Tooth Whitening Solutions - Creating Whiter and Brighter Smiles
When interacting with other people, your smile is one of the first things they notice about you. Moreover, given that your teeth are an important aspect of your smile, any cosmetic flaws such as teeth stains and discolorations are bound to leave an impression, although not the one you would like. This can affect the quality of your smile greatly, and cause you to become self-conscious. Fortunately, with tooth whitening solutions from Portland City Dental, you can regain the natural, white and bright appearance of your teeth, thus restoring your smile. Read on below to find out more about our teeth whitening solutions.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a dental solution that gets rid of stains and other discolorations on your teeth, thus restoring their natural bright look. The whitening works by using a tooth whitening agent, which is applied to the tooth surface, where it oxidizes the stains and discoloring agents, breaking them down. This helps to make your teeth appear whiter and brighter.
Reasons for Teeth Whitening Treatment
Teeth whitening is used to treat teeth stains and discolorations that occur due to some reasons including:
| • | Consumption of foods and beverages that cause tooth stains. |
| • | Smoking or chewing tobacco products, due to nicotine and tar. |
| • | Medications, especially antibiotic medications administered at young ages. |
| • | The effects of aging. The enamel on our teeth eventually wears off, exposing the duller dentin layer. |
| • | Dental injuries cause blood to flood into the dentin layer, thus turning the tooth dull, or in extreme cases, dark. |
The Tooth Whitening Process
The tooth whitening treatment can be performed at home (using DIY whitening kits) or at the office. The in-office treatment is quite effective as it involves the use of stronger whitening agents. There are several whitening products that can be used for the whitening, the most common ones being gels that contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide - the active whitening agents.
Depending on the discoloration, there are two ways in which the whitening can be carried out:
Direct Application of Whitening Agent to the Surface of the Tooth
This is the most common tooth whitening procedure. The whitening gel is applied to the surface of the tooth and left for a few minutes to allow the active ingredient to penetrate the surface. Light activation (laser or UV light) can be used to activate and accelerate the process. The gel is then removed and the surface of the tooth cleaned by rinsing.
The process can be repeated a few times until the desired result is achieved. The entire treatment takes about 30 - 90 minutes depending on the number of teeth being whitened, and the level of discoloration.
Application of Whitening Agent Inside the Tooth
When the discoloration is coming from inside the tooth (for example, due to dull dentin or a tooth injury) getting rid of it might be impossible. In such a case, the whitening gel can be applied inside the tooth, thus allowing the active ingredients to seep into the dentin layer. This option is, however, only offered for teeth that have undergone a root canal procedure.
The whitening procedure, in this case, involves placing the gel inside the tooth and covering it with a temporary dental filling. The gel is left there for some days - depending on the level of discoloration. Once the tooth has been whitened, the gel is removed, the tooth cleaned, and then permanently sealed.
Learn More About How We Use Laser Dentistry for Teeth Whitening
If you have stained or discolored teeth, the tooth whitening solutions from Portland City Dental can help to get rid of the discoloration and restore your natural look and smile. Call us today at (503) 256-7917 to schedule an appointment.