Teeth Whitening

Cosmetic dentistry in general, and teeth whitening in particular, has never been more popular among those looking to restore the whiteness of their teeth after years of smoking and coffee drinking. In fact, Americans now spend in excess of one billion dollars annually on a combination of do-it-yourself home teeth whitening products and professional whitening treatments performed by a dentist.

Many individuals today want nicer smiles and an improved appearance, and laser teeth whitening is a popular choice for achieving this. Laser whitening, as the name implies, involves using laser light in combination with a peroxide whitening gel in order to yield exceptional results.

Laser whitening is performed by a dental health professional in a dentist’s office and is a closely monitored procedure, making it the preferred treatment option for those with highly sensitive teeth. It is among the most effective of whitening techniques and in some cases teeth are whitened by as many as ten shades.

To make sure the whitening process is as effective as it can be, the procedure begins with a cleaning of the patient’s teeth to clear the surface of the teeth of materials like plaque. After this the dentist will apply the whitening gel.

A laser light is then applied to the gel in order to activate it. This increases the speed of the whitening process, as well as its effectiveness. The activation process works like this: crystals within the bleaching gel absorb the light’s energy, increasing its penetration of the teeth’s enamel and its teeth whitening power.

For most people, just one treatment will be necessary to achieve the desired degree of whitening, making laser whitening the treatment option of choice for those who can afford it. This is not always the case, however, and in some instances additional treatments may be required.

Are there any disadvantages to laser teeth whitening? A few. One is the price, which runs as much as $1000 per treatment, making it much more costly than other teeth whitening options. Another disadvantage is that occasionally teeth and gum soreness and pain results from the procedure, although it is typically only minor and relatively short lived.

Professional treatment in a dentist’s office is not the only option you have. There are many at home teeth whitening methods that employ a host of products available at your local pharmacy or supermarket. Among these products are teeth whitening strips, trays and toothpastes.

The best at home teeth whitening results are obtained by using whitening trays, but they are not easy to use. Toothpastes, as you would imagine, are very easy to use, but yield lousy results. Whitening strips are a popular choice, because the are easier to use than trays, and yield better results than toothpastes. Unfortunately, though, whitening strips cannot completely whiten an entire tooth, so the whitening they provide is often uneven.

Teeth whitening strips are designed to be used on either your bottom teeth or your top teeth, not both. They are made of plastic that have been coated beforehand with hydrogen peroxide, which serves as the whitening compound.

The teeth whitening strips are used by pressing them firmly into place on the teeth, which applies the peroxide bleaching agent to the teeth. Typically, they are to remain in place for about 30 minutes and are to be used twice a day for about two weeks in order for the desired results to be achieved.