Having bright, white teeth is considered an indication of good oral health. A radiant smile enhances your appearance, increasing self-esteem and confidence.
Many people use various methods to achieve a brighter, whiter smile. Regardless of the treatment, all should seek the advice of a dental professional before starting a teeth-whitening regimen.
Over-the-Counter
Over-the-counter (OTC) teeth whitening products include teeth whitening franklin toothpastes, gels and strips. These products lighten the outer enamel surface of your teeth, but they do not remove discoloration that occurs within your tooth enamel or under the gum line.
Whitening toothpastes often contain abrasive particles that can wear down tooth enamel over time, exposing your dentin to staining. Gels and strips contain peroxide, but the concentration is usually lower than that of professional bleaching treatments.
Many OTC whitening trays are not custom-fitted, which can lead to uneven application and possible gum irritation. These trays can also allow the bleaching agent to reach areas of your mouth that are not being whitened, such as the backs of your teeth and the inner cheek. OTC whitening products also tend to have shorter durations than professional whitening treatment. This may lead to less dramatic results. Unlike OTC products, dental professionals supervise professional whitening treatments and can promptly address any issues with your oral health or discomfort.
In-Office
A popular option for brightening teeth, in-office whitening works much faster than at-home whitening. The procedure is simple and painless, but can be more expensive than over-the-counter whitening products.
During the treatment, the dentist applies a whitening gel to your teeth and activates it with a special curing light. The whitening gel contains hydrogen peroxide, which bleaches the tooth enamel and whitens your smile.
Teeth discoloration can result from food, drinks and tobacco. Some medication and antibiotics can also stain your teeth.
Professional whitening typically involves several one-hour sessions at the dental office. During the appointment, your provider will examine and clean your teeth to make sure that you don’t have cavities, loose fillings or gum problems that could be aggravated by the whitening process. Then, they will coat your teeth with a whitening solution that usually includes hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. They may use a laser or light to speed up the reaction of the whitening gel and improve the results.
Teeth Whitening Kits
Teeth whitening kits allow patients to teeth whitening franklin from the comfort of home at a time that fits their schedule. They include trays or strips that are filled with a whitening gel, often hydrogen peroxide, and an LED light to activate the whitening process.
Most teeth whitening kits will instruct you to use them for about an hour each day for best results. They also will have written instructions to help you understand how the whitening process works.
Overuse or usage for longer than the recommended duration of a teeth whitening kit can cause tooth enamel damage. This damage is most likely to occur if the kit contains too high of a concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
Teeth whitening is only legally safe to perform by a dentist or a dental hygienist registered with the General Dental Council. Beauty salons that offer whitening services without this level of training can do serious damage to your teeth and oral health.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are wafer-thin porcelain or resin composite shells that cover the front surface of your teeth to change their color, shape and size. They’re used to treat cosmetic problems like chips, cracks, broken teeth and discoloration.
During your first appointment, dentists trim a small amount of your tooth’s surface to ensure the veneer fits well. They also take a mold of your teeth, which they send to a lab to be made. The dentist may also recommend temporary veneers while waiting for the permanent ones to come back from the lab.
Veneers are expensive and not covered by insurance unless they’re deemed medically necessary. They also aren’t reversible, so you need to be sure you’re committed to the treatment. An experienced cosmetic dentist like Dr. Jackson Eli can help you achieve the smile you want with minimal invasiveness and beautiful, natural-looking results.
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