A bright white smile appeals to us all, but how can you achieve it? The starting point is a visit to your dentist. The dentist will access the oral health of your mouth initially. It is important to have healthy teeth and gums to begin with and if there are concerns, those problems should be addressed first prior to any cosmetic treatment.
Tooth bleaching is the best way to whiten your teeth. Your dentist will check your teeth and advise you the best method to bleach and what to expect as a result.
There are two methods to bleach your teeth. First is in office bleaching. It may take one or more visits at 45 minutes to one hour to complete. A protective barrier is placed to protect the gums and a bleaching gel is applied to the teeth.
The second method is at home bleaching. On your assessment appointment moulds will be taken of your teeth to fabricate bleaching trays. On the second appointment you will be given a bleaching kit which you will use at home following the instructions given to you. The bleaching gel is placed in the bleaching trays and placed in the mouth for a number of hours each day or overnight. This is usually done for two weeks and the results are as good as the in office system. This method has some advantages. It causes less sensitivity and is more cost effective.
For those who would like a brighter smile see your dentist about teeth whitening. Terence McAlinden BSc PhD DDS, Breaffy Dental (094 902 3163 ).
