A smile is a beautiful thing. It can light up a room. It can also give confidence. A smile is considered an important part of social life. Yet, very few people have the “perfect” smile. It may be a gap between the teeth. A crooked tooth may be considered a flaw. Perhaps, it is discoloration. The teeth are dingy or stained from tea, tobacco, coffee or aging.
Whatever the cause, the perfect smile is not out of reach. It is attainable. It requires you visit the offices of a cosmetic dentist. He or she can help you discover the joys of having a beautiful smile. While an Oklahoma City cosmetic dentist can offer clients many different solutions, one of the most commonly sought is called whitening or bleaching.
What is Tooth Whitening?
Tooth whitening, or bleaching, is, as the name suggests, a means through which a dentist will make the teeth whiter than they currently are. The purpose is to remove any of the less than attractive effects of such factors as age and smoking. Whitening is also intended to remove the stains of any ingested materials such as wine, tea and coffee.
What Methods does a Cosmetic Dentist use?
Essentially, the cosmetic dentist can offer you two basic methods of teeth whitening. They are in-office and at home. Both have their supporters. Both are popular for different reasons.
1. In-Office Bleaching: This procedure takes place under the care of a cosmetic dentist. It takes place in his or her office and involves a series of steps. After an initial cleaning of the gumline and teeth, the dentist applies a strong solution of a leaching agent – peroxide-based gel, to the teeth. In the next step, the dentist shines a specialty laser light directly on the teeth. The light activates the whitening power of the peroxide gel. Overall, the process last approximately half-an-hour
2. At Home Teeth Whitening Trays and Gels: Instead of staying in the office for a treatment, the client gets to take home the means to whiten teeth. These are teeth whitening or bleaching trays. They are custom-made for each client. It ensures a proper fit. While they take longer, the effects can be as significant and complete. How long you will need to use the tray and its gels will depend upon how strong the concentration of the peroxide-based gel is. In general, an individual will need to “wear” the tray every night for at least two weeks.
In Oklahoma City, a cosmetic dentist can help you achieve your goal. When you put yourself into his or her expert hands, you can have what you have always wanted -that perfect smile.
