Man has always been vain. That is not in doubt. There is nothing that appeals to the human psyche like a great smile. They say that some people have the ability to light up a room with their smile. It is this that has given rise to cosmetic dentistry. Nothing in this field, broad as it may be, is as misunderstood as teeth whitening.

Even that particular phrase has different meanings to different people. Though it is still not very widely considered commonplace that is simply because very little is known about the process or the cost. We shall try to demystify the topic here. We shall do this by trying not to get too technical.

Myth number one that deserves to be debunked right from the start is that the procedures do not actually work. That is absolutely false! We should however concede that science is yet to come up with a permanent sparkly white teeth treatment. Though mostly a cosmetic procedure it is definitely worth the effort as anyone who has had the pleasant surprise of a bright smile after the procedure will attest.

It is important to know that there is a distinction between whitening and bleaching. The first has to do with gradual removal of debris and dirt from the dentures. It involves the use of chemicals or other agents to return dentures to their normal luster. By this reason brushing regularly would constitute whitening.

Bleaching on the other hand involves the use of a bleaching agent to change the color of one\’s dentures to a greater degree of whiteness than normal. Usually the bleaching agent involved is hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. In most cases when lay people talk of the procedure they are actually referring to bleaching.

The reason people undergo this procedure is to remove stains that they have acquired on their dentures usually over some time. The pearly white erosion will occur due to several things ranging from increasing exposure to fluoride or tetracycline during teeth formation to smoking habits or simply the vagaries of aging.

Regardless of the reason that you have stained dentures restoring them to their former glory is possible through three major processes. These all make use of one of the peroxides mentioned above in varying concentrations.

The first is a professionally applied in the dentist chair procedure. This is usually carried out by a cosmetic surgeon and involves applying concentrated level of hydrogen peroxide to the teeth after protecting the gums. Usually the bleach will stay on for at least 10-20 minutes at a time for several intervals that add up to about one hour. This treatment costs on average $650 per session.

Most cosmetic dentists acknowledge that over a long duration of time professionally dispensed take home kits are very effective. The peroxide concentration is usually much lower than the first option and can usually be applied as a gel and left on for an hour or so. Some can even be left on overnight depending on the concentration level of the peroxide. They generally retail for about $100-$400.

The last option is a much lower concentration of peroxide than the professional kits. These are usually sold over the counter and have a one size fits all tray that is used to apply the clearing agent. Less effective than the first two, it is also the cheapest method of teeth whitening retailing over the counter at anything from $10-$100 depending on brand. That is teeth whitening demystified!

Author Bio: Local Vancouver dentist who is considered the most reputable UBC dentist offering you comprehensive dental care and perfecting your smile in a convenient and clean location.

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