Options For Whiter Teeth and a Brighter Smile

July 24th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Let’s take a look at some of the options available for a bright smile and whiter teeth.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-colored resin material (a durable plastic material) is applied to the teeth and hardened with a special light, which in effect “bonds” the material to the tooth to restore or improve a person’s smile. Dental bonding (also known as composite bonding) on the anterior or front teeth is an excellent method for repairing minor imperfections such as chips and stains and is also an excellent way to fix cosmetic and structural imperfections in the teeth.

Tooth Whitening

The goal with teeth whitenening is to produce a brighter whiter smile quickly. Whitening (bleaching) can be done either in a dentist’s office or at home, using a system dispensed by your dentist or an over-the-counter tooth whitening kit. Using a whitening toothpaste can also help remove surface stains between dental visits. It’s not uncommon for teeth to become slightly sensitive during the whitening process as many whitening kits prescribed by dentists today contain a solution of 10-15% carbamide peroxide.

Crowns

Crowns cover the entire surface of the tooth and protect it from further decay. Crowns are firmly attached to your real tooth beneath, anchored by the tooth’s own roots, and are extremely durable. Crowns are permanent dental fixtures that are cemented into place over a partial tooth. Dental crowns are a valuable way to restore a tooth to its original shape, strengthen a weak tooth, and/or improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth.

Dental bonding can repair cracked, chipped, and discolored teeth as well as replace silver amalgam fillings. Dental bonding is also a great alternative to more extensive cosmetic dentistry treatment with porcelain veneers, bridges, and crowns. Dental bonding is an excellent option for individuals looking to repair imperfections in their smile. Dental bonding lasts about five to ten years.


Best Tooth Whitening - What Are The Teeth Whitening Options

July 16th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Tooth whitening can be performed in the dentist’s office or at home. We discuss both teeth whitening options here.

Having a dazzlilng smile and sparkling white teeth has become a national obsession and everybody wants to know which tooth whitening process is the best. There are many products available in order to choose the best tooth whitening product the first thing you’ll need to decide is whether you want your teeth whitened at your dentist’s office or in your own home.

Having your teeth whitened professionally by a dentist can very expensive so you may decide that the best tooth whitening process for you is something you can perform yourself at home. If you decide to go the D-I-Y tooth whitening route, you must then compare the various products based on the following factors:

* Ease of use
* Price and value
* Product ingredients
* Experience of other users

Hydrogen peroxide is a popular bleaching agent used in tooth whitening products in dental patients and also in DIY tooth whitening kits. The effectiveness of peroxide based tooth whitening is related to the concentration of peroxide in the whitening gel and the length of time this whitener is in contact with the teeth. To get the best tooth whitening effect, the teeth need to be exposed to a tooth whitener for the appropriate amount of time. It is imperative that the user follows the package directions.

Difference between teeth whitening at home and in the dentist’s office

DIY home teeth whitening kits generally use a lower concentration of the whitening ingredient for an extended period of time. When the process is being done professionally, the dentist will use higher concentration of whitener for a shorter period of time. Many people feel that both methods will produce the same outcome.

Tooth bleaching at home requires performing the whitening treatments daily for days or weeks. The dentist takes much less time to complete the process. A survey has shown that two weeks of at-home tooth whitening treatments will produce the same result as a one-hour session with the dentist.

The effectiveness of a home teeth whitening system will depend on you sticking to a daily routine but the results can be worthwhile and achieved at significant savings over having the treatment performed by a dentist.

It is difficult to pick one method over the other as the best tooth whitening process - in the end it may depend on cost and time!