ULTRA WHITE
Not satisfied with the whiteness of your teeth? Are your choppers yellow, gray, brown, black, or dingy? Do they look like little, burnt pieces of rice sticking out of your gums? Do you crave a bright, white smile like that of Officer Francis 'Ponch' Poncherello of TV’s Chips fame, or would you prefer the smile of the celebrities that leave the professional retouching of their teeth to experts when there is a call for publicity shots and head shots of them in the annual, corporate report?
Most of us are satisfied with the greenish-gray or the semi-sparkle we get from brushing twice daily with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between our teeth once a day and the getting the regular, bi-yearly cleanings at the dentist’s office.
If you decide you would like to go beyond this ordinary maintenance and care and make your teeth virtually shine in the dark, there are a variety of products and procedures available to you. You should be warned, however, as I have seen people who have teeth so white that their teeth appear to be false. This would neutralize having gorgeous, white teeth if people thought they were false. Snow-white teeth draw attention away from the remainder of the face. If the room were dimly lit, people would only see two rows of fluorescent dentition when they looked your way.
Oh, and if you are concerned about the color of your false teeth or partial plate, bleaching is only for real teeth. The bleach will only bleach enamel.
Replacements for decayed or lost teeth have been produced since antiquity. The most common material that was used for artificial teeth was ivory harvested from elephants. Human teeth were also used, and these were taken from the dead. These teeth soon rotted, turned brown and rancid. The need for more stable material arose. In the past artificial teeth were made of metals like silver or gold. The most commonly used materials for artificial teeth today are porcelain and acrylic.
The bleaching method most widely used for teeth whitening is the use of dentist-prescribed carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide in trays used outside the dental office. Carbamide peroxide, also called urea peroxide, is an oxidizing agent, consisting of hydrogen peroxide with urea. Hydrogen peroxide has strong oxidizing properties and is a powerful bleaching agent that has found use as a disinfectant and as a fuel in rockets. Urea contains a lot of nitrogen, and is contained in fertilizers.
Peroxide-containing whiteners typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouth guard. Usage regimens vary. Some products are used for about twice a day for 2 weeks, and others are intended for overnight use for 1-2 weeks. If you buy the bleaching solution from your dentist, he or she can make a custom-fitted mouth guard for you that will fit your teeth precisely.
You also may want to speak with your dentist should any side effects become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. In many cases, this sensitivity is temporary and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Some people also experience soft tissue irritation—either from a tray that does not fit properly or from solution that may come in contact with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with your dentist.
Thomas J. Pitre
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