Facial expressions are a large part of body language, and, like it or not, people may judge you by your smile. An attractive smile can take you a long way. So what happens when your teeth aren't so white anymore? After years of eating, smoking, or drinking coffee, wine or teas, teeth can lose their brilliance.

Not all of your teeth are the same natural color. Usually your eye teeth tend to be darker than the others, your front teeth are typically the whitest, and molars tend to be a shade between the two. The goal for everyone is to achieve their individual optimum whiteness while still looking natural. During your first consultation for teeth whitening (also known as teeth bleaching), we will go over what you personally can expect for your specific smile.

Why Teeth Get Dark
There are two types of tooth stains: intrinsic stain (Internal stain) and extrinsic stain (External stain). An intrinsic stain occurs from within the tooth. This type of stain cannot be removed by brushing and flossing and sometimes bleaching may not be effective. Some causes of intrinsic staining are injury to the tooth, certain medications (such as tetracycline) taken during tooth formation or an excess fluoride ingested during the formation of teeth. An extrinsic stain is a staining of the tooth surface. Some sources of extrinsic stains are cigarettes, cigars, cola, coffee, tea, or foods that contain a lot of spices. This type of staining can sometimes be removed by good tooth brushing habits or by professional prophylaxis (cleaning). The most difficult to bleach stain is deeply embedded into the tooth's structure. Bleaching does not lighten artificial materials such as resins fillings, silicates, bonding or porcelain crowns and veneers.

Generally, bleaching is successful in at least 90 percent of patients, though it may not be an option for everyone. Teeth darkened with the color of yellow, brown or orange respond better to lightening. Other types of gray stains caused by fluorosis, smoking or tetracycline are lightened, but results are not as dramatic. These types of stains can take a minimum of three visits to see results, and as much as six months of at home follow up for complete results. If you have very sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, or teeth with worn enamel, your dentist may discourage bleaching. In cases of serious teeth discoloration, bleaching may not be the best choice. Veneers or crowns may be the superior choice.

Zoom!® Whitening
Zoom!® Whitening is a state of the art procedure that will whiten one's teeth and dramatically change your smile in just one visit that usually lasts two hours. Some whitening procedures claim they can whiten your teeth by up to nine shades, but that is highly unlikely. Typically, there is a two- to three-shade improvement as seen on our Vita shade guide. But a change of just two or three shades will make a significant difference in just about anyone's smile.

How Does It Work?
The Zoom!® Whitening gel is applied to the teeth. The gel is a solution of 30-50% hydrogen peroxide. A bright light is then shone on the teeth for an hour. The gel, activated by the light, causes the teeth to whiten.

The bleaching gel contains the active ingredient carbamide peroxide (CH4N2O2). When water comes into contact with these white crystals, hydrogen peroxide is released. These molecules absorb the energy from the light and go into the tiny pores of the enamel and dentin, and break up the stains that block out the light. As the stains are broken into smaller and smaller pieces, more light passes through the teeth and makes them look lighter. The structure of the teeth remains unchanged but it is whitened.

Immediately after bleaching, enhance the effect by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Make sure not to use a mouthwash with alcohol, as this can actually chemically curtail the bleaching effect. After any bleaching treatment, patients should avoid foods and other products that stain, such as tobacco and red wine, for about a week.

How Long Does It Last?
Teeth whitening is not a permanent procedure. The effects last, on average, about 1-3 years, depending upon your personal habits. Your teeth will naturally discolor over time. Most people need to repeat the procedure every 1-2 years or after an initial treatment. Some people do touch-ups for one day about every 3-6 months, using at-home bleaching trays.

Possible adverse effects
The amount of sensitivity experienced after bleaching varies from person to person. Most adults usually experience little if any discomfort. Some may feel sore gums or teeth from the bleach, gum irritation, or tooth sensitivity to heat or cold; however, the discomfort should subside within 24 hours.

Decreasing the sensitivity may be as easy as placing a gel fluoride, under your dentist's instruction, in your bleaching tray for an hour or so. Second, brushing your teeth with Sensodyne® toothpaste will also alleviate sensitivity. Sensodyne® toothpaste has a high concentration of potassium nitrate. Potassium nitrate soothes the nerve endings and helps eliminate tooth sensitivity. Third, go to the pharmacist and ask for Gel-Kam®. Gel-Kam® is a high concentration of fluoride. Fluoride helps re-mineralize your teeth. If needed, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory may help. If the discomfort lasts for more than 2-3 days, consult your dentist for more options.

Be aware,
If you are taking any skin care medications (e.g., tetracycline), please let your doctor know. A number of them are considered to be photoreactive and may cause an adverse condition if used in conjunction with Zoom!® Whitening. Whitening cannot be done during pregnancy.

Before & After

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