Simple definition of teeth whitening is :changing the natural colour of the tooth (yellow) to more whiter shades.
Common question
Difference between Teeth Cleaning(scaling and polishing) and Teeth Whitening
Many people confuse the two. So, lets clear it out
What is scaling and polishing
Scaling and polishing or general teeth cleaning means cleaning of outer surfaces of teeth and gums. It involves removal of plaque and calculus with the help of ultrasonic scalers and air polishers.
Teeth whitening vs Teeth cleaning
As far as the change of colour is there, Scaling does not change or whiten the teeth contrary to popular belief.
Yes teeth appear more bright or slightly white after cleaning because they are cleaner than before .You can get rid of all of superficial stains of tea ,coffee, tobacco with scaling and polishing
If you want to actually bring a change in colour of teeth from yellow to more white, that process is called teeth whitening
Assume numbers 1 to 10 where number 10 represents the yellowest colour and 1 represents the whitest colour .If naturally you are shade 8,with cleaning of teeth (scaling and polishing), where you get rid of superficial stain,expect ur shade to go down to 7 or 7.5 only .But with teeth whitening process,in just short period of time,your tooth shade might jump to 4 or 3…means teeth will actually become whiter than before…
So let’s know more about making your precious smile amazing!!
Professional teeth whitening
One of the first things you notice about someone is their smile. The bigger and brighter their smile, the more friendly they seem. Unfortunately, time and elements such as smoke, coffee, tea or wine along with the natural aging process can stain the teeth and ruin someone’s smile.
Who does not want her bright, white, radiant smile that lighten up see whole face dental surveys show that 80% of the people would like to have whiter teeth
Today, the answer is teeth Whitening through a simple and safe procedure also referred as dental bleaching.
Teeth Whitening lightens and brightens teeth and is tough on stains but gentle on your teeth.
Dark, stained or discolored teeth can be a source of great embarrassment to many it can often prevent you from smiling widely or even talking comfort confidently today you no longer need to accept this aesthetic barrier you can opt for a highly popular and successful treatment to whiten your teeth.
What causes tooth discoloration
Teeth can discolor due to variety of reasons the most common discoloration is due to smoking or tobacco
Food and beverages such as tea coffee coolers and red wine can be the culprit
Age can cause a natural darkening of teeth
Certain medications such as tetracycline, taken at a very young age
Increased exposure to Fluoridated water
Dental infections faulty or old fillings in dental treatment such as root canal treatment sometimes lead to discoloration of teeth
Teeth whitening is a procedure whereby certain whitening agents are applied to the teeth in order to remove external and internal stains thus leaving the teeth several shades lighter
various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are available for this use
Advantages of Teeth Whitening
This mode of treatment has solely been developed to lighten the teeth in a simple and comfortable manner
- It can bring about a dramatic change in almost everyone smile by changing adult smile and yellow teeth to a bright smile
- Bleaching of healthy teeth is the safest and most conservative cosmetic treatment available for your teeth today
- In generally requires no grinding of your teeth
- It does not require any anesthesia and is painless and well tolerated
- The time taken for whitening is relatively less considering the number of teeth can that can be done (mostly done on upper 8 front teeth and lower 8 front teeth) at one sitting
- Teeth whitening works well even when combined with other cosmetic treatment options to enhance the aesthetics of your teeth
Cost of bleaching is less when compared to other full mouth cosmetic treatment options (mostly between 7k to 15k) for complete procedure
Bleaching does not damage your teeth or change the structure of your teeth nor does it change the shape or form of your teeth
Different types of Teeth Whitening
These options are available to help you achieve your whitest the most beautiful smile
- Home teeth-whitening
- In office teeth whitening
HOME TEETH WHITENING METHOD
TEETH whitening is a popular in a very successful method that can be done in the comfort of your home after your dentist makes your custom molded whitening trays.
Your dentist will help you create an at home schedule for treatment
your custom filler tray is filled with a highly concentrated whitening gel depending on the brand of material used
the tray is worn for few minutes per day over the course of few days or weeks depending upon the level of whitening desired
Although, It is less effective than in office whitening process
IN office whitening system
In office whitening system generally produce the most dramatic results in the shortest amount of time there are several choices for the in office treatments including the increasingly popular laser whitening light activated whitening treatment use laser or visible light to speed up whitening process by allowing the whitening gel to be absorbed more quickly into the tooth enamel
Many Patients choose laser whitening and the quickness and convenience it offers in about an hour your teeth can appear 3 to 4 shades lighter
Over the counter (Not recommended at all by dentists)
Over the counter done by whitening strips and Peroxide based gels applied with a small brush directly to the surface of your teeth
whitening strips are very thin virtually invisible that are coated with the peroxide based whitening gel
instructions generally called for twice a day application for 14 days
initial results are seen in a few days and final results are sustained for about 2 to 3 months
Precautions and side effects of Bleaching
- Minimal and transient. (beware of over the counting bleaching kits available they can prove to be abrasive to your teeth in long run and they may do more harm than good)
- Mild sensitivity of one or two teeth following whitening is temporary and should subside within a few days after treatment and also these days,whitening gels come up with preadded desensitizers so tooth sensitivity problem is now limited to very minimal
Post treatment care
Your daily and food habits will largely determine how long the whitening will last
with good oral hygiene under close watch on exposure of your teeth to external stains from tobacco beverages etc your whiten teeth should maintain their color for a long time if you choose the regular touch up sessions can be carried out once a year to ensure your teeth look their best
Whitening provides you a sparkling bright smile with minimal discomfort an an affordable price