Teeth Whitening & Oral Health Blog

Cosmetic dentistry is very much like plastic surgery for the mouth. Things are taken away, added to, brightened, shaped, and replaced as needed. The difference between cosmetic dentistry and regular dental dentistry is that cosmetic dentistry is completely voluntary and has no medical basis or need. Cosmetic dentistry is often extremely expensive and can even be quite painful, but the results are very much worth it for most that undergo it. There are many different procedures that fall under the umbrella of cosmetic dentistry, and it is important to know your options if you are considering a procedure.

Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most common forms of cosmetic dentistry that is done today. There are three procedures that are done by a professional for cosmetic whitening purposes. One of these is abrasive teeth whitening, during which the debris and dirt from the miniscule cracks and ridges of the teeth are scrubbed away, leaving the teeth looking brighter. Chemical or mild acid whitening is another dentistry procedure in which concentrated bleach or peroxide is used to penetrate the enamel of the tooth and brighten the color underneath, and finally laser teeth whitening in which bleaching solutions are paired with a laser light to remove stains from teeth.

Contouring and Shaping
There are several different cosmetic dentistry procedures that hold the purpose of shaping and contouring the teeth so that the teeth look cleaner, well-rounded, and shapely. One process like this is called bonding, in which composite material that is similar to enamel is placed on the teeth and then shaped and hardened, then polished. Enamel shaping is another process in which the existing enamel is reshaped to a more pleasing shape. Other procedures that fall under this category include contouring and reshaping crooked, discolored or chipped/cracked teeth.

Bridges
Two types of dental bridges that are commonly used in cosmetic dentistry are dental and fixed bridges. Dental bridges are done when a false tooth is placed between two porcelain crowns to fill in a gap in the row of teeth. This can be one tooth missing or several, and are also called partial dentures. Fixed bridges are more complicated in that they are not removable once they are placed in the mouth. They are used to fix bite problems and to lessen the chance of gum disease if one or more teeth are severely infected.

Miscellaneous
There are several other types of cosmetic dentistry procedures that are common among those who think their mouth and teeth are simply not attractive and what them to look better. Among these one stands out in particular, and it is called a gum lift. Similar to a face lift, a dentistry gum lift happens when a dentist lifts and shapes the gum and sometimes the bones underneath into a more pleasant shape. This is especially popular with those who have “big gums” or if one’s teeth look tiny in comparison to the gums. Though it is expensive, most feel it is perfectly worth the money once the procedure is done.

© Copyright Whiter Smile : Australia’s Largest Teeth Whitening Superstore! Stocking a huge range of the best teeth whitening, tooth bleaching, bad breath, and oral health products on the planet. Best Price Guarantee!
http://www.whitersmile.com.au

Almost all teeth whiteners use some form of peroxide to help promote a bleaching process. It is not at all surprising to pull an over-the-counter whitening toothpaste or tooth whitener off of a grocery store shelf and find peroxide in the ingredients. This is used due to its anesthetic qualities as well as it bleaching abilities. There are different forms of peroxide that are available but the most commonly used peroxide in cosmetic dentistry is Carbamide peroxide or urea peroxide.

Carbamide peroxide is an oxidizing agent that contains both hydrogen peroxide and urea. Many dentists use this with lasers to promote bleaching of your teeth. The hydrogen peroxide oxidizes stains on the tooth enamel. Many people use hydrogen peroxide to help whiten their teeth for several reasons:

• It promotes a healthier mouth
• No harmful acids or abrasives
• Ease in use
• Inexpensive

Hydrogen peroxide is used in a number of mouth and teeth rinses and pastes. In fact before many of the teethe whitening concoctions were developed, people used hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to brush their teeth. Both are excellent whiteners and a little table salt adds an extra exfoliant to the process. However since manufacturers have been producing teeth whiteners, there have been some rather remarkable results that have been obtained from using hydrogen peroxide as a whitener.

One particularly impressive tooth whitener that uses Carbamide peroxide is called Nite White ACP. This is a tooth desensitizer that uses a patented Amorphous Calcium Phosphate chemistry to bond with your tooth’s surface to fill any microscopic defect. This makes your teeth smoother and gives them luster. In addition to filling the microscopic defects in your teeth that make them so sensitive, most users have less fading of the white after six months of use of Nite White ACP. It comes in a three syringe pack that is good for 9-12 dual arch whitening sessions. It is used in an arch tray system and it is mixed by the syringe as it is placed in the trays.

Day White ACP is used just like the Nite White ACP but is designed to be used for less time. Where the Nite White ACP is only a 16% or 22% solution used for either 1 hour a day or overnight depending on which product, the Day White ACP is a 38% solution that is used for a period of only 15 minutes. It also comes in a three syringe pack that is enough for twelve dual arch trays and mixed by the syringe. These two whiteners are great for sensitive teeth because it helps fill in the small defects that make teeth sensitive while it whitens.

There are a large number of whiteners to choose from and many people must play a trial and error game before they find the whitener that works for their teeth. Since most people have different shades of white naturally on their teeth, it may take several uses before any difference is noticed. One should not judge a whitener by the effects of one application. You should use it a few times before switching to another whitener.