The Essence of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a dental process that lighten the teeth and also helps eliminate stains and signs of discoloration. Whitening ranks as one of the most preferred cosmetic dental procedures since it instantly ameliorates the appearance of your teeth.
It must be noted that whitening is not a one-time procedure. On the contrary, it requires multiple visits to the dentist’s clinic, especially if you want to maintain the brighter color of your teeth.
The Science
The outer layer of a tooth is known as the enamel. During the procedure, the color of natural teeth is created by the reflection and scattering of light off the enamel, combined with the color of dentin underneath it.
An individual’s genes influence the density and smoothness of the enamel as well. For instance, thinner enamel enables more of the color of the dentin to reveal itself. Also, having smoother or rougher enamel impacts the reflection of light and the color as well.
Every single day, there is a formation of a thin coating, which is known as pellicle, on the enamel and this accumulates stains. Tooth enamel also contains pores that are able to accommodate stains as well.
Reasons for Whitening
The most frequent reasons why teeth become a shade of yellow or stained include the use of tobacco. This typically transpires when people smoke. Smoking involves the use of tobacco, which affects the condition of your teeth adversely.
Also, the consumption of dark colored liquids such as coffee, tea, soft and fizzy drinks and alcoholic beverages can have a discernible impact on your teeth. The same applies to a general recklessness or apathy when it comes to looking after your teeth.
As a person ages, their teeth become less bright since the enamel becomes thinner and the dentin turns darker simultaneously. Another instance that occurs in many individuals is the fact that stains may also be found inside the teeth. These are called intrinsic stains.
For instance, such stains can be caused by an exposure to excessive fluoride as a child while the teeth are in the development phase. Other causes include tetracycline antibiotics, which have the ability to stain a young child’s teeth if they are consumed by their mother during the third trimester of their pregnancy.
The Process
There are two ways of executing the procedure. One is called vital whitening while the other is non-vital whitening. The former is done on teeth that have live nerves while the latter is carried out on teeth that have been subjected to a root canal and no longer have a live nerve.
Vital whitening is the most common type of tooth whitening and a gel is employed in the procedure. It is applied directly to the tooth’s surface. This product contains a form of hydrogen peroxide.
In the case of non-vital whitening, your dentist may use a procedure that whitens the tooth from the inside. They will place a whitening agent on the inside of your teeth and insert a temporary filing on it. Several days later, the agent will the trick.
If you want to get a teeth whitening procedure done, contact Philip Younts DDS now!