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Professional
Teeth Whitening: Which Procedure Is Best for You?
By J K Jenkins
Professional Teeth Whitening Procedures are Effective and
Convenient
While brushing teeth with chalk, bark, and baking soda were viable teeth
whitening options 200 years ago, advances in dentistry now allow us to
comfortably and efficiently keep our teeth clean and white without having
to put some strange concoction into our mouths. Now we can schedule an
appointment with our dentist and after only a couple hours our teeth are
white and gleaming. We can also take home prescription trays or
over-the-counter white strips or toothpaste that also whitens
satisfactorily. While it is aesthetically appealing to have whiter teeth,
caution needs to be exercised when choosing the whitening procedure.
Gritty or acidic substances are found in some over-the-counter whitening
products and these may scratch off enamel or cause soreness to gums. It is
best to consult with a dentist before grabbing the first white strips
available, and if time is of the essence, then a professional whitening
procedure may be the best option to get results fast.
Common Professional Whitening Procedures
Many dentists' offices now have not one, but several methods to use to
whiten teeth depending on the situation. A client has the option of
choosing a treatment which can whiten teeth dramatically over a few hours
in a dentist chair or over a few weeks at home with a prescription tray.
When opting for an in-office cosmetic whitening procedure, usually the
dentist will apply a gel to the patient's teeth and then use a laser or
light to activate the bleaching agent within the gel. This technique and
variations are used in systems like BriteSmile and Rembrandt Teeth
Whitening. If an in-office whitening treatment is out of the question,
then you can ask your dentist about receiving similar treatments at home,
through the use of a personally fitted tray and gel (more powerful than
any over-the-counter brands) that can be applied personally at home.
Another professional procedure that creates a whiter smile is the practice
of taking a thin layer of composite resin or porcelain material molded to
the tooth and bonding them to the front of the tooth. This method covers
stained or yellowed teeth, immediately giving the patient a "whiter"
smile. This is not whitening the actual teeth, as there is no application
of a bleaching agent to the enamel, only covering it up with an artificial
material, but this is one of the most effective ways of giving a smile a
cleaner and whiter look, and even helps to correct other flaws like
chipped or crooked teeth. Lumineers is a well-known name within this
dental service, and offers porcelain veneers which, though costly, can
last longer than ten years.
The Pros and Cons of Professional Teeth Whitening
Patients have concerns regarding the procedures, especially if they have
sensitive teeth or gums. The benefits of getting a whitening treatment in
a dentist's office are that it accommodates sensitive teeth and gums,
since the dentist is able to meticulously apply the gel to the patient's
teeth, making sure gums are protected and teeth are covered thoroughly,
yet safely. Also the effect of the laser or light on the gel causes the
bleaching agent to work more effectively, so results are seen immediately
after the treatment. The benefits of an at-home treatment are the
convenience and privacy, and while results won't happen instantaneously,
teeth will whiten an equivalent amount after a few days. Both in-office
and at-home professional teeth whitening treatments can cause teeth and
gums to be sensitive for a day or two after the procedure, but the result
is teeth that can be 6-8 shades whiter.
The Deciding Factor When Requiring a Dental Procedure
While there are many over the counter options for people who are limited
financially, often it is best to choose the effective and safe option of
using a professional procedure to whiten teeth. This allows a person to
circumvent the hassle of checking ingredients on a box to make sure the
whitening method won't scratch the enamel on teeth or injure gums. "If
there is interest in a teeth-bleaching brand for whatever reason, please
consult your dentist's office before use to make sure it is safe and won't
cause more harm than good," advises Dr. Miller, the
Arlington, TX dentist. And while there are decent box whitening
methods available, they cannot produce the same results because they are
not legally allowed to have the same concentration of bleaching agents in
their whitening formula.
http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/Information/Articles/Oral-and-Dental-Health-Basics/Oral-Hygiene/Brushing-and-Flossing/article/History-of-Toothbrushes-and-Toothpastes.cvsp
http://arlingtontexasdentistoffice.com
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