Dear Dr. Niederman,
I am considering having my teeth whitened, but don't know much
about the procedure - could you please give me an
overview?
Certainly, as a dental procedure, the use of agents to whiten teeth and remove stains is gaining in popularity. Although tooth whitening was first reported more than 100 years ago, it was not until 1989 that whitening became readily available.
Often, the chief cosmetic complaint a patient may have are what they perceive as yellow-ish teeth, or irregularities in color. In the absence of other dental problems, such as shape or size, color modification can offer substantial benefits.
Various whitening systems and methods are available. The safety and efficacy for most, but not all of these agents, have been tested, and they perform well.
How does it work?
The whitening solution penetrates the layers of the tooth and lifts or dissolves pigments embedded in the tooth. These pigments embedded in the tooth layers are what cause the tooth to appear dark. For this reason, the dentist will use a gel that actually has penetrating power and doesn't just work at the surface of the tooth.
Cautions
During the usual 2 to 3 week whitening process, any food or beverage that contains a pigment should be avoided so as not to hinder the process. As a simple rule, anything that would stain a white T-shirt should be avoided. This might include food such as red wine, balsamic vinegar, tomato sauce, mustard, grape juice, coffee, tea, and cola, etc. Once the whitening cycle is completed, a topical fluoride gel is applied to the surface of the tooth to harden the surface. Hardening re-seals the surface against pigment entry. Any subsequent surface stains then can be easily removed either by proper daily tooth-brushing or professional dental cleaning.
Treatment procedures:
This method is a technique where the whitening material is placed in a tray to be worn for several hours or overnight for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. The time period depends on the degree of the discoloration. Whitening agents used, in this method, contain carbamide peroxide (5-22%) and are used at home by patients. This is considered the safest way to lighten the teeth. Adherence to the treatment is directly related to the success of treatment.
Costs:
The costs vary from dentist to dentist. Your dentist will be able to discuss all of these matters during your consultation. Good luck!
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