Cosmetic Dentistry Will Make You Smile

DMD Lon Kessler
03/31/2006

Below is a general introduction to some of the latest cosmetic techniques.

Bleaching and Whitening

Extrinsic stains, or stains on outer surfaces of the teeth, can usually be removed during a thorough professional dental cleaning. However, intrinsic stains, which are stains within the tooth itself, must be removed through bleaching. This can be accomplished either at home when overseen by your dentist, or in the dental office with a carbamide-peroxide or hydrogen-peroxide solution. It is usually two to three years before it is necessary to repeat the bleaching process. I caution you to avoid any whitening procedure without supervision by your dentist for several reasons that include:

• Not everyone is a candidate for bleaching, so you should be evaluated first by a dentist. One reason to check with your dentist is to ensure that you will not be sensitive to the procedure. It may be necessary to replace some older fillings with new fillings prior to the process, to avoid sensitivity. Also, because porcelain and tooth-colored fillings tend not to bleach, you may want to replace them after bleaching in order to improve aesthetics.
• Not all over-the-counter bleaching solutions are pH-balanced. Some may cause irritation of the gums.
• Bleaching can sometimes lead to sensitive teeth, which your dentist can help by changing the concentration of the solutions or administering fluoride.
• It is important to have a custom-fitted mouth guard so that the bleaching gel remains on your teeth, rather than on your gums. The combination in-office/take-home whitening procedure In this procedure, models are taken of your mouth, and a custom-fitted bleaching tray is made for you. I instruct my patients to wear the tray for a period of two weeksfor four hours each day, or they may wear it overnight. Results vary depending upon the original color and shade of your teeth (i.e., some teeth are naturally yellow, reddish-brown, or gray.)

In-office whitening

As a matter of convenience, many of my patients choose in-office whitening. A special external light source (laser, halogen or gas plasma) is used to activate the bleaching gel solution. The process is safe, easy, and fast. Results are accomplished in just one appointment. Sometimes it may be necessary to use a combination of in-office and at-home bleaching in order to achieve the patient's desired results.

Whitening toothpastes

Although whitening toothpastes may remove stains, I only recommend them for maintenance after the bleaching process has been completed.