What is teeth whitening?

 

Whitening is a procedure where tooth discoloration is ‘whitened’ to a lighter shade through chemical means. It is a safe procedure when carried out under professional dental supervision. 

 

Causes of tooth discoloration

 

There are two types of tooth discoloration:

Extrinsic (external or surface) and intrinsic (internal).

 

Extrinsic staining is caused by substances that come into contact with the tooth. Big culprits are tobacco, either smoked or chewed and foods containing tannins such as red wine, coffee, and tea.

 

Intrinsic tooth discoloration can happen with aging as enamel loses its youthful translucency, becoming less porous; this makes the underlying dentin more visible as it thickens and becomes more yellow over time. Intrinsic discoloration is also caused by exposure to excessive fluoride or the antibiotic tetracycline during tooth-formation, inherited developmental disorders and jaundice in childhood. For teeth that have erupted already, the main causes of intrinsic discoloration are tooth decay, restorations, pulp death (root canal problems) and trauma to developing teeth.

 

It's possible to have both extrinsic and intrinsic discoloration at the same time.

 

How does teeth whitening work?

 

Know the best ways to whiten teeth at Urja multispeciality Dental Clinic, Chandigarh. Teeth whitening is a simple process. Whitening products contain one of two tooth bleaches (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). These bleaches break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter. Zoom whitening method is also used at Urja Multispeciality Dental Clinic.

 

In our clinics, we use the In-office bleaching method. In this, the zoom whitening agent is applied over the teeth by the dentist and then ZOOM light is used.

 

Treatment time and results usually depend on the severity of the discoloration. Both vital (i.e. live) and non-vital teeth (i.e. teeth with root fillings) can be bleached. It is not effective on dental restorations such as amalgam fillings, metal or porcelain crowns, veneers etc. However, we can advise on the options for replacing restorations after whitening to complete your smile makeover. We tell our patients the best ways to whiten teeth.