Many of our patients come looking to benefit from our advanced tooth whitening service. Teeth can lose their bright white color for a variety of reasons including tobacco use, drinking soda, poor dental health maintenance, and even aging.
Our patients know they want a brighter smile but often ask us, “How does tooth whitening work exactly?” Though tooth whitening is a fairly simple process, we wholeheartedly believe in client education, so we’re happy to provide some explanation. In fact, when our patients understand their own dental health, it makes our job easier and their mouth healthier. To explain teeth whitening, we will first discuss the structure of the tooth and how your teeth will be prepared. Then we will share about the process itself and talk about what happens after the procedure.
Dentistry Demystified: How Does Tooth Whitening Work?
Enamel and Dentin
To answer the question, “How does tooth whitening work?” effectively, we must first discuss the physical structure of your teeth. Each one of your teeth has an outer layer called enamel. This layer defines the color of your teeth based on how light is reflected off of your enamel. The underlying layer is called dentin, and this also affects the natural color of your teeth in combination with your enamel. The thickness and smoothness of your enamel is determined genetically, so you do not have much control over that aspect.If your enamel is thinner, it will allow more of your dentin to show through. This outer layer is porous and so it can begin to hold stains over time.
Preparation
Before you can get your teeth whitened, we need to go through a few steps. First, any cavities you may have must be treated. We will also need to completely examine your teeth, mouth, and gums for any potential problems. We will document any stains you have and keep a history in our records. Once these two steps have been accomplished, we can move on to the actual process of tooth whitening.
The Process
Our in-office whitening procedure takes about 30 to 90 minutes. It can take place between one and three appointments, depending on how stained your teeth are and how white you would like them to become. First, your dentist will apply a substance to your gums that will protect them during the procedure. Second, your dentist will place the whitening agent, which usually contains hydrogen peroxide, directly on your teeth. This gel-like solution will then be activated by a laser light or the heat from the light. This simple process does not take very long and has little to no side effects.
Maintenance
In answering the common question about how tooth whitening works, we cannot neglect to discuss the follow up aspect of the procedure. Though our in-house whitening procedure is effective, tooth whitening is never permanent. The stains will eventually come back. If you can avoid tobacco, soda, and other items that can cause staining, your teeth will stay whiter longer. Once the whitening fades, you can make another appointment to have follow up whitening done.
