Bright, But not White!
In a constant attempt to always look youthful and possess a radiant smile many frequently seek out ways to brighten or whiten their teeth. In this attempt for cosmetic enhancement many profiteering pitfalls await the uneducated consumer. If truth were told, no one can possess absolutely white teeth and any number of attempts toward this direction would be futile. However, the existing color can somewhat be bleached to a lighter shade. This so called tooth whitening or bleaching used to be done for non-vital teeth or severely stained teeth, but now its is one of the commonest and frequently done cosmetic dental procedure today. This can be attributed to the fact that this procedure carries almost a zero risk factor, which is why many attempt it very frequently in their own homes with readily available over the counter products in the market.
The various factors, which stain or darken the teeth, are - staining and acidic foods like wine, tea, coffee; use of tobacco; hot and cold cycling; Age; Antibiotics and Fluorosis. Drinks like wine, tea, coffee, etc. have a natural tendency to stain; acidic foods open the pores of the teeth allowing stains to move in; thermal recycling causes expansion and contraction of the teeth resulting in incorporation of stains & with the advancement of age these increase in time. The discoloration produced by the foods, drinks, tobacco, etc. are extrinsic stains and can be to a very great extent treated by the bleaching techniques. But the intrinsic tetracycline stains and fluorosis can only be markedly controlled by these bleaching procedures and must be further treated with some alternative cosmetic therapy like porcelain veneers or bonding to acquire the desired change.
Effective bleaching protocols followed today which bring about satisfactory results are: Dentist assisted in office Power bleaching, Laser Bleaching techniques, Take home dentist supervised Night-guard Bleaching and Over the counter Products Bleaching.
The Dentist In office power bleaching technique is the most effective bleaching technique amongst all the other techniques. A bleaching agent is applied on the teeth and is activated by use of a powerful light or heat source. Laser bleaching is the latest technology in bleaching, is also as good, with the difference only being the use of laser in the activation. Both these are quick and convenient but relatively expensive. The procedure achieves results in 1-2 hours. The Take- Home Dentist Supervised procedure requires the use of a custom made bleaching tray with a prescribed bleaching agent to be used for a few hours or overnight daily for a period of 3-4 weeks. This is a relatively inexpensive method and the results may not be as effective as the other methods but are satisfactory. Frankly, Over The Counter bleaching products are a waste of time and money. They seldom achieve the desired results and if they at all bring about a change in the shade the change may come over decades of using them. Also an overzealous and unmonitored misuse of these, lead to complications such as sensitivity and in some cases gum irritation. In contrast to bleaching, whitening toothpastes are available today, though not effective as bleaching, can improve the appearance of the smile. They may not exactly work towards whitening but they help remove debris and certain stains accumulated on the tooth surface and improve the appearance. But they are not substitutes to bleaching.
People with yellow teeth cannot expect to get absolutely white teeth, its just not possible, but can be lightened down to a few shades. Like all cosmetic procedures tooth whitening also cannot be guaranteed in achieving a specific result. Nevertheless it is a low cost, safe, conservative and generally effective cosmetic treatment. All said and done, the results of any of the methods are not guaranteed, nor permanent. Additionally, if fillings and crowns are present, these will become conspicuous because they do not take up the bleach and they need to be redone or re-fabricated to match the new shade. The longevity of bleaching depends on the person whether he’s a smoker, or eats & drinks staining foods and definitely can be prolonged with periodic checks, top up bleaches (if advised) and changes in lifestyle.
Dr. Murali Srinivasan, MDS.
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