Welcome to the second installment of this four-part FAQ guide to teeth whitening: a wonderful cosmetic dentistry treatment for Colorado Springs residents whose teeth have become slightly stained, discolored and dulled over the years. Previously, in Part 1, we established that teeth whitening is suitable for patients who are essentially in good oral health and who wish to eliminate the appearance of surface staining, as opposed to the deep discoloration caused by decay and a neglect for oral hygiene.
Let’s continue exploring the capabilities, methods and benefits of this treatment…
Answer: “The answer is quite simple. Cosmetic dentists are trained medical professionals and so, we are legally allowed to use teeth whitening kits with a greater concentration of the active whitening agent, which is typically the bleach hydrogen peroxide. This agent is a very strong alkaline, which can do the same kind of damage to your body as a strong acid. And so, the prescription of professional teeth whitening products by a qualified dentist is legally necessary.
“The benefits of undergoing a supervised professional treatment is that a greater concentration of bleaching agent delivers more immediate results and a far more effective treatment. The beautiful outcomes simply cannot be compared to that of over-the-counter products, which can take weeks and months to show and even then aren’t all that impressive.”
Question: Who might benefit from over-the-counter treatments in that case? Surely they must work to an extent?
Question: How does teeth whitening actually work?
Answer: “The kits we use contain the bleach hydrogen peroxide, which actually lightens the shade of your dental enamel,” explain cosmetic dentist in Colorado Springs. “Through doing this, it eliminates the appearance of staining and discoloration. The action is somewhat similar to adding regular bleach to your white laundry.
“What we have to warn patients about is the fact that this bleach doesn’t work on inorganic compounds, such as porcelain and ceramic. These materials are used to restore teeth, so if you’ve had porcelain veneers, ceramic crowns, bridges or fillings done, you must understand that the whitening treatment won’t have any effect on these surfaces. You might want to consider having your teeth whitened before having restorative work done, so that your new teeth match the beautiful white color of your healthy teeth.”
Stay Tuned for Part 3
To read the answers to more of your frequently asked questions about professional teeth whitening treatments, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series (coming next week).