In the Greater San Antonio area, teeth-whitening ranks as the most popular procedure in the growing field of cosmetic dentistry. Whitening is commonly valued by men and women alike. Whitening treatments, sometimes referred to as bleaching, are available to suit every budget, time frame and personality.
Teeth-whitening solutions are thriving, whether in the form of one-hour bleaching sessions at your dentist's office, or home-use bleaching kits purchased at your local drugstore. Yet less than 20 percent of the population has considered the smile-brightening cosmetic procedure. Misinformation on the teeth-whitening is widespread.
Though sometimes criticized, teeth-whitening actually works well. Those who choose this cosmetic treatment will see noticeable improvements in the appearance of their smile. Teeth whitening requires maintenance for a prolonged effect. Below you will find some useful tips for teeth whitening from San Antonio's top cosmetic dentist.
Bleaching vs. Whitening
The term "bleaching" is permitted to be used only when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural color, according to the FDA. This applies strictly to products that contain bleach. Typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide fall under this category.
On the other hand, the term "whitening" refers to restoring a tooth's surface or original color by removing dirt and debris. So any product that cleans such as toothpaste is considered a whitener. The term whitening is used more frequently, even when describing products that contain bleach.
Why teeth-whitening? Examining Enamel
White teeth is something that most of us start out with, mostly because of porcelain-like enamel surface. Composed of microscopic crystalline rods, tooth enamel is made to protect the teeth from the effects of chewing, gnashing, trauma and acid attacks caused by sugar. Enamel is worn down over the years, becoming more transparent and permitting the yellow color of dentin, which is the tooth's core material, to show through.
During normal chewing, dentin stays intact while millions of micro-cracks form in the enamel. It is these cracks, and also the spaces between the crystalline enamel rods, that gradually fill up with stains and debris. As a result of this, a dull, lackluster appearance in teeth eventually develops.
Stains and debris are removed during the teeth-whitening process, leaving the enamel cracks open and exposed. Saliva quickly re-mineralizes some of the cracks, while organic debris fill up the others.
Tooth Discoloration: The Two Types of Tooth Stains
Extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining are the two categories of staining as it relates to the teeth.
Extrinsic stains appear on the surface of a tooth. Routine wear and tear, exposure of dark-colored beverages, foods and tobacco are the common causes of this. Superficial extrinsic stains are minor and can be removed by brushing and prophylactic dental cleaning. Teeth bleaching and other more involved efforts can remove stubborn extrinsic stains. If they are not dealt with early, continuous extrinsic stains can penetrate into the dentin and become ingrained.
Those that form on the interior of teeth are referred to as intrinsic stains. Trauma, aging, exposure to minerals during tooth formation and/or excessive ingestion of fluoride are the common causes of intrinsic stains. It used to be thought that intrinsic stains were too resistant to be corrected by bleaching and the procedure would have no effect. Today, though, cosmetic dentistry professionals believe that even deep-set intrinsic stains can be removed with supervised take-home teeth-whitening that is maintained over a few months up to a year.
What Causes Tooth Staining?
Age: There is a strong relationship between tooth color and a person's age. Teeth darken as a result of wear and tear and staining as a person gets older. Teenagers will likely experience immediate, dramatic results from whitening. In their twenties, after the teeth begin showing their age with a yellow cast, teeth-whitening may require more attention. By the time someone reaches their forties, the yellow becomes a shade of brown and more maintenance may be required. By their fifties, the teeth have absorbed a host of stubborn stains which can be difficult, although not impossible, to eliminate.
Starting color: We are all equipped with an inborn tooth color that ranges from yellow-brown to green-gray, and intensifies over time. Yellow-brown is generally more responsive to bleaching than green-gray.
Translucency and thinness: Some genetic traits will become more pronounced with age. While all teeth show some translucency, the ones that are opaque and thick will have advantage. They appear lighter in color, show more sparkle and are more likely to respond to bleaching and whitening. However, teeth that are thinner and more transparent, most of the time front teeth, have less of the pigment that is necessary for bleaching. According to cosmetic dentists, teeth-whitening cannot correct the condition of transparency.
Eating habits: The consumption of red wine, coffee, tea, cola, carrots, oranges and other dark-colored beverages and foods causes considerable staining over the years. Also, acidic foods like citrus fruits and vinegar are key contributors to the enamel erosion process. The yellow-colored dentin shows as a result of the surface becoming more transparent.
