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Welcome
to No.1
Tooth Whitening
Company
Tooth
bleaching,
also
known as
tooth
whitening,
is a
common
procedure
in
general
dentistry
but most
especially
in the
field of
cosmetic
dentistry.
Many
people
consider
white
teeth to
be an
attractive
feature
of a
smile. A
child's
deciduous
teeth
are
generally
whiter
than the
adult
teeth
that
follow.
As a
person
ages the
adult
teeth
often
increase
in
value--that
is to
say,
they
become
darker.
This
darkening
is due
to
changes
in the
mineral
structure
of the
tooth,
as the
enamel
becomes
less
porous.
Teeth
can also
become
stained
by
bacterial
pigments,
foodstuffs
and
tobacco.
As white
teeth
are
subconsciously
associated
with
youth,
they
have
become
desirable.
This has
been
made
more
apparent
with the
spread
of
American
culture
worldwide,
where an
especially
white
smile is
coined a
"Hollywood
smile".
The
procedure
to
bleach
teeth
uses
oxidising
agents
such as
hydrogen
peroxide
or
carbamide
peroxide
to
lighten
the
shade of
the
tooth.
The
oxidising
agent
penetrates
the
porosities
in the
rod-like
crystal
structure
of
enamel
and
oxidises
interprismatic
stain
deposits;
over a
period
of time,
the
dentine
layer,
lying
underneath
the
enamel,
is also
bleached.
There
are two
main
methods
of
bleaching.
The
first
involves
applying
a high
concentration
of
oxidising
agent
for a
short
period
of time,
which is
the
so-called
office
bleach.
This
produces
quick
results
but
risks
chemical
burns to
the soft
tissues.
Therefore,
most
in-office
bleaching
procedures
use a
light-cured
protective
layer
that is
carefully
painted
on the
gums and
papilla
(the
tips of
the gums
between
the
teeth).
The
bleaching
agent is
either
carbamide
peroxide,
which
breaks
down in
the
mouth to
form
hydrogen
peroxide,
or
hydrogen
peroxide
itself.
The
bleaching
gel
typically
contains
up to
35%
hydrogen
peroxide
equivalent.
The
alternative
method
involves
using a
thin
mouthguard
or strip
to hold
a low
concentration
of
oxidising
agent
next to
the
teeth
for as
long as
several
hours a
day for
a period
of 5 to
14 days.
This is
known as
take-home
or
over-the-counter
bleaching.
This is
a slower
process
but has
fewer
risks to
the soft
tissues.
The
bleaching
agent is
typically
less
than 10%
hydrogen
peroxide
equivalent.
A
typical
course
of
bleaching
can
produce
dramatic
improvements
in the
cosmetic
appearance
of most
stained
teeth;
however,
some
stains
do not
respond
to
bleaching.
Tetracycline
staining
may
require
prolonged
bleaching,
as it
takes
longer
for the
bleach
to reach
the
dentine
layer.
White-spot
decalcifications
may also
be
highlighted
and
become
more
noticeable.
Recently,
efforts
have
been
made to
accelerate
the
bleaching
process
by the
use of
light.
Studies
have
shown
varying
results
as to
the
efficacy
of
light-activated
bleaching.
Side
effects
of tooth
bleaching
include:
chemical
burns.
Rebound,
or teeth
losing
the
bleached
effect
and
darkening,
is also
an
issue,
with
some
studies
showing
the
rebound
effect
over 30
days. A
recent
study by
Kugel et
al has
shown
that as
much as
4 shades
of
lightness
can be
lost
over 30
days
with
light-activated/office
bleaching.