Queensbay Dental Surgery

Whiten your smile - Questions Behind Bleaching (Tooth Whitening)

Each person's set of teeth is unique - much like their fingerprints - even in identical twins. But why does some teeth appear whiter whereas others darker?What causes tooth staining?

There are actually many causes of tooth staining. Certain medicines like tetracycline, tooth trauma, root fillings and certain food & beverages can cause tooth discoloration over time. Some discolorations are superficial while others are internal. Both can be effectively treated by a dentist; professional whitening is the best option to safely lighten discolored teeth.

What is bleaching?

Teeth whitening (bleaching) can be a highly effective yet very simple method of lightening the color of teeth, which does not need the removal of any tooth structure. It cannot make a color change, but lightens the existing color. For a change to a specific chosen shade, veneering is another option. Whitening only works on natural teeth. It will not work on any type of "false" teeth. This includes dentures, crowns and veneers. If dentures are discolored, you may need to visit the dentist and ask him or her to clean them. Stained veneers, crowns and dentures may need replacing.

How does bleaching work?

The whitening process is possible “due to the ability of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide to freely pass through enamel and dentine and to permeate to all parts of the tooth.” These peroxides break down into oxygen radicals , which migrate between the enamel prisms, breaking down any colored molecules that result in tooth discoloration. The structure of the tooth, existing fillings and binding materials are not altered, nor are they harmed by the whitening materials; the internal tooth color is simply made lighter.

How is it done?

Initially, you will need to visit your dentist for consultation. Before bleaching is undertaken, it is important to be sure the mouth is healthy. That means no decay, leaking fillings or unhealthy gums. The teeth must be free of tartar or plaque, therefore a cleaning is necessary. Then your dentist will need to take impressions to make a customized tray. After that, the bleaching gel will be issued together with the mouthguard and you'll be required to continue the treatment at home. This will require regular applications of the bleach over a period of 10 to 14 days for 2 hours at a time.

How long does the bleaching last?

Bleaching results are very stable. To maintain the shade, abstaining from colored drinks and food is equally important. Drinking coffee, tea, soda or wine can result in tooth stains that are tough to remove. The same goes for tooth stains caused by cigarette smoking. In a nutshell, stability of the results depend on the patient’s nutrition and lifestyle habits too, which is why the procedure may need to be redone periodically. Due to the safety of the bleaching agents, this should not cause concerns to the dentist or patient.

Will bleaching cause tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity is a reasonably common side effect of bleaching. If sensitivity occurs, it is transient and disappears after the completion of bleaching. However, Opalescence products are available with potassium nitrate and fluoride desensitizing agents, which provides additional comfort. Research ahs shown that "just as hydrogen peroxide penetrates through the enamel and dentine to the pulp, so does potassium nitrate." Fluoride as primarily as a tubular blocker, plugging the holes and slowing down the fluid flow that causes sensitivity. Potassium nitrate acts more like an anlagesic or anesthetic by keeping the nerve from repolarizing after it has depolarized in the pain cycle.

Will bleaching cause problems by weakening the tooth enamel?

Findings on the Opalescence PF product line presented at the American Association of Dental Research confirm that whitening with Opalescence PF will actually minimize sensitivity, provide anti-caries benefits, increase enamelmicrohardness, and improve overall enamel health.