What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth Whitening is among the most popular procedures in cosmetic dentistry. Many people suffer from pale, yellowing, dark or stained teeth that may occur due to various factors. As a result, they may become conscious of their unsightly teeth and may not smile or laugh freely in a social setting. For such people teeth whitening is an excellent option to improve the color of their teeth.

The popularity of teeth whitening stems from the fact that it is a non-invasive procedure, and does not involve much complexity. Secondly, teeth whitening can be performed even at home, if the patient is reluctant to get an in-office treatment done. The procedure may take a longer time at home, but the same results can be achieved in the end.

The bleaching solution that is commonly used for teeth whitening is hydrogen peroxide. This solution is also sold over-the-counter as take-home teeth whitening kits. But it is not an effective answer to stubborn discoloration or stains because the concentration of the solution is very weak.

In-office teeth whitening produces the most effective and quick results because a highly concentrated bleaching solution is used under the dentist’s supervision. Teeth whitening procedure in an in-office setting takes around two hours to complete. At first, a bleaching solution is applied onto the teeth. The dentist then uses a laser or light that forces the peroxide to become oxygen molecules and attack the stains. After about two hours, the teeth appear several shades lighter than before.

The results of teeth whitening may last for up to a year. Experienced dentists recommend that the procedure must not be performed more than once a year. Furthermore, the results may not be very effective in case of people who suffer from very hard stains caused due to smoking. Sometimes a medication may also cause discoloration of teeth over a period of time, which may not improve with teeth whitening.

Teeth whitening is also not recommended for children and patients who have very sensitive teeth. Furthermore, people who have several restorations in their front teeth may also not benefit from the procedure. It may result in shade variation between the natural teeth and the restored teeth, creating another problem of aesthetics.



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