What You Need To Know About Teeth Whitening Falls Church VA

By Miranda Sweeney


Tooth whitening is the process of getting rid of discoloration, dullness and stains from the teeth to make them appear whiter. Tooth discoloration can happen due to various factors including aging, cigarette smoke and drinks like coffee, soy sauce, berries and tea. Traumatic injuries and some medications can also stain them. By opting for teeth whitening Falls Church VA dwellers can reverse the effects of tooth discoloration.

There are many tooth bleaching products available in the market such as gels, strips and toothpastes. They can make tooth enamel appear a few shades whiter but some of them have abrasive substances that can make the enamel to wear away. They may also not remove certain kinds of stains especially on badly discolored or pitted teeth.

You can achieve the best results if you have your teeth whitened by a cosmetic dentist. The professional treatments that cosmetic dentists offer can reverse even the most serious tooth discolorations. Their treatments are pain free treatments since they do not involve scaling or other invasive procedures.

Most dental practices offer home bleaching kits and laser tooth bleaching. In both processes, peroxide based bleaching compounds of different strengths are used. Gels with a high peroxide concentration are more powerful. These gels are therefore more effective but their potential to cause side effects such as sensitivity or damage to the lips and the surrounding gum tissue is high.

Laser tooth bleaching utilizes light activated bleaching gels to whiten tooth enamel. Dentists usually complete this procedure within one to two hours and the bleaching results are instant. Most dentists recommend that patients who undergo laser bleaching also utilize professional tooth bleaching kits. Before laser tooth whitening is performed, patients consult with a dentist to ensure that they are suitable for the procedure.

Your cosmetic dentist will inform you about the risks and possible side effects of laser tooth bleaching. You will be asked to sign a consent form as a way of conforming that you understand the procedure and the risks involved. Your teeth will then be cleaned thoroughly by the dentist or dental hygienist in order to get rid of stains. They will then be prepared for the procedure. Your dentist may use a bleaching compound that has a peroxide concentration of about four to six percent.

As they perform laser tooth bleaching, dentists usually place some form of protection such as a roll of cotton and protective gel material around the gums to ensure that they do not get damaged by the bleaching compound. They also use cheek retractors to prevent potential burning or damage to the cheeks and lips. They then apply the bleaching gel to tooth enamel and expose it to a laser. After the procedure, they wash off the bleaching gels and remove the gum protection.

If patients opt for professional home bleaching kits, dentists take an impression or mould of their teeth using special dental putty. Dental technicians then use the moulds to cast a model of the mouth of a patient from plaster and make custom tooth bleaching trays from it. After the trays are ready, patients utilize them together with bleaching gel provided by the dentist.




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