Teeth whitening is the quickest pathway to a beautiful smile. And let’s face it our teeth are among the first things people notice about you. They are also the best way to make a good first impression. But for many teeth whitening costs can be an obstacle.
That explains why you are willing to consider trying products that promise you an enchanting set of whites. But, not any product will whiten your teeth. Likewise, not any product that will whiten your teeth has no side effects.
What Is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a procedure that uses bleaching agents to whiten teeth. These bleaching agents are hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Your dentist uses certain amounts of bleaching agent for a particular time to remove stains.
How Do Stains Form?
There are two main types of stains, extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are the category of stains that the public is most familiar with. It is also the category of stains that affects most people. Exposing your teeth to dark beverages like red wine, coffee and colas will stain your teeth. Also does smoking or chewing tobacco. Practicing a proper oral hygiene can only do so much. Repetitively exposing your teeth to staining factors will taint their brightness.
The only way to prevent extrinsic stains from dimming your smile is to avoid staining products. This class of stains can be removed by whitening gels.
So, we have intrinsic stains, which do not affect as much people as extrinsic stains do. But, while they may not be as widespread, they’re definitely more complex. Intrinsic stains affect the deeper layers of the tooth and are much more difficult to deal with. Which speaks about their causes. With such stubborn stains, the cause is not a common habit, a beverage or a food, its usually a bit peculiar.
Intrinsic stains are caused by certain medications, dental injuries, and fluorosis. Fluorosis refers to the frequent use of fluoride particularly during childhood. This phenomena leads to discoloration of the inner tooth structure.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening works by using specific gels that can penetrate their way to the dentin. The dentin is a layer buried underneath a thick surface of enamel. It protects the nerves underneath it and absorbs stains. So, teeth whitening gels can penetrate to this layer and interact with the stains. In other words, breaking their chemical bonds and removing them.
Contrary to popular belief, it is the dentin that gives the teeth their color and not the enamel. The enamel is translucent in color, which is why it is the dentin that is the target of teeth whitening gels.
Learn why organic methods do more harm than good in teeth whitening.
In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening in-office is the safest approach to achieving your idea of a perfect set of pearly whites without imposing a risk of permanent damage. Dentists usually utilize gels higher in hydrogen peroxide compared to at-home teeth whitening kits. They also use heat and light to catalyze the process of bleaching agents penetrating the enamel. The procedure is sixty minutes long and yields very successful results.
The results are instantaneous which is an advantage to those who have an approaching big event. Another perk would be having a professional dentist monitoring the entire process to avoid inflicting damage to your gums or teeth. Moreover, the results of professional bleaching last up to 3 years.
In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening Costs
Professional teeth whitening costs vary depending on the country. For example, professional or in-office teeth whitening ın UK costs 200 – 250 dollars. In the US, teeth whitening costs 600 – 700 dollars.
At-Home Professional Teeth Whitening
There are at-home and in-office professional teeth whitening. Not to confuse at-home teeth whitening with over-the-counter kits. Because for home, you have to speak with your dentist first. In this process, your dentist will make a personalized kit for you. The kit will include carefully fitting trays and the right mix of bleaching agents. All of the above is not present in over-the-counter kits. The at-home option takes more time and usually shows results over weeks.
At-Home Professional Teeth Whitening Costs
At-home professional teeth whitening costs around 50-100 dollars in Turkey. Whereas in the US teeth whitening costs for the same procedure can average around 400 dollars.
Teeth Whitening Kits vs Professional Teeth Whitening
Too much of anything reverses its benefits. In our case, too much of a bleaching agent will turn the tables around. The negative thing about whitening kits is that you do not have a dentist monitoring the process. Which is a risky thing. Controlling the concentration and exposure time is a very tricky aspect. And you need to be careful with it as you can give yourself permanent toothache. It allows hydrogen peroxide to penetrate to your pulp leading to pain and hyper teeth sensitivity. Also because the tray is not fitting for your mouth, it affects the gums causing them to recede.
Professional teeth whitening is more effective. For one, it works faster. Unlike at-home teeth whitening, in-office gives results in one session. But teeth whitening costs of in-office can be more than teeth whitening costs for home kits. Yet this should not be your motive.
Can Activated Charcoal Work
The short answer is yes, but once you read along you will probably reconsider using it. Alright, to start off, activated charcoal is an abrasive. This means the material acts like a rough object rubbing on a smooth surface, which will wear off the exterior layer. I guess you can guess where this is going, charcoal will eventually wear off your enamel. It will whiten your teeth first, but eventually, with the loss of your enamel your teeth we be at a much higher risk of yellowing than before.
so do they work? in the short term, yes. The long term? not at all, in fact; they will reverse their initial purpose.
The Take Away
At-home teeth whitening kits are generally safe for use. But, without the presence of a professional dentist, the exposure time can be a tricky process. Unfortunately, not managing the kit properly can lead to hypersensitive teeth and receding gums. It is safer to seek professional help and whiten your teeth with as little risk as possible.
Contact The Vera Clinic
Contact us if you have any more questions, we’ll gladly help.