Chicago Cosmetic Dentistry Insight: About Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening dentistry offers a simple, efficient and inexpensive way for Chicago residents to improve upon the whiteness and brightness of their teeth. The number of people with naturally brilliant white teeth is in the minority. Moreover, the older one gets, the more discolored and dulled one’s smile becomes. Even if you are quite strict about looking after your teeth, the tannins, dyes and pigments in the foods and beverages we consume can and do cause surface staining of the dental enamel.
These pigments aren’t only present in the more notorious of the teeth stainers – red wine, coffee and tea – they’re also found in foods ranging from berries to balsamic vinegar! Then of course there’s tobacco-use, which is one of the main causes of tooth discoloration. Illnesses and certain medications can also cause your pearly whites to become dulled and stained.
What Chicago residents really want to know is how teeth whitening works and how it can improve upon the appearance of their smiles. So, let’s take a closer look at this cosmetic dentistry in Chicago…
Chicago Cosmetic Dentistry and Teeth Whitening: The Process
Receiving a professional teeth-whitening treatment is regarded as the very best way to go about improving smile brightness. It’s the safest and most efficient way and guarantees much better and faster results than over-the-counter products. The procedure involved generally begins with a clinical examination of the patient’s mouth. The cause of tooth discoloration must be ascertained prior to treatment. If the cause is cosmetic in nature – in other words, a result of surface staining – then a teeth-whitening treatment is generally recommended. If not, any signs of infection and decay must be treated before cosmetic improvement is embarked upon.
To start the procedure, the Chicago cosmetic dentist will place a gel or a rubber shield on your gums to safe guard the soft tissue. This is followed by applying the whitening product to your teeth with the help of a custom-built tray that easily fits into your mouth. Hydrogen peroxide is the active agent in this gel and serves to bleach the outer surface of the teeth: the dental enamel.
Another method of teeth whitening in Chicago is done using laser. This method involves the placement of a protective rubber stem on the patient’s teeth followed by the application of a bleaching product on your teeth. After this, a light or laser is flashed on the teeth to activate the peroxide component in the bleaching product. The light accelerates the chemical reaction taking place, thus giving patients greater results faster.
How Long Does the Effect of Teeth-Whitening Last?
The effects of a teeth-whitening treatment can last up to two years; however this duration varies from individual to individual depending upon their lifestyle and eating habits. A whitening treatment may remove the appearance of discoloration, but it doesn’t prevent future staining. So, the longevity of the treatment’s results depends very much on whether a patient smokes, drinks lots of coffee and tea, or red wine. It also depends on one’s standard of oral hygiene. The better you care for your teeth, the whiter and healthier they’ll remain for life!
An Important Note…
Please note that some people may find that their teeth become sensitive to temperature extremes (cold ice-cream, hot coffee) after treatment. These signs are generally temporary and tend to disappear within a few days. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to speak to your Chicago dentistry healthcare professional.
