tooth whitening procedures and dental insurance

Efficient and Effective Use of Teeth Whitening Trays

Teeth whitening products and procedures are not new to us. The whitening toothpastes available in the market for years now promise a brighter, whiter, warmer smile to their customers. In the last few years, tooth whitening products have been witnessing a boom as the people have become more conscious of the way they look and smile.

Tray based teeth whitening system:

Tray based tooth whitening procedures are very common among teeth whitening procedures. Tray based teeth whitening system consists of a tray, which is flexible enough to be fitted to the teeth of the person who is undergoing the treatment. The tray is designed to hold a bleaching agent closer to the teeth and for some period of time. There are two kinds of tray-based teeth whitening systems available. One is the dentist-assisted method and the other can be used at home by the person who is trying it.

Teeth whitening procedure is ideal for those who have healthy gums and unrestored teeth with no fillings. Yellowish tinted teeth respond very well to the teeth whitening procedures. There are many kinds of bleaching agents, which are used in the teeth whitening products. The most common whitening product recommended by dental professionals is a 10-20 percent carbamide peroxide solution since it is a viscous gel which clings to the teeth very well. Better results are achieved if the bleaching agent has good contact with the teeth. The duration of the tray to be worn by the patients depends on the desired level of bleaching required and the degree of staining. Even though it is considered to be an uncomfortable procedure, the results got are excellent.

Many over the counter tray whitening systems use hydrogen peroxide in the place of carbamide peroxide. Even though hydrogen peroxide is safer to use, bleaching is not achieved quickly as it takes several sessions a day continuously for several weeks to get the desired results.

Efficient and effective use of teeth whitening trays:

The teeth whitening tray should fit the mouth and teeth size properly to get desired results. Since bleaching of artificial dental works like bonds, caps, bridges, fillings etc does not happen, the dentist will be the person to decide either to replace the artificial piece with the teeth of the same color after the whitening treatment or not.

It is good to be away from generic trays. Not only these trays cause several undesirable effects, but also do not fit the mouth properly. When the tray base whitening system does not fit the teeth properly, it will lead to swallowing of the bleaching gel or can cause injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth. Some trays may come with bleaching agents that are ineffective, or acidic or even toxic. Hence care should to be taken while using such products.

Before applying the whitening tray, it is good to clean, floss and brushes the teeth as the bleaching gel works very well and quickly if the teeth are clean. The teeth whitening tray can be used while sleeping to get a maximum effect. If it’s applied during daytime, it hinders the speech.

About the Author:

S. Geetha regularly writes informative articles on dentistry, tooth whitening procedures and dental insurance to web guides http://www.dentalcareonline.info and http://www.healthfriendly.info

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/efficient-and-effective-use-of-teeth-whitening-trays-223827.html

Free Teeth Whitening

Ok I still get emails asking about free teeth whitening. Honestly I think most people can afford $36 dollars for teeth whitening from the best teeth whitening product company. It works fast and it works well.

However for those of you that want free I have two tips.

1. Many dentists offer free teeth whitening to new patients as a way to encourage new business. Take a look online or in the local valpak coupons and you are sure to find one of these offers. If you have dental insurance the cost of your exam, x-rays and cleaning should be covered and bingo ...free teeth whitening.

2. Ok this is not exactly free but almost. I once had a patient with really white teeth. After being a dentist for 20 years I can tell who whitens their teeth easily. I asked this guy what brand of whitener he was using. He grinned and said "Well every morning when I get into the shower I take a sqig of hydrogen peroxide and I swish it back and forth in my mouthduring the 4 or so minutes I am taking a shower. I 've been doing it for about 5 years now!" This guys teeth were really white so I know one person it works for. Disclaimer: Hydrogen peroxide is a potential carcinogen to gum tissues and tastes horrible as well.

Do teeth whiteners damage existing dental restorations?

