How Professional Teeth Whitening Is Done
As far as cosmetic dentistry is concerned, teeth whitening is the most common procedure by far. It can be used to enhance the natural color of your teeth by making them several shades lighter or completely bleaching the color.
Before booking an appointment with a professional teeth whitening dentist, though, it’s imperative that you educate yourself on how the treatment is completed. Here’s everything you need to know about the teeth whitening process including what the agents actually do to your teeth.
What chemicals are used to make the teeth whiter?
Stains on the teeth are categorized as either extrinsic or intrinsic. While the former are surface stains that can be removed by home treatments, the latter is a type of stain caught between the enamel and the inner dentin. As such, these stains can only be removed by professional teeth whitening agents.
Professional teeth whitening from a dentist involves bleaching the teeth with one of two bleaches- either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Both are very safe for the mouth, as long as they are applied in the right manner, which includes protecting the gums. The chemicals are known professionally as Opalescence gels, and are the most commonly used agent in the teeth whitening arena.
How do Opalescence gels remove stains?
Opalescence gels are powerful agents that work in a very simple. Once applied to the tooth’s surface, they actively penetrate the enamel. The oxygen molecules from the whitening chemicals mix with the discolored molecules on the tooth.
As the discolored molecules are broken down and the oxygen molecules spread, the stain becomes less noticeable and the entire tooth becomes visibly whiter as a result. The Opalescence gels work very quickly too, meaning that a teeth whitening dentist can complete the entire process in just a single sitting, although it may be necessary for a pre-treatment session to have your gum guard designed.
Laser teeth whitening
As well as traditional bleaching, it is now possible to have laser teeth whitening treatments. In this case, a rubber guard is placed over the teeth and gums in order to protect them. The next step is to have the teeth painted with the bleaching agent before a laser light is shone onto the teeth.
The laser kicks the chemicals into action, making the teeth become up to six shades whiter with very fast results. As with all types of teeth whitening, the desired outcomes can’t be achieved on all teeth, though. Therefore, it’s vital that you visit a specialist to discuss the options and the possibilities. Understanding what you can expect from the treatment is essential as you aim to make the right decision.
Book a teeth whitening appointment with Dr. Min Zhu
If you’ve decided that teeth whitening is for you and wish to see the best specialist dentist Nashua has to offer, contact Dr. Min Zhu at Rose Dental today. From consultation to completion, you’ll be sure to gain the very best service in cosmetic dentistry.
A whiter, brighter smile starts at Rose Dental Nashua!