What are your options for teeth whitening?

October 2, 2021 0 Comments

How Whitening Toothpaste Works and How Effective It Is

All toothpastes are designed to remove stains on the surface of teeth using mild abrasives. There are whitening toothpastes with mild polishing / chemical agents that remove stains. Whitening toothpaste can only remove surface stains and is bleach free.

In contrast, professional and over-the-counter whitening products have hydrogen peroxide (a whitening substance), which helps remove stains on the surface and inside of the tooth. Whitening toothpastes for home use are not as effective in producing the whitening results provided by your dentist through vigorous whitening or in-chair whitening.

Regular whitening toothpaste can make your tooth lighter in shade. On the other hand, light activated whitening performed by your dentist can lighten your teeth three to eight shades.

I want to change the shape of my teeth. What options are available?

There is a wide range of options to reshape teeth, make teeth appear longer, close gaps between teeth, or repair cracked / chipped teeth. Such options include gluing, crowns, recontouring, and veneers.

Dental bonding

In this procedure, a tooth-colored resin material (made of durable plastic) is applied to the surface of the tooth and hardened with a special light, which “sticks” it to the tooth.

Dental crown

These tooth-shaped “caps” are placed over the teeth. When crowns are cemented in place, they cover the entire visible part of a tooth that is at the top of the gum line.

Recontouring

Recontouring or reshaping of teeth (also known as enameloplasty, odontoplasty, thinning, or extraction) is a procedure in which small amounts of tooth enamel are removed to change the length, surface, or shape of a tooth.

Veneers

These are sometimes called porcelain veneers / dental porcelain laminates. They are custom, wafer-thin housings of tooth-colored materials designed to hide the surface of the front teeth. They are attached to the front surface of the teeth.

All of these options vary in terms of cost, “consultation time” required to complete the procedure, stain resistant characteristics, durability, and the best cosmetic approach to solving the problem. Consult your dentist to find out which one is right for you.

What are dental sealants? Who can get them? How long will they last?

The thin layer of plastic that is painted on the chewing surfaces of the teeth like the back teeth (molars, premolars) to protect against cavities is called sealants. The liquid sealant that is painted quickly adheres to the depressions and grooves of the teeth to form a shield over the tooth enamel to protect it.

Children often have sealants on their permanent teeth (molars and premolars) once the teeth appear. In this way, dental sealants can protect your teeth during the time when they are most prone to cavities, from 6 to 14 years. However, adults can also benefit from sealants, even if they do not have fillings or cavities.

Although sealants can prevent tooth decay for a long time, they still need to be examined for wear or chipping during regular dental visits.

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