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Your wedding is coming up and you want your smile to shine. Or maybe you have an important speaking engagement in which you want a smile to impress. Whatever your reason for wanting a whiter smile, teeth whitening isn't just for the stars, it is for everyone. In the constantly changing world of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening procedures continue to remain one of the most commonly performed procedures for restoring a person's smile. A popular treatment for men and women of every age, whitening treatments are available to satisfy the individual needs of each patient. Whether you choose one-hour bleaching sessions at your dentist in Waterbury's office, or use home-bleaching kits offered by your dentist or at your local drugstore, teeth whitening solutions are vast. Still, with so many options for teeth whitening, only 15 percent of the population has tried this cosmetic procedure. Tooth Discoloration: What Causes Tooth Staining? The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco. Tooth discoloration can be caused by: * Age
* Eating habits
* Translucency and thinness
* Smoking habits
* Trauma
* Chemicals There are two categories of staining as it relates to the teeth: extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining. Extrinsic stains appear on the surface of your teeth as a result of exposure to dark-colored beverages, foods and tobacco, and routine wear and tear. Superficial extrinsic stains are minor and can be removed with brushing and dental cleanings, while persistent extrinsic stains can penetrate into the dentin and become ingrained if they are not dealt with early and properly. Intrinsic stains form on the interior of teeth and are the result of trauma, aging, exposure to minerals during tooth formation and excessive ingestion of fluoride. Today, cosmetic dentistry experts believe that deep-set intrinsic stains can be removed with supervised take-home teeth whitening that is maintained over a matter of months or even a year. In-Office Whitening If you are looking for significant color change in a short period of time, in-office whitening provides major benefits. In-office whitening involves the carefully controlled use of relatively high-concentrated peroxide gel that is applied to the teeth by your dentist in Wallingford after the gums have been protected with a protective coating. In-office teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures in the world today. Unlike home-use whitening systems, in-office whitening takes place under carefully monitored conditions which allow for the safe, controlled, pain-free use of a relatively high concentration of bleaching gel, giving way to results that are immediately noticeable. Take-Home Whitening Kits from Your Dentist Take-home whitening kits can produce stunning results in the long run. They incorporate an easy to use lover concentration peroxide gel that remains on the teeth for an hour or longer and sometimes overnight. The lower the peroxide percentage, the longer it may safely remain on the teeth. The gel is applied to your teeth using custom-made bleaching trays that resemble mouth guards. Although you can get at-home whitening without a dentist's recommendation, if you over-use them or use them incorrectly, they can harm your tooth enamel and irritate your gum tissue. In addition, over bleaching can cause an undesirable bluish hue, a chalky whiteness or uneven results. Supervision by your dentist in Wallingford can eliminate and prevent these problems. To ensure the health of your smile, see your dentist before choosing an over-the-counter tooth whitener and beginning the bleaching process. Whether you whiten your smile in-office or with take-home whitening kits, it is important to contact your Waterbury dentist to determine the best solution to restoring your smile. Professional whitening performed by your dentist is considered to be the most effective and safest method for your smile.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Larry Erwich, a premier dentist in Waterbury. Dr. Larry Erwich, a dentist in Wallingford, received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and went to dental school at The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in general family practice in Wilmington, Delaware, opening his practice in Cheshire, CT in 1981.
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