Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening or Dental bleaching as it is also known, is an increasingly popular procedure that increases the visual whiteness of one’s teeth.
As a person ages, naturally their teeth become increasingly stained. This is primarily as a result of food and drink but can also be caused by other factors such as tobacco and antibiotic medication.
In today’s popular culture where one’s appearance is increasingly scrutinized, more and more people are turning to teeth whitening and Cosmetic Dentistry as away to build confidence and prolong the changes of mineral structure that occurs naturally. With the fast pace of technology, many ways of achieving the perfect smile have been invented such as
Originally the only way to attain teeth whitening was to visit a professional, but today the same effects can be produced for half the cost and from the comfort of your own home. As a result of constant demand, teeth whitening has become an inexpensive procedure that will keep your teeth white for many months, dependent upon your lifestyle. With the celebrity culture of today, everyone dreams of the perfect teeth with over a quarter of people believing that cosmetic dentistry improves the quality of ones life, it is easy to see how the American teeth whitening industry alone is worth over a billion dollars a year and growing rapidly at 20% + per year.
Oxidizing agents such as carbamide peroxide are used and have the ability to penetrate the inner components of the tooth’s enamel within minutes of application. The colour of ones tooth is linked with the matrix of organic molecules that reflect specific wavelengths of light. By releasing free radicals the peroxide oxidizes the organic compounds found in the enamel and as a result reflects less light known as ‘colourless’ which is what eliminates discoloration, resulting in whiter teeth.
There are many concerns for the overall safety of teeth whitening and the use of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide by consumers, but leading scientists have confirmed that the use of peroxide based systems in dentistry has been used safely for many years. Although teeth whiteners are not classified as drugs and are not approved by the Food & Drug Administration, the American Dental Association has approved many products that are supplied by qualified dentist’s. Although ‘over the counter’ teeth whitening kits don’t all have the ADA seal of approval, it certainly doesn’t mean they are unsafe. The concentrated levels of peroxide in the store brought systems is much lower than from the dentist so are very safe – but it is always recommended to check with your dentist before performing your own teeth whitening procedures.