Info on teeth bleeching

Why a Tooth Whitening System?

Tooth whitening systems offer a wide spectrum of alternatives, ranging from low-priced whitening strips on the low end to expensive but typically effective skilled dental whitening services. There is a great deal of tooth whitening systems obtainable today. Why do teeth darken? This is due to the fact that people consume caffeine-containing drinks, smoke, become exposed to antibiotics, and just plain get older. Teeth whitening is an effective path to reverse this process, and is so successful that 95% of those experiencing the approach do verify some improvement.

The ADA Seal of Acceptance

The ADA guideline for a whitener requires that it not be adverse to the soft tissues of the mouth or the teeth, and that a whitener can effectively whiten teeth. What one should know regarding the ADA seal of acceptance is that no OTC product has yet received this coveted designation. Only particular tray-based dentist-dispensed products have the ADA Seal. In all the at-home tooth whiteners that have acquired the ADA Seal, the active ingredient is a 10% carbamide peroxide solution. There are varying degrees of quality to all these whitening systems. This is an area that the U.S. FDA doesn't get involved. At any rate, the American Dental Association (ADA) does set rules for tooth whitening products.

Tooth Whitening Toothpaste

The most basic tooth whitening method is tooth whitening toothpaste (which is a mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda). If you just want some simple maintenance of prior tooth whitening, then this is the direction to go. Yet, if the difficulty is more deep rooted, then additional tooth whitening systems might be looked into.

Whitening Strip Method

Whitening strips might accomplish a good job of whitening the exterior tooth surfaces, but achieve a poor job of bleaching the teeth divisions and cracks. A dark division between whitened teeth may look similar to a bad cavity. If you don't employ a tray-based tooth whitening system, you run the possibility of dealing with irregular or spotty consequences. The next simplest tooth whitening method is the whitening strip approach. You place tooth bleaching tape on your front teeth. This tape is flexible, and contains the gel that bleaches the teeth. This is the most comfortable, least pricey, and easiest to employ tooth whitening procedure. This explains the popularity of this approach. But then, frequently the outcomes are not as excellent as those results seen with the tray-based methods or in-office laser tooth whitening systems.

OTC tooth whitening products could in principle provide the identical tooth whitening effect as a visit to a dentist office, but with a lessened concentration of the peroxide (5% - 10%), and over a longer time period. This is partially true, but omits the reality that dentists employ a laser tooth whitening system as well as bleach, something unavailable with OTC products.

Three Main Approaches to Tooth Whitening

Despite the confusing array of dentist and over the counter (OTC) products, there are basically only three (3) approaches to whitening one’s teeth:

• Dental in-office bleaching
• Self-applied night-time bleaching using a custom-fitted tray or a polyethylene strip
• Individual directed whitening using OTC bleaching products

You clearly can’t put a bleaching agent on your teeth without a fine delivery procedure and presume it to work. There's nothing intrinsically good or deficient regarding any of these three basic techniques - each procedure can yield top notch outcomes. The key to the highest quality results in tooth whitening is the whitening agent delivery method. In all the tooth whitening methods, the tooth bleaching gel is kept in place by a method of delivery. This is definitely necessary to keep the gel in contact with the surface of the tooth.

Take Home Tray Whitening

Through a take home tooth whitening tray technique, which the patient can perform at home, the dentist makes an impression for a model of the patient’s teeth. Subsequently, a perfect fitting bleach tray is fitted from this impression. Finally, a bleaching gel is prescribed by the dentist. At home, the bleaching gel is placed in the bleaching tray by the patient and the tray is subsequently worn for one to two hours at home at a convenient time by the tooth whitening patient. Due to the fact that the bleaching tray is so custom fitted, this permits the bleaching gel to stay in contact with the teeth surface. In fact, this is the most important aspect of the bleaching process and is the rationale why tray based bleaching systems have been so successful. This is possibly the most cost effective method of tooth whitening now available.

An OTC kit is similar to the take home whitening tray fitted at the dentist’s office, but in this case, you are completely on your own. You must closely follow all the instructions. This method has been successful, but you must be careful. This method is not recommended by the ADA.

Dentist-supervised laser tooth whitening

Compared to OTC products, dentists usually use a higher concentration of bleaching compound with a laser tooth whitening system like Britesmile® or Zoom® tooth whitening. With a laser whitening technique, the exactly defined light frequency combined with a proprietary bleaching chemical produces very amplified whitening effects. With a procedure similar to Zoom® tooth whitening, a special bright laser light is shone on the teeth whitening gel for an hour. Laser light energy creates energy which leads to chemical reactions that trigger the tooth whitening. Most people do a Zoom® tooth whitening once every six months.

A comparison of peroxide concentrations in tooth whitening

The following table will give the reader a broad understanding of the varying strengths of peroxides used in the different whitening systems.

Application	Agent	Professional/OTC	Concentration
In Office "power bleaching"	hydrogen peroxide carbamide peroxide	dentist dentist	15%-38% 35%
Night-time tray bleaching	carbamide peroxide hydrogen peroxide	dentist dentist	10%-22% 6-9.5%
whitening strips	hydrogen peroxide hydrogen peroxide	OTC dentist	5.3%-10% 6.5%-14%
paint on gels	carbamide peroxide hydrogen peroxide	OTC OTC	18% 19%

A comparison of all the tooth whitening systems

In the ensuing table, we make an attempt to summarize the relative effectiveness, prices, and advantages of the different tooth whitening systems.

Method	Effectiveness	Length of results	Treatment Duration	Side Effects	Tooth Type	Cost
Whitening strips	Whitens teeth slightly, might leave "lines"	1 year	7-14 days	Minimally sensitive teeth/gums	Slightly yellow teeth	$15
Brush on whitening gels	Somewhat better than regular toothpaste	Several weeks	7-14 days	Bad breath	Slightly yellow teeth	$3-$5
OTC gels	Improves with higher peroxide levels	1 year	1-3 weeks	Sensitive teeth/gums	Moderately yellow to dark teeth	$10
Bleaching done in dentist's office	Great for yellow teeth	3 yrs	1-2 mos.	Sensitive teeth/gums	Extremely dark teeth, which require professional evaluation	$300-$1000
Dentist supervised gel application	Great for yellow teeth	3 years	3-6 wks	Sensitive teeth/gums	Dark teeth, which needs a dentist-supervised evaluation	$300-$500
Crowns	Very effective for one tooth	10-15 years	1 month	feeling of tightness	Single tooth is decayed or broken	$600-$3000
Veneers	Very effective for just one tooth	10-15 years	3-4 weeks	feeling of tightness	Single tooth needs straightening	$500-$1200
Bonding	Very effective for just one tooth	5-10 years	1-2 weeks	Rare allergies	Single tooth needs minor reshaping	$300-$700

Conclusion

Whatever tooth whitening system you prefer, always seek the advice of your dentist and follow closely all instructions. Review your condition. If you are looking for a bit of whitening of your teeth, then think about an OTC tooth whitening system. If you particularly desire a wonderful bright white smile, then your sole choice is a cosmetic dentist.

If you have a further interest in tooth whitening methods, you may also want to look into best teeth whitening strips or in addition withening.