Teeth Whitening FAQ's

Teeth Whitening is not permanent. People who expose their teeth to a lot of foods and beverages that cause staining may see the whiteness start to fade in as little as 1 month. Those who avoid foods and beverages that stain may be able to wait one year or longer before another whitening treatment or touch-up is needed.

Tips for maintaining your newly whitened teeth include:

* Avoiding the consumption of or exposure to products that stain your teeth (see first question in this document on what causes teeth to become stained). If you do choose to consume beverages that stain, consider using a straw so that the liquid bypasses your front teeth.
* Brush or rinse immediately after consuming stain-causing beverages or foods.
* Follow good oral hygiene practices. Brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss at least once daily to remove plaque. Use a whitening toothpaste (once or twice a week only) to remove surface stains and prevent yellowing. Use a regular toothpaste the rest of the time.
* Consider touch-up treatments. Depending on the whitening method used, you may need a tough-up every 6 months or after a year or two. If you smoke or drink lots of stain-causing beverages, you may need a touch up more often.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does insurance cover the cost of whitening procedures? No. Dental insurance does not typically cost the cost of the tooth whitening procedure.

Do teeth whiteners damage tooth enamel? Studies of whitening products using 10% carbamide peroxide showed little to no effect on the hardness or mineral content of a tooth's enamel surface.

Do teeth whiteners damage existing dental restorations? Over 10 years of clinical use of whitening products containing 10% carbamide peroxide have not shown any damage to existing fillings. The issue is not "damage" to existing restorations; rather, keep in mind that existing restorations such as tooth-colored fillings, crowns, bonding, veneers, and bridges do not lighten. This means that any preexisting dental work may need to be replaced to match the new tooth shade achieved in the natural teeth, should a bleaching process proceed.

Do teeth whiteners damage a tooth's nerve? There's no evidence to date that the tooth whitening process has a harmful effect on the health of a tooth's nerve. One study reported that at both a 4.5 and 7-year follow up, no individual who used a tooth whitening system needed a root canal procedure on any teeth that had been whitened.

tooth bleaching process

Turn off the Light on Teeth Whitening

Norwegian scientists have demonstrated that light sources often used as part of the tooth bleaching process do not contribute to the effectiveness of the process and may pose possible health risks.

Tooth bleaching is becoming a popular way to remove stains on the teeth caused by smoking, red wine, tea and coffee, in an attempt to achieve a Hollywood smile. The process used by dentists to bleach teeth involves applying an oxidising agent to the teeth and in some cases a light source is then shone onto the teeth.

UV-illuminated teeth Tooth bleaching is becoming a popular way to remove stains on the teeth caused by smoking, red wine, tea and coffee.

Ellen Bruzell from the Nordic Institute of Dental Materials, Haslum, and colleagues, measured the effectiveness of teeth bleaching using seven different commercially available products, with and without using light sources. The claim that light-assisted tooth bleaching is more efficient than ordinary bleaching has not been substantiated in the literature, explains Bruzell. She says that they found a 'lack of additional whitening effect when light is used compared to bleaching without light'.

The team also demonstrated that for the majority of the light sources tested, the amount of radiation a person is exposed to during the bleaching process poses a risk of damage to the skin and eyes if proper protection is not used. Thomas Attin, an expert in preventative and restorative dentistry from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, comments that this study is very interesting and says that 'the aspect that the light sources used for bleaching may cause some risks (not only to the teeth) is new.'

Bruzell also found an increase in exposed perichymata (grooves on the surface of the tooth enamel) on the bleached teeth compared to unbleached control teeth, showing that the tooth bleaching process removes part of the pellicle that covers the enamel's surface, making the teeth more vulnerable to mechanical stress.

Bruzell says she is now carrying out a study on the effectiveness of first time tooth bleaching. Future work may also include investigating the effects of optical radiation on oral tissue and looking into the adverse effects of repetitive tooth bleaching, she adds.

Alexandra Haywood