Things to Consider before Changing the Color of Your Teeth
Do you believe the color of your teeth needs to be whitened because of the stains left behind by food, beverages, and other stuff? Before you undergo the teeth whitening treatment with the dentist near you it would be a good idea to verify whether your mouth is healthy. Teeth whitening products can cause sensitivity although this is usually temporary. Identifying any dental health issues before the treatment will take away the element of surprise. You also need to know that dental restorations such as tooth-colored fillings, crowns, and veneers will not change color as the treatment is only effective on natural teeth.
If you have restorations in your mouth you will in every likelihood experience a mismatch between the restorations and the whitened teeth. These are factors that youshould consider before visiting the teeth whitening dentist near you for advice.
How Does Teeth Whitening Function?
Teeth whitening is popularly called teeth bleaching because the active ingredient used in the procedure is hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Controversies exist about the concentration of peroxide released by the active ingredient with some countries stipulating six percent as the maximum and some 12 percent. In the United Kingdom, the percentage is as low as 0.1 percent. The ADA, however, permits 35 percent as the maximum when the treatment is provided by a qualified dentist.
Why Do You Need Your Teeth Whitened?
You may want to whiten your teeth to join an estimated 10 million Americans that are willing to spend $ 1.7 billion on these procedures. This is a common cosmetic service which is provided by dentists but you can also find an increasing number of over-the-counter products that you can also choose.
The outer layer of your teeth is the enamel that protects the teeth and the inner layer is dentin. When you have foods, coffee, tea, red wine, cigarettes, another layer begins to form on the enamel. The foreign material begins to create a pellicle film on the enamel.
Dentists can clean the pellicle film by scraping or by using chemical agents. Brushing and flossing are also useful to remove some of the stains. However, if you have let the stains remain on your teeth for many years the material would have gotten through the enamel because it is porous. The stains are harmless but many people find them embarrassing.
Teeth whitening treatments as mentioned earlier use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide and the dental office in Hudson offers in-office treatments as well as at-home treatments. Before beginning the procedure of teeth whitening the dentist will clean the teeth, fill any cavities and ensure that the gums of the patient are healthy.
During the in-office treatment, the dentist will put a barrier over the gums to protect them before placing the hydrogen peroxide paste on the teeth for about 30 minutes before it is rinsed off. The procedure can achieve whitening of up to 4 to 6 shades after a single treatment.
What Happens after the in Office Treatment Is Completed?
On the completion of the in-office treatment Dr. Grewal, NJ, will provide the patient with at-home trays which the patient will be advised to use for about 3 to 4 weeks. The trays just need to be placed on the teeth for about 30 minutes every day to continue the whitening at-home.
Before providing the at-home trays Dr. Grewal will take impressions of the patient’s mouth to develop soft custom mouth trays. The patient will also be advised on how to administer the treatment. The results of the whitening will be visible in about a couple of weeks. In circumstances that are difficult the trays may need to be used for approximately six weeks before any changes may be noticed.
Teeth whitening is a relatively affordable procedure as compared to other options that are also available to change the appearance of the teeth. The whitening procedure can allow the patient to show off their beautiful smile before everyone confidently. However, they also need to concentrate on proper oral hygiene without which their teeth will begin using their luster all over again to make them candidates for another teeth whitening treatment. Therefore patients are advised to avoid staining foods, smoking, and maintain proper oral hygiene by brushing and flossing every day and visiting their dentist for exams and cleanings every six months.