There’s no arguing that people prefer whiter teeth and a brighter smile, but sometimes it can be hard to achieve that look. That’s where your dentist can help, with professional teeth whitening treatment to safely and effectively give you a restored colour.
Why do people get teeth whitening treatments?
There are many reasons people get teeth whitening treatments, including to improve their appearance and boost self-esteem and confidence. People with significant staining or discoloured teeth can feel anxiety regarding their appearance, but whitening treatment can alleviate these feelings.
People may undergo teeth whitening in preparation for a special occasion, where they want to flash their nicest smile. This could be a wedding, family reunion or birthday party, and whitening can provide a positive boost. However, the main reason people choose professional teeth whitening is because they have developed stains on their teeth that they cannot remove themselves.
What causes tooth staining?
Different foods and drinks can play a significant role in the appearance of our teeth and the presence of stains. Particular substances like coffee, red wine and tea can cause tooth discolouration due to their darker colours. Foods high in starch like pasta or potatoes can also contribute. Another primary cause is smoking or chewing tobacco.
Perhaps the primary contributor to staining is having poor oral health and hygiene practices, including not brushing and flossing teeth. Skipping these processes allows plaque and food particles to build up, stripping away tooth enamel and making stains more likely.
Other causes include diseases that prevent tooth enamel from developing normally, treatments including radiation and chemotherapy, and trauma directly to the teeth.
Types of staining
Staining can occur at different levels and for a variety of reasons. Professionals have identified these as the main categories of staining and discolouration.
Extrinsic staining
Extrinsic stains — or surface stains — are the most common form of discolouration, occurring on the enamel surface of teeth. Highly coloured foods and beverages are the main culprits, but smoking also contributes heavily. Extrinsic stains often cause a yellowish discolouration on the tooth surface.
Intrinsic staining
Intrinsic stains occur within the tooth, and below the surface. These stains develop when particles are able to move through the surface and accumulate underneath the enamel. This makes them harder to remove but less common in those with good oral health habits. The layer beneath enamel, called dentine, is naturally darker and becomes more visible, providing a yellow, grey or brown appearance.
Age-related staining
Staining can also simply be due to getting older, due to two key factors. Firstly, dentine progressively becomes more yellow over time, and secondly, the layer of enamel covering dentine naturally thins with age. While good cleaning habits can delay these stains and make them less prominent, age-related staining is largely unavoidable.
How we determine if whitening is right for you
Whitening teeth at the dentist is a popular treatment, but unfortunately not able to be delivered to everyone. We take into consideration a number of factors including the type of staining you have, and whether you have existing dental works like crowns, bridges or restorations which will not be affected by whitening. Additionally, individuals with tooth decay or periodontitis will need to have that treated first before any tooth whitening. Your dentist should only recommend teeth whitening if they can maintain an even colour and effectively remove the discolouration.
Outside of this, there are some people who unfortunately should not receive teeth whitening at all, including:
- children under 16 years old;
- pregnant or lactating women;
- people wearing fixed braces; and
- people allergic to bleaching agents.
In-chair teeth whitening procedure
In chair whitening is the quickest way to achieve significant improvements to the colour and appearance of your teeth. The process starts with a check-up, at which the dentist will go through a full examination of your teeth to identify how healthy they are, and if there are any issues that could make whitening a less effective treatment. This could include cavities, gum disease or tooth decay, which would all need to be treated before beginning whitening. Once your dentist is satisfied your teeth are in a healthy enough condition, a hygienist will give them a thorough cleaning to remove as much plaque and calculus as possible.
From there, we cover your lips and gums and leave only your teeth visible, before pasting a dental whitening gel onto your teeth. The teeth whitening gel includes an effective bleaching agent — typically either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide — which is activated by laser light to release oxygen into the teeth. The gel is carefully applied to ensure it only goes onto the teeth and nowhere else.
Before beginning the laser treatment, each patient puts on a pair of protective eyewear to keep them safe. From there, we use the laser light for 15 minutes at a time over the gel, which starts the oxidation process where oxygen penetrates deep into the enamel to bleach away stains. More gel is added in 15 minute increments, with a full appointment often lasting between 45 and 90 minutes.
Aftercare
Following your in chair teeth whitening treatment, your dentist will apply a gel aimed at reducing feelings sensitive teeth, and will provide a set of detailed instructions to make the effects last as long as possible. Many of these will relate to your diet — patients should stick to clearer or less brightly-coloured foods and drinks for at least the first 48 hours following whitening. We also recommend patients use a straw as much as possible to minimise contact between liquids and teeth.
Pain relief medication can help to manage any sensitivity or discomfort, but this should be minimal and temporary. We also recommend patients rinse their mouths after meals and keep up their overall oral health routine.
To truly maximise their treatment, using maintenance products can also help to maintain the effects of teeth whitening for longer.
Home teeth whitening kits
While we always recommend in-chair whitening first, using a take-home whitening kit can provide results on its own or work complementary to professional teeth whitening treatment. Home teeth whitening includes a dentist taking impressions of your teeth to develop custom-moulded trays, which are provided along with some whitening gel. The gel is placed in the trays which then go onto your teeth to bleach away stains.
Home kits typically take longer to provide results, and may not remove stains and discolouration as effectively. With this in mind, we recommend it as a complementary treatment after having professional whitening done.
Teeth whitening products
There are many different teeth whitening products on the market, including whitening toothpaste, teeth whitening gel, whitening strips and special tooth whitening mouthwashes. We recommend only using products that have a seal from the Australian Dental Association on them, and those that your dentist confirms are safe for use. They should not be seen as a replacement for professional whitening treatments.
What are the risks of teeth whitening?
Teeth whitened by professionals typically have few complications afterwards, but there are some common side effects of teeth whitening, including temporary tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. These can be treated with over-the-counter pain relief or specialised gel provided directly by your dentist.
We also recommend only receiving professional whitening treatment once a year, as overdoing it can cause your teeth to appear translucent. Similarly, leaving gel on your teeth for too long can cause burns and blisters, which is why we only complete teeth whitening in increments.
Dazzling white teeth at Oakleigh
Whiten your teeth with a true dental professional, committed to helping you smile confidence. Check out our Tuesday and Wednesday special and save $150 on your teeth whitening cost! To find out whether teeth whitening is the right treatment for you or to learn more about any of our cosmetic dentistry treatments, book in a consultation today. We look forward to helping you smile.
