Facts About Teeth Whitening

Posted by

white teethTeeth whitening is a popular dental treatment that allows patients to remove stains and discolorations from their teeth that can mar their bright smile. Advanced technology has allowed patients to treat themselves at home, without the fuss of going to the dental office, but there are a variety of options for you if you are interested in this treatment. In the past, teeth whitening was not as simple as it can be now, but advanced technology has allowed us to create better and faster ways of brightening your smile.

Some Trivia on Teeth Whitening

  • Teeth whitening was traditionally used to bleach teeth stained by endodontic treatments or some kind of trauma.
  • In the 1980’s, a dentist-prescribed treatment that you could use at home was created, along with other advanced whitening technologies.
  • There are four types of teeth whitening products: Those that are prescribed by a dentist for use in the office, ones that a dentist prescribes but that can be used at home, over-the-counter products, and other non-dental products.
  • There are two types of stains you may have, extrinsic (on the enamel), and intrinsic (on the inside of your tooth). Intrinsic stains are harder to remove.
  • Bleaching products generally contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
  • Whitening can cause sensitivity in your teeth or irritation in your gums. It appears that the more peroxide is in a particular treatment, the greater the chance of causing some damage to your teeth.
  • The ADA recommends that you pick a whitening treatment after speaking with your dentist, who can help provide the materials and analyze whether regular whitening methods will work (some stains, usually intrinsic ones, cannot be removed with traditional methods, and we can discuss other options with you if that is the case).

ABOUT YOUR NORTH RICHLAND HILLS COSMETIC DENTIST:

With over 25 years of professional experience, Dr. Steven M. Huffstutler and his caring team proudly provide exceptional preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatment to patients and their families across Dallas/Ft. Worth, including North Richland Hills, Denton, the Mid-cities, Southlake, and all surrounding communities. We also have extensive experience helping patients find relief from painful TMJ disorders (various forms of jaw dysfunction). To schedule an appointment with Dr. Huffstutler, contact our office today by calling 817-918-3038.