Teeth Whitening By A Wilmette Dentist
Emphasizing glamour, the modern world has become obsessed with fashion appearance and cosmetic procedures. In such a world, to have a pearly white smile has also become a fashion issue in addition to a dental and oral hygiene one. As the popularity of whitening teeth has increased over the years, the number of non-dental professionals performing teeth whitening procedures has also increased. Whitening teeth is not a process that should be performed by beauticians or hair dressers, but rather a procedure that should be performed by a dentist.
Background: Enamel is the outer layer of the tooth surface, and beneath it is a layer called dentin. Dentin is typically a light yellow but may be darker or gray or brown. Normally, when this dentin comes to the surface through the enamel, the teeth look yellowish or grayish and that is when the patient needs to whiten their teeth.
The teeth whitening process performed by non-dental services usually involves placing a peroxide solution on the enamel to open the pores of the enamel, allowing the solution to reach the layer of dentin. The peroxide solution will then begin to lighten the dentin, resulting in the appearance of whiter teeth. This process of teeth whitening is comparatively less expensive than that of the professional process performed by a dentist, but the reason for the cost difference is often, salons tend to use more abrasive chemicals to whiten teeth which eventually weaken or erode tooth enamel and harm your overall oral and general health.
Teeth whitening by dental professionals, usually consists of using a cosmetic laser treatment which is one of the latest trends in cosmetic dentistry. During the process, a patient lies down in the dental chair and a protective silicone rubber coating is painted around the gums to prevent the whitening gel from spreading to the gums. The whitening gel is then applied onto the teeth to be whitened (usually second premolar to second premolar upper and lower arches). A laser light is then directed over the teeth for approximately fifteen minutes to enhance the whitening process. The procedure may be repeated twice more, and afterwards, the gel is washed away. Dentists may also recommend a take-home kit to get the maximum benefits of this laser whitening.
Teeth whitening is not a matter of just vanity and skin deep beauty, it is a dental issue and as such, best handled by a professional cosmetic dentist. Consult with your Wilmette dentist for more information about teeth whitening services offered at their Wilmette dental office.
