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The
White Stuff by
Dr. Pietrini
A few years ago a best selling book was made into
a movie, The Right Stuff, which was about the
early days of jet test pilots and astronauts.
Many of the scientific discoveries from aviation
and the space race led to advances in medicine
and dentistry. Some of the technology and treatment
options we are able to offer patients are a result
of these discoveries. As a young boy I remember
one of the most popular toothpaste slogans at
the time was, "You'll wonder where the yellow
went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent."
Today, with new and improved dental materials
and modern technology, patients have numerous
treatment options available to them to obtain
"the white stuff."
Attempts
to bleach or whiten teeth date back to the late
1800's. For almost one hundred years this treatment
was primarily limited to teeth that were non-vital
(the pulp containing little nerves and blood vessel
was no longer alive). Dentists tried to use various
types of bleaching agents to lighten discolored
teeth. Hydrogen peroxide, which is often used
a mouth rinse or can be found in some toothpastes
as well as hair dyes, was the safest and most
effective choice of bleaching agent. One of the
earliest methods of treatment was to apply hydrogen
peroxide to the teeth being treated and then place
a hot instrument or heating coil on the teeth
until the patient started to feel discomfort.
Fortunately, our options of materials and techniques
have been improved.
Many brands of toothpaste contain abrasives and
whiteners, which can reduce surface staining of
teeth; but they have little effect on the deeper,
darker stains. The two best methods of whitening
teeth are treatments by your dentist in the office
or supervised home care. Shortly after over-the-counter
whitening kits became available, the FDA (Food
and Drug Administration) received many complaints
for consumers about side effects from the use
of commercial products. Most of the problems stem
from poor fitting trays with chemicals that caused
irritation to the gums and/or created tooth sensitivity.
Before
starting treatment the patient should have a complete
examination and evaluation of the condition of
the teeth and gums to determine if he or she is
a good candidate for treatment. There are three
types of tooth discoloration. The most common
is staining on the surface of teeth caused by
highly colored food and drinks like berries, wine,
tea and coffee and of course tobacco. Internal
stains are discolorations that may have been caused
by certain drugs like tetracyclines, overexposure
to fluorides and stains from old dental filling
materials. The third group is caused by a combination
of staining due to aging. There are several factors
that will determine what method of treatment is
best and how long it will take. Teeth that are
yellow with an even distribution of discoloration
without white spots or dark bands will be the
easiest to treat. Badly worn teeth or those with
groves or pits in the enamel will present problems.
If a patient has fillings or crowns present they
will not lighten along with the surrounding tooth
structure and may need to be replaced. Other problems
that may affect treatment are tooth sensitivity
and patient cooperation.
Your
dentist will help you to decide which treatment
options are ideal for you. Most patients will
get excellent results with home care treatment
alone. Plaster models are made from impressions
taken of your teeth, which are used to fabricate
custom-fitted, soft trays. After checking to see
if the trays fit properly, your dental staff will
show you how to place the bleaching gel into the
tray. The active ingredient in the gel is a form
of hydrogen peroxide, which comes in a variety
of concentrations. Your dentist will help you
determine which product is best for you and how
long you will need to wear the trays. Within a
period of two weeks the average patient should
see their teeth lighten by several shades.
For
people with more complicated cases or for patients
who want to shorten the time it takes to complete
treatment, a combination of in-office and home
care treatment might be necessary. First your
dentist will cover your gums with a rubber barrier
or a protective plastic coating. A bleaching gel
is then applied to the teeth and the chemical
is activated with either a high intensity light
or a laser. Studies have shown that heating the
hydrogen peroxide gel by 15-20o F that it will
double the rate of bleaching. If the patient has
a pattern of the deeper, darker stains, more than
one office treatment could be necessary. In almost
all cases, follow up home whitening in addition
to the office treatments will bring the best results.
Ask your dentist for more details.
Zoom!
Zoom! Zoom! by
Dr. Pietrini
A popular automobile
commercial uses the line—Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! In
the dental market, Zoomä
is professional whitening system. It has been
featured on the hit television program Extreme
Makeover. This in-office whitening system is
one of many options being used today.
Attempts to bleach or whiten
teeth date back to the late 1800’s. For almost
one hundred years this treatment was primarily
limited to teeth that were non-vital (the pulp
containing little nerves and blood vessel was no
longer alive). Dentists tried to use various types
of bleaching agents to lighten discolored teeth.
Hydrogen peroxide, which is often used a mouth
rinse or can be found in some toothpastes as well
as hair dyes, was the safest and most effective
choice of bleaching agent. One of the earliest
methods of treatment was to apply hydrogen
peroxide to the teeth being treated and then place
a hot instrument or heating coil on the teeth
until the patient started to feel discomfort.
Fortunately, our options of materials and
techniques have been improved.
Before
starting treatment the patient should have a
complete examination and evaluation of the
condition of the teeth and gums to determine if he
or she is a good candidate for treatment. There
are three types of tooth discoloration. The most
common is staining on the surface of teeth caused
by highly colored food and drinks like berries,
wine, tea and coffee and of course tobacco.
Internal stains are discolorations that may have
been caused by certain drugs like tetracyclines,
overexposure to fluorides and stains from old
dental filling materials. The third group is
caused by a combination of staining due to aging.
There are several factors that will determine what
method of treatment is best and how long it will
take. Teeth that are yellow with an even
distribution of discoloration without white spots
or dark bands will be the easiest to treat. Badly
worn teeth or those with groves or pits in the
enamel will present problems. If a patient has
fillings or crowns present they will not lighten
along with the surrounding tooth structure and may
need to be replaced. Other problems that may
affect treatment are tooth sensitivity and patient
cooperation.
Your
dentist will help you to decide which treatment
options are ideal for you. Most patients will get
excellent results with home care treatment alone.
Plaster models are made from impressions taken of
your teeth, which are used to fabricate
custom-fitted, soft trays. After checking to see
if the trays fit properly, your dental staff will
show you how to place the bleaching gel into the
tray. The active ingredient in the gel is a form
of hydrogen peroxide, which comes in a variety of
concentrations. Your dentist will help you
determine which product is best for you and how
long you will need to wear the trays. Within a
period of two weeks the average patient should see
their teeth lighten by several shades.
For people with more
complicated cases or for patients who want to
shorten the time it takes to complete treatment, a
combination of in-office and home care treatment
might be necessary. First your dentist will cover
your gums with a rubber barrier or a protective
plastic coating. A bleaching gel is then applied
to the teeth and the chemical is activated with
either a high intensity light or a laser. Studies
have shown that heating the hydrogen peroxide gel
by 15-20o F that it will double the
rate of bleaching. If the patient has a pattern of
the deeper, darker stains, more than one office
treatment could be necessary. In almost all cases,
follow up home whitening in addition to the office
treatments will bring the best results. Ask your
dentist for more details.
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