Allsmiles

Whether from aging, diet, medications or habits like smoking, teeth normally become discolored at some point. For some people the process can be more dramatic, where heavy stains appear. Whether teeth are discolored a lot or a little, there are dental procedures available to assist with teeth whitening.

The enemies of enamel are many. With age, teeth naturally darken or become yellowish. Red wine, coffee, tea, soda, cigarettes, acidic foods, citrus fruits, vinegar, drugs/medications/chemicals and teeth grinding are also all top causes of discoloration. And the list goes on.

For those cases, teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that involves removing yellow or brown stains from the enamel. Teeth whitening is sometimes referred to as teeth bleaching even though there are significant differences in the two procedures. Teeth whitening involves the attempt to restore natural enamel coloring by cleaning. Only when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural color, can the procedure be referred to as teeth bleaching, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sometimes, actual teeth bleaching treatments will be referred to as whitening instead because it sounds better.

Some people won’t be in suitable health to undergo teeth whitening. Tooth decay, gum disease and infections or other medical conditions that would preclude teeth whitening treatments. With most dental procedures of this type, the disadvantages of undergoing treatment should be weighed as heavily as the expected benefits to ensure the procedure is an appropriate option given other circumstances.

Assuming a dentist has recommended the procedure; teeth whitening is generally available in two ways: laser/in-surgery or professional home whitening kits. Laser/in-surgery teeth whitening is a procedure that is performed with a bleaching gel over a one-to-two hour period at a dentist’s office. Typically, the procedure uses a bleaching gel, which can contain up to 30 percent hydrogen peroxide, and exposing it to a light or laser which triggers an activation-type reaction. The approximately 15-minute-long process will usually be repeated once or twice. Professional home whitening kits, on the other hand, involve customization of teeth whitening trays by a dental technician. The trays mold to the teeth so that a whitening gel, which is provided by the dentist, can be applied. The length of time the trays must be used will vary greatly and can be as little as an hour or overnight.

The degree of whitening that is achieved will depend greatly on the type of procedure and extent of treatment. People who had heavy stains on their teeth may not experience the same level of whiteness as someone with minor staining.

The process of teeth whitening is virtually pain-free. Many patients will report sensitivity during the treatment process and sometimes shooting pains in the area of their teeth. But these symptoms typically subside within 48 hours of undergoing a teeth whitening procedure.

Costs vary widely for teeth whitening treatment – anywhere from $500 to more than $1,000 depending on the type of treatment and dentist involved. Because teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure it would be wise not to expect insurance coverage. For some people cost will be an insurmountable hurdle, but for others the cost is justified by the overall improvement in appearance that is easily achieved by teeth whitening procedures.