Posted by drgracesun on June 22, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Products, General Dental Knowledge, Information, Tooth Whitening | 
It is wonderful to have a dazzling white smile, and there are dozens of DIY or OTC teeth whitening products available – the demand is high! They promise to whiten your teeth in as little as 4-6 weeks, at a fraction of the cost of professional whitening done by your dental professional. Sounds like a great idea, but beaware, these fly-by-night whitening systems can potentially damage your teeth by wearing away at the enamel 
of your smile, weakening the teeth and leaving your oral health to suffer.
A study recently completed by the Ohio State University College of Dentistry evaluated the hardness of human enamel with the use of five name-brand tooth whiteners, comparing their values to non-treated enamel. Decreased hardness and elastic modulus of enamel were found in the study, and the conclusion read: “Nanohardness of human enamel was significantly decreased after usage of home-bleaching systems. The elastic modulus of enamel was also affecte by some bleaching systems”
Once tooth enamel hardness and elastic modulus has been reduced, a number of problems can start occurring. Teeth with weakened enamel are primarily more brittle and porous than healthy teeth, and are more likely to chip and break with little pressure. The savings in purchasing an OTC whitening kit over visiting your dentist could be reversed, many times over, if you were to chip or otherwise damage your teeth!
Before starting the teeth whitening process, it is best have your teeth evaluated by a dental professional – there may be a hidden cavity or weakened enamel already existing. Existing restorations, gum recession , tooth erosion and root exposure might be affected by the bleaching process. If you do decide to go through the bleaching process, keep your mouth clean, brush right after meals and beverages and brush after usage of any whitening products. This will help to maintain the health of your tooth structure. Stay away from foods or beverages that are acidic, or have a staining effect. Lastly, check into whether an added fluoride treatment could be beneficial in strengthening and/or remineralizing your enamel. It feels great to have a set of healthy whites – just be wise about your whitening decision! Speak with your dental professional for more information and go for that smile you’ve always wanted.
Posted by drgracesun on January 28, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, Technology |
If your eyes are the gateway to your soul, your smile is the gateway to your heart. There are many factors that contribute to a beautiful smile in my line of work, but teeth whitening is one of the simplest ways to give your smile a brighter, whiter lease on life.
When we are children, our deciduous teeth (baby teeth) are bright, white and full of life – that is, until they fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth. From this point onward, our teeth are exposed to a multitude of conditions which endanger the white enamel surface of the tooth. Foods, dark liquids such as tea, coffee, red wine and caffeinated beverages, smoke and even some prescribed medication can all cause your teeth to loose their whiteness. A history of dental trauma can also cause tooth discoloration, which would require a different approach to reach the desired whiteness. Generally speaking, the teeth bleaching only applies to oxidizing normal tooth enamel. Whitening will not change the color of any dental restorations, and should not be used on darker root structures of the tooth or with tetracycline staining. Sometimes, cosmetic procedures such as porcelain veneers or bonding would be a better solution, in which case a consultation with your dentist would be necessary.
There are two ways to whiten your teeth: with whitening kits, and laser whitening (power bleaching). Over-the-counter kits to whiten teeth are sold both at your local pharmacy and from your dentist’s office. Custom fitted kits sold from your dentist’s office include retainer -like trays which are made from custom impressions of your teeth, whereas over-the-counter varieties are not as effective. The active ingredient breaks down into hydrogen peroxide, which oxidizes the stain deposits in the enamel of your teeth. Application is done for a few hours per day, for one to two weeks. The advantage to whitening kits is that you can keep your impression trays for future use, and only have to buy the whitening gel again. Regular dental check ups are necessary to make sure your teeth are healthily receiving the bleaching process.
Laser whitening is the method to whiten teeth I use in my office. Employing the use of an argon laser enables fast, painless and safe whitening of the teeth without potentially harmful UV damage, or heat which can irritate the pulpal tissues of the teeth. Arc lamps, a more common light-based whitening treatment, use energy that comes in a wide range of electro-magnetic waves, which could cover from the UV range into the infrared (heat) range, which could pose a health risk. Also, arc lamps can cause pulpal inflammation, leading to heightened gum sensitivity. The laser whitening process takes about 1 hour, providing instant gratification of the whitening results and the convenience of minimum work at home.
For the best teeth whitening results, I usually recommend my patients use a combination of in-office laser whitening, and usage of our take home kit, allowing for touch-up treatment by the patient at the convenience of one’s own time and own place. Once the desired bleaching result is reached, with proper care, it can last up to 3 years. If touch-up bleaching is needed, the time investment is extremely low (almost instant).
Remember, your smile is the gateway to your heart! Let it shine!
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