Teeth Whitening
Teeth discoloration can be the result of minerals in drinking water, regular consumption of staining drinks such as coffee and tea, certain medications or from an injury to the root of the tooth.
Teeth whitening can change the overall color of your teeth to a lighter shade. The use of some products may make the shade very slightly lighter, while other products or procedures may make a more noticeable difference. Teeth whitening may not lighten every type of discoloration. It also may not cause uniform whiteness on a tooth if it was not uniform to begin with. Some products such as whitening toothpastes and films can only whiten extrinsic stains; that is, they can only change discolorations at the surface of teeth. Bleaching trays, however, can help to whiten stains that may also be inside the teeth and may be caused by genetics or factors other than food and drink.
Teeth whitening procedures include anything from the simple and moderately effective use of whitening toothpaste, use of whitening gels or strips or office procedures such as bleaching or laser whitening. Bleaching is approved by the American Dental Association as a safe, effective procedure. However, although the ADA acknowledges that laser whitening may be safe, it has not seen published, peer-reviewed data on its safety and effectiveness and therefore has not approved the laser whitening procedure.
Teeth whitening is a purely cosmetic procedure and not necessary for good health. Whitening is not a permanent process and teeth may gradually become less white again over time if whitening procedures are not repeated periodically. The whitening process itself is usually done over time, although some bleaching can be done in one dental office visit.
How the process works
Some teeth whitening products simply remove stains. In the dentist’s office, the most common whitening procedure is the use of bleaching trays. Whitening gel containing carbamide peroxide is placed in a tray that fits over your teeth. The peroxide chemically breaks down and releases oxygen into your tooth enamel. The oxygen has the effect of bleaching the colored substances. The structure of the tooth does not change. Any artificial materials such as those in fillings, crowns and bonding will not change color. Yellowish teeth usually improve fairly well, while the results on brown-tinted teeth render less successful results and grayish teeth don’t respond well to whitening procedures at all. A patient with a lot of dental work or brownish or grayish teeth may achieve a whiter look through the use of something like porcelain veneers. Bleaching can temporarily make teeth more sensitive. If you experience discomfort, it may be good to talk to your dentist about your options.
If you are satisfied with relatively minor changes in color, the cost of a tube of whitening toothpaste can be sufficient. If you want more dramatic results, bleaching trays in the dentist office can run into the $500-$600 dollar range. A variety of options both in the office or at home exist that are in between these two extremes. For example, whitening kits can be purchased for use at home, or you can get slightly more powerful whitening agents from your dentist so that you can bleach your teeth over time at home. Generally, the procedures and products obtained at the dentist office will provide more dramatic results. At this time, insurance usually does not cover many teeth whitening procedures because they are cosmetic procedures not necessary for one's health.
You can buy teeth whitening products at your local grocery store or drug store, or you can arrange for a whitening procedure with a dentist. Ask your dentist about the effectiveness of any products or procedures you are interested in as some may work better for your teeth than others. Further, ask your dentist about reasonable expectations from teeth whitening products and procedures and beware of whitening products that make claims that seem too good to be true.