Teeth whitening – options and benefits

Sylvia — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:55:40 +0000

An article by Dr Lin Gengfeng

Why Teeth Whitening?

A bright and beautiful smile is not only essential to achieve a high level of facial aesthetics; it can also make an individual feel more confident and appear more approachable. Obviously, this would positively influence how an individual is perceived by others. Hence it is not surprising that teeth whitening procedures are becoming increasingly popular and sought after.

Teeth whitening is a simple yet effective way to lighten the colour of our teeth and allow us to achieve a dazzling and attractive smile. It can be broadly classified into 2 types:

Professional In-Office whitening
and Home whitening.

In-office whitening

In-office whitening involves the use of certain whitening agents, which work to remove stains and lighten the colour of the teeth. The dentist first has to ensure your teeth are sparkling clean. Next, he will check the initial shade of your teeth before the procedure. Following that, he will meticulously apply a barrier material to protect certain areas within and around the mouth and prevent these areas from coming into contact with the whitening agent. The whitening agent is then placed on the teeth surfaces and upon activation, they work to whiten the teeth. Lasers or light is commonly used to activate the whitening agent and the whole process lasts between 1 to 2 hours.

Home whitening

In home whitening, the dentist fabricates a set of customised trays that fit snugly over your teeth surfaces. You are then given the whitening gel and taught how to apply it using the trays. Subsequently, you can then apply the whitening gel in the comfort of your home. It is recommended that the whitening be applied initially for an hour a day for 14 – 21 consecutive days.

It is widely recommended that a combination of both in-office and home whitening be done to not only achieve, but maintain the ideal teeth shade.

Over-the-counter whitening products

In addition to these 2 categories of professionally administered teeth whitening procedures, there is also a wide array of over-the-counter (OTC) whitening products such as whitening toothpastes and whitening strips. However, these have limited efficacy as the strength of the whitening agents present is usually too weak to have any significant effect. Most of these OTC products contain abrasives in an attempt to remove extrinsic stains present on the teeth surfaces.

Some examples of results achieved

Whitening can not only lighten the shade of the teeth, it can also correct colour discrepancies. In this particular instance, the presence of white spots resulted in an uneven and “patchy” appearance. This was corrected with whitening to produce teeth with an even and homogeneous appearance and hence, greatly improving the colour aesthetics.

With in-office whitening, the teeth shade immediately after the procedure is improved. However, after a week, the colour may further even out to give an even better aesthetic result. In this particular case, the patient decided to undergo in-office whitening to correct the central, yellowish region of his teeth surfaces. Immediately after whitening, the teeth have lightened several shades and the colour discrepancy is less pronounced. 3 weeks after whitening, the colour has become more homogenous and there is no evidence of the central yellowish core. The result is a vastly improved and brighter smile.

Sometimes, whitening may be done not on all the teeth surfaces, but on a single discoloured tooth. In this particular case, whitening was done for a single tooth that turned dark after root canal treatment.

FAQ

Is whitening safe? Does whitening damage my tooth?

Whitening is recognised as one of the safest and least invasive aesthetic dental procedure available. There is no evidence that whitening causes any damage to the teeth. It does not cause your teeth to become weaker or make them more susceptible to cavities.

How long can the effects of whitening last? How can I maintain the lighter shade?

How long the effects of whitening last varies greatly as it depends on several factors such as the initial shade of the teeth, age, lifestyle factors such as whether the patient smokes etc. Generally, it is recommended that a set of whitening trays be made so that the patient can maintain the shade by home whitening.
In addition, when in-office whitening is done, it is important to avoid any foods that can stain the teeth for the next 24 hours. Examples include red wine, coffee and other coloured foods.

Is the whitening procedure uncomfortable?

Most patients do not experience any discomfort at all. However, there may be mild sensitivity for some patients when an in-office whitening procedure is carried out. This is usually very mild and temporary.

Is whitening suitable for everyone?

Whitening may not be suitable for everyone. Not all instances of teeth discolouration can be corrected with whitening. In addition, there may be existing conditions that need to be treated before whitening can be done. For example, in instances where there is severe gum disease, whitening should be delayed until after the disease is controlled.

Dr Lin Gengfeng practises aesthetic implant & restorative dentistry at T32 Dental Centre situated in Camden Medical Centre, Level 17. Website: http://www.t32dental.com

Cosmetic dentistry in Singapore

Sylvia — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:50:45 +0000

We all know that a beautiful smile can open a million doors! However, we are not all blessed with beautiful teeth and a beautiful smile. Here is where a cosmetic dentist can help.

What is a cosmetic dentist?

Contrary to a traditional dentist who mainly focuses on oral hygiene and the treatment of oral disease, a cosmetic dentist’s main focus is to improve your smile, mouth and teeth. Cosmetic dentistry is usually a voluntary treatment with the sole purpose of improving your facial appearance.

Cosmetic dentists still perform traditional procedures like dental fillings though but they will aim to do this in the visually most pleasing way. There are porcelain or composite materials available that will be matched to the colour of your teeth in order to make dental filling almost invisible. You can elect to have your old fillings replaced by these newer, more pleasing, materials.

Which cosmetic dental services are available?

Inlays / Onlays: These fillings, sometimes referred to as indirect fillings, are made from porcelain or composite materials and provide a long-lasting way for “filling” to teeth with tooth decay or similar structural damage. The main difference with normal dental filling is that onlays are not put into place during your visit but rather in a dental laboratory. They will then be fitted and put into place by your dentist on your next visit.
Teeth Whitening: This is now a very common and popular procedure. Your cosmetic dentist can clean and bleach your teeth which may greatly improve your smile.
Dental Veneers: These are used to repair chips and cracks of your teeth or improve severe tooth dislocation. They can also be recommended if tooth whitening is not possible on your teeth or if you have large gaps. They are usually made from composite or porcelain laminates that are attached to the surface of a tooth.
Dental Implants: Dental implants are used to replace lost teeth. The cosmetic dentist will place artificial tooth root replacements into your mouth which will blend in naturally with your other teeth. Tooth loss can really make your face look older so dental implants will lead to an immediate facial improvement.
Composite Bonding: This is a cosmetic dental procedure that is used to fix decayed or discoloured teeth or teeth that are broken or chipped. The treatment consists of applying composite materials that have the same appearance as enamel into the affected area of the tooth. The composite is then sculpted into shape and hardened with high-intensity light.
Smile Makeover: If you are unhappy with the general appearance of your smile, your cosmetic dentist can do a complete smile makeover. Often this will be a combination of some of the above procedures to achieve the desired look.
Full reconstruction of the mouth: this is the most drastic of procedures which may be necessary to give you your desired smile. Structural problems like a over or underbite or problems with your muscles or bone structure may need to be restored. You may be referred to a dental surgeon.

Some of the best cosmetic dentists in Singapore

Smilefocus has several offices in Singapore. Services offered include: whitening, veneers, tooth bonding, white fillings, inlays, and full mouth restoration

IOSC implant and oral surgery center Singapore. Cosmetic dental services include: braces, composite bonding, crowns and bridge, inlays and onlays, veneers and teeth whitening.

Specialist Dental Group Singapore. Services include: veneers, teeth whitening and composite bonding.

T32 Dental Center Singapore. Cosmetic dental services include: teeth whitening, composite restorations, veneers, and inlays / outlays.

In conclusion

Improving your smile can be one of the easiest ways to give you a more youthful and confident appearance. With all the options available it’s certainly something you should give a try. Do let us know where you have been and your experience with the various cosmetic dentists in Singapore. You can write any comments or a review of a cosmetic dentist below.

Singapore Beauty Guide » Teeth