LIGHTENING - BLEACHING
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A beautiful smile, with stain-free, shapely teeth can be one of your greatest assets. Feel free to discuss one or both of the following techniques with your dentist. We would be delighted to help make you smile!
At Dentists' Office of the Hudson Valley we recognize the really big difference in appearance that a bright smile gives you. Although regular brushing and cleanings will help to keep your teeth as white as they can be, "routine maintenance" and in-office professional cleaning may not be sufficient to lighten discoloration caused by such things as food, coffee, tobacco, and aging. Over-the-counter toothpaste whiteners won't give you the whitest possible smile. Only your dentist can!
We have researched the products available on the market and have selected the DAY WHITE™ and NITE WHITE™ Tooth Whitening Systems. We have found them to be both safe and effective.
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| Aging Teeth BEFORE | Aging Teeth AFTER |
DAY WHITE™ offers a lightening and bleaching system which you can use in the comfort and convenience of home (one-half to three quarters of an hour, twice a day). Most of our users see immediate results.
NITE WHITE™ is a new tooth-bleaching system that is a vast improvement over former whitening techniques and, unequivocally works better than the glorified whitening toothpastes available over-the-counter. It is more effective, better tasting, and can be used while you sleep. NITE WHITE™ is a clear, peppermint cream or wild cherry-flavored, viscous gel. It is five percent, ten percent, sixteen percent or twenty-two percent carbamide peroxide with a pH of 6.9. Carbamide peroxide has been FDA approved for many years as an oral antiseptic, but has only recently been used for its tooth-whitening capabilities. Former methods of tooth bleaching had to be performed in the dental office and used caustic solutions and intense heat. NITE WHITE™ utilizes a mild solution which is dispensed to patients by a dentist, but is applied by the patient outside the office using a thin mouth-guard tray that is worn at night.
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| Smoker's Teeth Before | Smoker's Teeth AFTER |
What is tooth whitening?
It's actually a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentin. The system uses a mild solution retained in a custom-fitted appliance that is worn over your teeth while you sleep.
What causes tooth discoloration?
There are many causes. The most common include aging, consumption of staining substances (coffee, tea, colas, tobacco) trauma, tetracycline (an antibiotic) staining, excessive fluoride, nerve degeneration, and old restorations.
Who may benefit from tooth whitening?
Almost everyone. However, there are some cases where the treatment may not be effective. Through a thorough oral examination and diagnosis, your dentist will determine whether you are a viable candidate for the process. The tooth-lightening system is ideal for patients who have healthy, unrestored teeth and would like to have a whiter, brighter smile.
Why is the NITE WHITE tm process unique?
You can whiten your teeth comfortably and effectively, in private, while you sleep or for a few hours during the day.
Is the process safe?
Research indicates that whitening teeth with carbamide peroxide under the supervision of a dentist is safe for teeth and gums.
How does it work?
The NITE WHITE tm gel is placed in a thin bleaching tray that fits over your teeth. As the active ingredient in the gel, carbamide peroxide, is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin and bleaches the colored substances. The structure of the tooth is not changed; only the tooth color is made lighter.
The NITE WHITE tm process:
1) During your diagnostic visit, your dentist will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth. These will allow your dentist to make custom gel-holding appliances called bleaching trays.
2) In your second visit, you will be fitted with the trays. You will also be given the NITE WHITE tm gel and specific instructions on how to administer it and how often to wear your trays.
3) Follow the take-home directions and those of your dentist, continuing to maintain proper oral hygiene through brushing and flossing. Maximum aesthetic results will be obtained in most cases two weeks after following the specified instructions.
Are there any side effects?
Some people experience increased tooth sensitivity to cold during the treatment. Others have reported temporary discomfort, such as gum or tooth sensitivity. Those symptoms always disappear within 1-3 days after interruption or completion of the treatment.
How long do the results last?
The teeth will always be lighter than they were. However, some patients may need periodic re-bleaching for one or two nights every four to six to twelve months.
Ask Your Dentist or Hygienist If You Can Benefit from these New Product
Our thanks to DISCUS DENTAL for the use of these images and textual information.
