiter teeth and can be done either as an in-office procedure or by using a take-home kit available from the dentist. Commercial products cannot offer the same results that these professional grade treatments can.

The dentist will first examine the patient in order to determine if he or she is a suitable candidate for whitening. If the patient has teeth that are stained on a deeper level, restorations in the front, worn enamel, or very sensitive teeth, it may be best to take another approach.

The in-office procedure takes about an hour. A gel or special shield will be used to protect the gums, then the dentist will apply the whitening solution evenly to the teeth and a blue light is then directed at the mouth which works to activate the ingredients in the bleaching agent. After an hour, the results will be apparent and the patient can decide if he or she is satisfied with the shade, or if a second treatment is desired.

With the take-home whitening kit, the dentist takes an impression of the patient's mouth. At a dental lab, the impression is used to make customized whitening trays. Upon returning to the dentist, the patient will be given the trays along with the solution and the dentist will instruct him or her how to use it. In most cases the solution-filled trays are worn daily for a minimum of thirty minutes, for about a two-week period.

This approach is becoming very popular with patients who want a whiter smile for numerous reasons. It gives dramatic results that can make a person look younger and more appealing. The procedure is also very easy to customize and can be used in combination with other dental work if necessary.

Patients appreciate that these whitening methods take so little time but still work well. It only takes an hour for patients who select the in-office treatment to enjoy teeth that are as much as eight shades whiter. Those who opt for the at-home approach, can also anticipate great results, although it takes several days but allows the patient to stay home and do other activities during the bleaching process.

This approach is also non-invasive and costs less than many of the other techniques used to improve the appearance of a person's smile such as bridgework, crowns, and veneers. It is also considered safe, although some patients may experience minor irritation following the procedure if they are sensitive to the solution. Professional bleaching is less likely to cause side effects than many of the over the counter products.

The final results of a whitening treatment are influenced by a few factors. It depends on how badly stained the patient's teeth are, what their natural shade is, and the particular method used. Lifestyle habits such as smoking, taking certain medications, and drinking red wine, coffee, or tea, can also cause fading to occur earlier and encourage new stains to form, in which case a second treatment will be necessary.




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