A brilliant white smile is what everybody wants. As a result, many people think nothing of spending money and time to achieve the “perfect” smile. Today, there are a wide range of options available to those who want to brighten their smile including over-the-counter tooth whitening kits or professional whitening services courtesy of their Dayton or Miamisburg dentist.
Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are two of the chemicals used most commonly for this purpose. The difference between the two is the potency and power of the chemicals when applied to the teeth. Dentists use a powerful hydrogen peroxide gel under closely monitored conditions. The lower strength carbamide gel product is used for “at-home” tooth whitening efforts.
Why do teeth lose their whiteness? Many people don’t engaged in the most harmful habits - drinking tea or coffee, smoking, or grinding their teeth - but still experience discoloration of their teeth as they grow old. All human beings are born with a different inner tooth color which appears as the tooth’s enamel coating wears away during the aging process, upon overexposure to fluoride, or trauma. This type of staining is known as “intrinsic staining.” “Extrinsic staining” is staining created by the ingestion of dark-colored drinks such as tea or coffee, smoking, eating habits, genetic influences and habitual teeth grinding.
Though both these types of discoloration can be improved, the final result chiefly depends on the age and level of yellowing of the patient’s teeth. Furthermore, some intrinsic discoloration cannot be addressed completely and a Dayton or Miamisburg dentist or dental technician will discuss this with the patient beforehand.
To have the process performed by a trained professional takes fifteen to twenty minutes. First, a “rubber dam” is painted on the gum area after the patient puts on a mouth guard. The peroxide gel will then be applied to the teeth and left to sit for a short while. A take-home whitening kit will be provided to the patient to either maintain their newly sparkling teeth or to deal with the more stubborn stains. Dentists recommend that such patients avoid smoking, darkly colored foods and beverages, and drinking through a straw for several days after the procedure.
A take-home kit with all of the appropriate materials and supplies may be available for purchase from some dentists, but this kit features a peroxide gel that is not as potent as the professional strength gel.
The many over-the-counter whitening kits, though they require a time commitment of more than a week, generally produce excellent results. These kits are unable to remove all intrinsic or deep stains, which necessitate the services of a qualified dentist.