Teeth whitening refers to restoring a tooth’s surface color by removing dirt and debris. Teeth whitening is a not a permanent solution for whiter teeth and requires maintenance and possible touch-ups.
In-office whitening uses a relatively high-concentration peroxide gel, applied to the teeth by the dentist or trained technician after the gums have been protected with a paint-on rubber dam. Generally, the peroxide remains on the teeth for several 15 to 20 minute intervals. Patients with stubborn stains may be advised to return for one or more additional bleaching sessions, or may be asked to continue with a home-use whitening system.
Take-home kits have a lower-concentration peroxide gel that remains on the teeth for an hour or longer. The lower the peroxide percentage, the longer it may safely remain on the teeth. The gel is applied to the teeth using custom-made bleaching trays.
Over-the-counter teeth whitening systems have a lower concentration bleaching gel than those offered by Dr. Ellenberg's office. The gel is applied to the teeth via non-customized dental trays, whitening strips or paint-on applicators. In many cases this dental whitening system may only whiten a few of the front teeth.
Over many years, tooth enamel is worn down, due to the effects of chewing and acidity caused by sugar. As the tooth enamel wears down, the tooth becomes more transparent, and the yellow color of dentin (the tooth’s core material) show’s through.
There are two types of tooth stains:
Extrinsic tooth stains
Extrinsic tooth stains are those that appear on the surface of the teeth as a result of dark-colored beverages (such as coffee, tea, and cola), foods, tobacco, and routine wear and tear. Extrinsic stains can be removed with brushing, and dental cleaning. Stubborn extrinsic stains can be removed with teeth bleaching. Persistent extrinsic stains can penetrate into the dentin and become ingrained if they are not dealt with.
Intrinsic stains
Intrinsic dental stains form on the teeth’s interior. Intrinsic stains result from trauma, aging, exposure to minerals during tooth formation and excessive ingestion of fluoride. Deep-set intrinsic stains can be removed with supervised take-home teeth whitening that is maintained over a matter of months or even a year.
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