Local Dental Care - Cost Of Whitening Teeth

Whitening: An Overview of the Steps to Getting White Teeth

White teeth are always in style. Unfortunately, our teeth naturally darken as we get older. Smoking and coffee can lead to yellow teeth. Over time, the bright smile of youth may fade.

That's where teeth whitening comes to the rescue! A smile makeover can improve self-confidence and give you a new lease on life. It doesn't have to be an extreme dental makeover that costs tens of thousands of dollars and takes months to complete. Instant whitening can be done in your dentist's office in about an hour.

Laser whitening uses a dental laser to activate the bleach the dentist applies to your teeth. You can also get professional teeth whitening that uses a strong teeth whitener without laser light. Your teeth can be lightened by a number of shades in a single appointment. If you have stubborn deep-down stains on your teeth, you may need more than one teeth bleaching session to get the whitest teeth possible.

You can also whiten your teeth at home. Your dentist can give you a tooth whitening kit that will give you a brighter smile in a matter of weeks. Or you can buy tooth whiteners at the store; though they're not as strong as what your dentist can provide, they can help you maintain whiter teeth after teeth whitening treatment.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Who Wants Whiter Teeth?

Tooth bleaching is a way to lighten teeth without bonding material to the teeth, or removing any sound tooth structure. In this respect, it's one of the most conservative cosmetic procedures. It's an "old" procedure, back in vogue.

How does professional tooth whitening work?

First, the tooth is isolated with a rubber dam. This protects your gums and tongue, too. Then the tooth is cleaned thoroughly. Your tooth may or may not be pre-conditioned to help the teeth whitening products penetrate.

The tooth is covered with gauze, and the teeth bleaching solution is carefully applied. A heat source "cures" the bleach and hastens the process. These steps are repeated several times, depending on the appropriate level of whiteness you want to achieve. The color of adjacent teeth will be considered too, so you'll look natural (there is such a thing as too white).

A professional tooth whitening session takes 30 to 45 minutes - and there you are. After three to five sessions, the tooth really shows the difference.

Does professional tooth bleaching work for everyone?

The success of the procedure depends in part on what caused the tooth staining in the first place. Surface coffee, tea, and tobacco stains that resist cleaning can be bleached away (the stains will reappear over time if you continue to indulge, of course). Antibiotic staining - from tetracycline, for example - is a bit harder to treat with simple teeth bleaching. Alternatively, a jacket or porcelain veneers may be called for. The idea is to be very selective about which tooth is a good candidate for the procedure.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.