
Professional Teeth Whitening Dentist in Montebello CA
What is tooth whitening?
Tooth whitening is one of the most common and popular dental procedures, performed to lighten teeth and enhance their appearance by removing discoloration and stains. However, the procedure is lengthy and results are not seen in just a single sitting.
Why do teeth need whitening when they are naturally white? What causes them to stain?
- Children’s teeth are pearly white whereas adult teeth are ivory in color. This color is visible due to the light reflecting off of teeth enamel. The thicker and smoother the enamel, the brighter will be our teeth. This, however, is based on genetics.
- The food we eat also happens to settle in layers on our tooth enamel. There is a new layer everyday. This layer is called pellicle. This causes teeth to appear yellow.
- Furthermore, tooth enamel, even though smooth, is porous. It can retain staining materials. People who consume coffee, tea, chew pan and other staining materials, can have discolored teeth.
- Smoking can not only damage the lungs but it also turns teeth yellow and brown.
- Poor oral hygiene – not brushing and flossing regularly – can lead to staining of teeth.
- Aging can also ruin teeth. One reason can be that with use, teeth become hackneyed. The other reason can be on molecular basis, as dentin (the tooth protein) darkens with age and hence shows off a duller color when seen through slightly translucent enamel.
- Those children who drink hard water during growing years can have stained teeth. Water from wells and other natural sources have a high fluoride content (the mineral present in toothpaste). Fluoride makes teeth stronger in a miniscule quantity but when it is in excess, it causes mottling of tooth enamel.
- Tetracycline is a drug that is known to cause yellowish staining of teeth. This drug is an antibiotic. It is not given to children due to its adverse effect in them. It is also not given to pregnant mothers as the child can have stained teeth after birth.
Can teeth whitening be done at home by yourself or by a dentist?
Teeth whitening should be done at the dentist clinic by the professional dentist.
What is the procedure of getting teeth whitened at the dentist?
- Whitening your teeth at the dentist requires firstly, a history of the cause of staining. The dentist will ask you about your eating patterns, if you smoke, drink, chew pan, et cetera.
- The dentist will take a photograph of your teeth so they can keep monitoring the progress.
- The dentist resumes by checking for any structural defects. The dentist will check for cavities, receded gums and decayed teeth. Since these conditions can make teeth become sensitive, the dentist might not recommend teeth whitening. Call us professional teeth whitening dentist at Bello Dental
- If you have any crowns, veneers or fillers, whitening will not be effective.
- The dentist will apply a protective gel to cover and seal the gums Then, a whitening agent will be applied to teeth. This substance usually contains hydrogen peroxide. After about 30-90 minutes, the dentist will take the substance off to reveal brighter teeth.
- In addition, the dentist can also incorporate use of a special light or laser to activate the whitening or bleaching agent. This speeds up the process.
- If the discoloration is due to a root canal treatment, then the cause of discoloration is internal. The dentist will, in this case, pour the bleaching agent inside and leave it for a few days by putting a temporary filling over it. This can be a one-time procedure or may require several follow-ups.
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