Smoking habits: Nicotine will leave brown deposits which gradually soak into the tooth structure and cause discoloration.
Drugs / chemicals: Using tetracycline during teeth formation creates dark gray or brown ribbon stains. Removing these types of stains has proven to be difficult. Too much consumption of fluoride causes fluorosis, or the process of the tooth's surface becoming discolored, and associated areas of white mottling, marked with blotches or spots.
Grinding: With stress being the most frequent cause, teeth grinding can cause small cracks in the teeth and can cause the biting edges to darken.
Trauma: Falls and other injuries can create sizable cracks in the teeth, which eventually start collecting large amounts of stains and debris.
Teeth-whitening Options
In-Office Whitening
Major color change in a short period of time is the key benefit of in-office teeth-whitening. This protocol involves the carefully controlled use of a fairly high-concentration peroxide gel, applied to the teeth by the dentist or trained dental assistant after the gums have been equipped with a painted-on rubber dam that is used for protection. Normally, the peroxide stays on the teeth for several 15 to 20 minute intervals that add up to an hour. Those with particularly stubborn or darker staining may be advised to return for an additional bleaching session(s), or may be asked to continue the process using a take-home whitening system.
Take-Home Whitening Kits
Many dentists have the opinion that professionally distributed take-home whitening kits can produce the best results in the long run. Take-home kits include an easy-to-use lower-concentration peroxide gel that stays on the teeth for an hour or longer. Some users keep it on overnight. With a lower peroxide percentage, it can safely stay on the teeth for a longer period of time. The gel is applied to the teeth using custom made-to-fit whitening trays that are similar to mouth guards.
How White Can You Go? A Matter of Aesthetics
Teeth-whitening results vary considerably from person to person. Many people are immediately delighted with their outcome, while others may be disappointed that more work is needed. Before you start any whitening treatment, ask your dentist for a realistic idea of the results you are most likely to have and how long it should take to reach them. Expectations play a key role in the teeth-whitening process.
Teeth-whitening Risks
Teeth-whitening treatments are usually safe when procedures are followed as directed by professionals. However, there are a number certain risks associated with teeth bleaching that you should be aware of:
- Sensitivity: A temporary increase in sensitivity to temperature, pressure and touch can be caused by the bleaching procedures. This is more likely to occur during in-office whitening, where there is higher-concentration of bleach. Some people experience spontaneous shooting pains down the middle of their front teeth.
People who have gum recession have the greatest risk for whitening and bleaching sensitivity. Significant cracks in their teeth or leakage are a result of faulty restorations.
Whitening sensitivity usually doesn't last longer than a day or two, but there have been cases that it persisted up to a month. A toothpaste containing potassium nitrate for sensitive teeth is recommended by some dentists.
- Gum irritation: Gum irritation resulting from the bleach concentration or from contact with the whitening trays is experienced by over half of those who use peroxide. This kind of irritation usually stays around for a few days, dissipating after bleaching has stopped or the peroxide concentration lowered.
- Technicolor teeth: Bonding, dental crowns or porcelain veneers and other restorations are not affected by bleach and will keep their default color while the surrounding teeth are whitened. This result of this is frequently called "technicolor teeth."
Maintaining Your Whiter Smile
To keep the result of the newly whitened teeth, dentists will likely recommend:
- At-home follow-up or maintenance whitening, implemented immediately or performed as infrequently as once a year.
- For at least a week after the initial whitening, avoiding dark-colored foods and beverages is encouraged.
- Sip dark-colored beverages with a straw when it's possible.
- Brush and floss after meals and at bedtime. Maintain general good dental hygiene.
Caveats
A number of caveats should also be considered before undergoing teeth-whitening:
- No amount of bleaching will yield unnaturally white teeth.
- Sometimes it takes approximately two weeks after bleaching to see the results of whitening. This is an important to know if you are about to have ceramic restorations and want to be sure the color is the same as your newly bleached teeth.
- Tooth-colored restorations will likely need replacement after bleaching to avoid the technicolor effect.
- Recessed gums often reveal their yellowish root surfaces at the gum line. That yellow color has proven difficult to bleach.
- Pregnant or nursing women are advised to avoid teeth-whitening. The potential impact of swallowed bleach on the fetus or baby is not yet known
