Teeth whitening options
Did you know there’s more than one way to lighten the shade of your dental enamel? Let’s go through our techniques for teeth whitening Ormskirk and how they work.
There are many reasons why teeth become stained, some of them are caused by external forces or by genetic conditions. The cause of staining is split into two broad categories extrinsic and intrinsic staining.
Extrinsic staining
Extrinsic staining is caused by substances or materials closely adhering themselves to the outside of the enamel much like the way paint alters the colour of a wall. These stains are only stuck to the outer surface of the tooth.
Intrinsic staining
Intrinsic staining is an alteration in the colour of the tooth that is derived from a change in the enamel itself, not just an outer layer. One of the most famous examples is fluorosis where excess fluoride in the bloodstream is laid down in the enamel-altering its shade and making it appear a dark brown or grey.
Chemical lightening
We often perform chemical teeth whitening Ormskirk. This uses a peroxide based oxidizing bleach in a gel suspension. By having the whitening solution in a thick gel suspension, we can better control where it is applied, keeping it on the enamel and away from delicate gum tissue.
Chemical lighting is available both in the clinic and as an at home kit, but they are quite different. The concentration of the active ingredient in home kits is restricted. This makes them safer to use and appropriate for overnight treatment, but it does significantly reduce the speed at which your enamel shade can be altered. Some patients prefer a gradual, subtle decrease in tooth shade over a radical change. The custom trays that we will make for you go a long way to increasing home kits effectiveness. By keeping the active ingredient where it is needed and ensuring comfort for night-time use.
Abrasion
Abrasion alters the tooth shade by removing any material from the tooth’s surface; it is a more in-depth version of the scale and polish, where a small quantity of the original enamel is deliberately removed. This is usually no more than a micron in order to leave an extremely smooth and bright finish.
If it is not performed cautiously, the procedure is inherently destructive and will result in damaging the patient’s enamel, potentially leaving them exposed to cavities and tooth sensitivity in the future. So it has to be performed in the clinic.
Power whitening in clinic
Through the use of high concentration UV activated gel and dental dams our teeth whitening Ormskirk is one of the fastest and most effective techniques available. If you require treatment fast with immediate results, it is the perfect precursor to big events like important public speaking or a wedding.
Rapid whitening can dehydrate teeth and create temporary dental sensitivity. If you already suffer from dental sensitivity or thin dental enamel, slower lightning treatments are recommended.
If you have any questions about dental lightning or wish to see if it would be effective for you please feel free to get in contact with the clinic. We have started to offer virtual consultations and intend to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.