Tooth Whitening

Tooth bleaching is a common procedure done by cosmetic dentists to whiten teeth that have been affected by intrinsic staining. The process is done by putting whitening gel that contains carbamide peroxide in a tray that fits over the teeth. The substance breaks down and allows oxygen to enter the enamel. The effect causes bleaching inside the tooth. Though carbamide peroxide is used and bleaching occurs inside the tooth, there would be no changes in its structure and composition..

The important part of the procedure is to make sure the tray fits perfectly. Although there are "take-home" or "over-the-counter" bleaching, it is certainly better to visit a cosmetic dentist to ensure that the process will get the best results. They use accurate models of your teeth by custom fitting whitening trays can be made. A visit to a cosmetic dentist like a cosmetic dentist Provo has would be a good idea for a checkup.

There are several causes of tooth discoloration with the most common cause being the ingestion of staining substances such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Cigarettes and tobaccos are also staining substances so smoking contributes a lot to teeth discoloration. Even if you don’t smoke or rarely drink staining substances, genetics and aging still play a role in discoloration. Other causes are antibiotic staining, excessive fluoride (a substance included in toothpaste), and old fillings.

Stain outside the teeth, or extrinsic stains, can be easily removed by using whitening toothpaste or having it cleaned by a dentist. Intrinsic stains, or stains inside the teeth, can only be remedied by tooth bleaching (tooth whitening) done by Provo cosmetic dentists.