Teeth Whitening

A sparkly smile has been coveted since time began. In one way or another, the quest for a bedazzling smile has been gaining popularity by leaps and bounds. In fact, over the last five years, the number of tooth whitening procedures has increased by a staggering 300%. The first and most crucial step, when embarking upon the holy grail of a sparkling smile, is to see your general dentist. Consequently, the dental industry has answered that need with a ton of different whitening options.

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic

Your dentist must first diagnose the cause of your lackluster smile before setting upon the appropriate course of action. There are two different categories of tooth stain: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are classified as outside agents located on the outer surface of the tooth. Intrinsic stains occur when pigmented materials are incorporated into dental tissue.

Extrinsic stains are more commonly known by the dental layperson. Certain foods, liquids and substances contain chromogenic agents that are known to stain teeth. These are tea, coffee, red wine, soda and tobacco products. Be aware that if it stains your t-shirt, it’ll stain your teeth!

Vital vs. Non-Vital

Once the cause is confirmed, your general dentist will be best equipped to prescribe the appropriate whitening product. There are two types of bleaching techniques: vital and non-vital. Vital bleaching means the discoloration is confined exclusively to the enamel. Vital bleaching can cause tooth hypersensitivity and gum irritation. Both reactions are purely temporary and vary from person to person.

Non-vital whitening is used for discolored teeth that have been root canalled (pulpless). This treatment is known as walking bleach as the hydrogen peroxide formulation will remain inside the tooth between appointments. This whitens the tooth from the inside out.

Whitening Schmitening: What’s the Difference?

Tray Whitening:

- Dentist prescribed and custom-fit
- Take-home trays
- 22% carbamide peroxide
- Nite-White®

In-Office Whitening:

- Dentist supervised
- Also known as “Power bleaching”
- 25-30% hydrogen peroxide
- Name brands (including, but not limited to):
- Zoom™

Over-the-Counter:

- No prescription needed, but most of these have limited success
- 6% hydrogen peroxide
- Name brands (including, but not limited to):
- Crest Whitestrips®
- Crest Night Effects
- Colgate® Simply White®

As with any product on the market, all directions must be followed. Abusing whitening can do serious damage to teeth. Misuse, or over-use, can wear down the enamel of teeth, thereby weakening them. A further danger of misusing whitening treatments is the blue glow that emits from teeth over-treated with whitening agents. Creepy!

Consult us to discuss the whitening option that is most appropriate for you.