The Academy of General Dentistry reports that tooth whitening has become a $600 million industry that continues to grow each year as more and more people are choosing to bring their teeth back to their original color or even better. While the majority of us start out with white teeth, over time the enamel on our teeth becomes yellow and stained, taking away their natural beauty. Now with the advancement of dental technology, the process of tooth whitening can restore most teeth to their beautiful, original state.

There are two main categories of teeth whitening: products with peroxide that change the color of the tooth and whitening products that just remove stains with the use of mild abrasives or chemical agents. While there are a wide variety of over-the-counter products that proclaim to “whiten” teeth, the best and safest approach is to have the process done under dental supervision so that the structure and health of the teeth and mouth are ensured and the results will be even and natural-looking.

Any tooth whitening process should begin with a dental checkup to ensure the absence of either cavities or gum disease which can result in discomfort to the patient and even damage to the tooth if they are present when a whitening process is applied. During a checkup, a dentist can also ascertain that a patient’s teeth are good candidates for tooth whitening. Since bleaching only works on natural teeth and does not affect tooth-colored fillings, crowns, veneers or bonding materials, if these exist in a patient’s mouth, whitening could create an uneven result that could detract instead of add to a patient’s smile. If tooth whitening is not going to give a patient the results they are looking for, a dentist can suggest some good alternatives such as veneers.

There are two options for dental supervised tooth whitening:

1. An in-office procedure that generally takes about an hour to complete. The process typically begins with a “rubber shield” being placed over surrounding gum tissue so that the strong product that is used does not irritate sensitive teeth or exposed roots. Then the bleaching gel is applied to the teeth and a laser light then activates the gel and completes the whitening process.

2. A custom at-home bleaching kit can be prepared in a dentist’s office for use at home. The kit contains custom bleaching trays, bleaching gel and all of the materials a patient will need along with complete instructions. The at-home process is not as fast as the in-office procedure, but it works just as well.

An over-the-counter whitening system may seem less expensive than one that is done under dental supervision. However, when a patient considers the possibility of getting no results from the procedure because their teeth will not respond to bleaching or that they could get uneven results that actually detract from their smile or create damage to their teeth or gum tissue, the cost savings are generally not worth the risk.

For any procedure that involves a patient’s teeth or oral health, a visit to the dentist is always the best place to begin and tooth whitening is no exception.

Author Bio: Dr. Pandya received his D.D.S. degree in 2001. He then completed additional training in Aesthetic at University of California Los Angeles. He also completed certificate in Boston Implant Institute for surgical implant and reconstructive surgeries. Dr. Pandya

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: dental care, home dental care, white teeth, whiter teeth, dental advice, advice about teeth