Overview of Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening is used to correct discoloration of a
tooth by removing the brown and yellow staining. The term "tooth whitening" or
"tooth bleaching" can refer to a number of techniques to improve the brightness
of the patient's tooth. Among them are chemical whitening, mild acid whitening, abrasive
tooth brightening and the newest technique, laser tooth whitening.
Tooth Bleaching
Tooth bleaching is chemical process used to lighten the
color of a patient's tooth. The procedure can be performed entirely in the
dentist's office in only one or two visits. Your dentist may first try a regular
abrasive cleaning of the tooth. This may be followed by a bleaching process on the stained
tooth or teeth. Severely stained teeth may require the use of a special whitening gel
activated by a laser. Your dentist will carefully lighten the tooth until a
near-perfect color match with your other teeth is achieved.
How long does tooth whitening last?
Tooth whitening is not a permanent procedure.
Results can last for one to or more years, depending upon your personal habits. In most
cases, the tooth whitening procedure is very effective and the patient is pleased with the
results.
Next: Types of
tooth whitening
- Introduction to tooth whitening
- How much can a tooth be whitened?
- What causes a tooth to become discolored?
- Procedure description: cosmetic tooth whitening (bleaching)
- What types of tooth whitening are there?
- How much does tooth whitening cost?
- What are the pros and cons of the procedure?
- Before and after photos - tooth whitening
- Personal stories from bleaching patients
- Discuss tooth whitening on the dentistry Message
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