Teeth Whitening

A beautiful bright smile can enhance the appeal of a person. A gorgeous smile captures attention. If you are unhappy with the colour and appearance of your teeth, you may hide them or not smile as often. Don’t worry. Here is a solution! Tooth Whitening is a fast, effective and safe way to transform the appearance of your smile – turning the clock back on ageing and discolouration.

How is it done?

A gel-like whitening solution is applied directly to the tooth surface. This product contains hydrogen peroxide. Tooth whitening can be done in the dental office. In-office (chair side) whitening allows your dentist to use a more powerful whitening gel. A specialized light or laser activates the gel and allows bleaching to happen faster.

Duration : In-office whitening usually takes 30 to 90 minutes.

Number of sittings required : You will need one to three appointments. The number of appointments necessary will depend upon the method used, how severe your stains are and how white you want your teeth to be.

How about special tooth paste ?

1. Whitening toothpastes are available as well.
2. They contain abrasives that remove stains on the enamel.
3. They do not actually change the overall colour of your teeth.

Follow-Up

1. If you find that your gums are white or sore, follow up with your dentist.
2. Remember whitening is not a permanent solution. The stains will come back. If you smoke or consume a lot of staining foods or drinks, you may see the brightness start to fade quite fast.
3. If you avoid these sources of staining, you may not need another whitening treatment for 6 to 12 months.

Veeners

Dental veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length.

Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and better mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth. Resin veneers are thinner and require removal of less of the tooth surface before placement. You will need to discuss the best choice of veneer material for you with your dentist.

Tooth Preparation:

1. Local anaesthetic is administered to numb the area.
2. Half a millimetre of enamel will be removed from the tooth surface, which is roughly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added.
3. Impression of your teeth is taken. This model is sent out to a dental laboratory, which constructs your veneer. Time duration for processing a veneer - 1 week.

Bonding:

1. Before the dental veneer is permanently cemented to the tooth, first temporarily placed on the tooth to examine its fit and colour.
2. Prepared tooth should be cleaned, polished and etched, which roughens it to allow for a strong bonding process.
3. A dual cement is applied to the veneer, which is then placed on the tooth.
4. Once properly positioned, special light beam is applied to the veneer, which activates chemicals in the cement causing it to harden or cure very quickly.
5. The final steps involve removing any excess cement, evaluating your bite and making final adjustments as necessary.