Whether you’re Hispanic, African American, Asian, or any other ethnic background that could include dark pigmentation of the gums, you’ve probably thought about ways to get rid of it. At some point in your life, you may have even given serious thought to trying gum bleaching. After all, why wouldn’t you want to get rid of something that makes your smile look less attractive? But those who tried would end up with stained teeth and receding gum lines as the rest of their gums melted away along with the melanocytes (which produce pigment-causing…).
If you want your Teeth Whitened And Don’t Mind Enduring Some Pain, Laser Whitening May Be For You.
Laser whitening is a new and improved method for bleaching teeth. The laser breaks down the stains found on tooth surfaces, which allows your dentist to lighten the color of your teeth in as little as one quick session. The procedure can be done with or without local anesthesia depending on how much pain you want to endure. This is a great option for people who want whiter teeth but don’t want to put up with the pain that gum bleaching often causes.
Today’s Bleaching Process Is Safer And Less Time-Consuming Than It Was Years Ago.
We all know that teeth can darken with age and from things like coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, and smoking. But sometimes they change color more dramatically because of our ethnicity. This is because there are pigments in the gums that produce brown or black melanin. Ethnic pigmentation will cause the teeth to turn a yellowish-brown color; it’s completely harmless. Historically dentists have tried to remove gum pigmentation with bleaching techniques that were not only painful but time-consuming as well. Today’s process is faster and less invasive thanks to laser dentistry. The dentist will use a laser to selectively target and destroy the cells where pigment is produced while leaving the healthy tissue intact. Once treatment is complete, your teeth will be whiter than ever before!
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First, Your Dentist Will Have You Remove Any Bridgework Or Crowns From Your Teeth.
When a person’s teeth darken, it is usually because of the pigments that are naturally present in the tissue. Most dental professionals will recommend a bleaching treatment if you are bothered by how your teeth look. This can be done either in-office or at home depending on what your dentist recommends. In-office treatments generally take less time than home treatments, but they can be more expensive and require more visits to the dentist.
The Next Step Usually Involves Applying A Substance Containing Hydrogen Peroxide To Your Gums.
In order to achieve this, the dentist will usually make a small incision in your gums and place a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide inside it. They will then secure it in place with a band or adhesive strip. The dentist may also use a rubber dam, which is a small device that’s placed over your teeth to keep them dry during the procedure. This allows for better visibility and less chance of you biting down on any stray cotton balls!
Next Up Is Painting Strips Of Cloth With A Compound Containing Carbamide Peroxide On Them.
After the strips are painted, they are dried and wrapped around the tooth. The tooth then needs to be soaked in water for about 45 minutes before the strip is removed. The carbamide peroxide bleaches out stains, which can make teeth seem whiter. However, not all stains can be treated with this method and it can take up to four treatments before visible results are seen.
After That Step, Mouth Trays Filled With A Bleaching Gel Get Applied Over The Cloth Strips.
The mouth trays filled with a bleaching gel get applied over the cloth strips, which are then covered with a suction device for about half an hour. The dentist would repeat this process two to four times before removing the trays and cloths to inspect the results. Dentists who wanted quicker results would add another layer of bleaching gel, cover it with a new set of mouth trays and repeat the process again; sometimes as many as six to eight times in one session.
