Bleaching

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Extrinsic darkening is caused by surface stain. Much like coffee or tea will stain the inside of a cup, dark colored foods and beverages will stain the enamel of the tooth. For the most part, these stains can be managed by brushing and flossing frequently and removed by timely visits with your dentist in Newport Beach. Once again as time goes on, the surface of the enamel can become cracked, chipped or pitted. Stain that forms in these surface defects can be impossible to remove without abrading the enamel excessively which would amplify the intrinsic darkening explained above.

Applying a bleaching agent, like peroxide, to the surface of the tooth can lighten not only the stain that managed to get below the surface but also the inherent color from within the tooth.

A stabilized peroxide compound like carbamide peroxide can be applied to the teeth by means of custom fitted trays. Exposing the teeth to this solution for 1-2 hours per day for a period of about two weeks will get teeth noticeably lighter. Bleaching beyond this point is usually much harder though possible if persistently pursued.

A more reactive form of peroxide can be used in the dental office where it can be applied to the front of the teeth while protecting the lips, tongue and gums from the harsh chemical. This method, often called laser whitening, power bleaching or Zoom, is a great way to jump start the bleaching process. One treatment session seldom gets people the change they want so it is recommended that they continue bleaching for several days with trays at home. The trays are also important for periodic touch up bleaching to continually manage the stain that gets below the surface and can’t simply be polished away.

Non vital bleaching is for teeth at home without a living pulp. Teeth die because of trauma. Sometimes the traumatic event is obvious like it is in an accident where a tooth is hit hard but often the trauma is a lifelong accumulation of micro traumatic events such as orthodontics, extreme thermocycling (sipping coffee while eating an ice cream dessert) minor accidents from sports and recreational activities and clenching or grinding your teeth. Whatever the cause, when a tooth dies the contents of the pulp chamber degenerate and the internal dentin becomes darkly stained. Bleaching from the surface is inadequate for non vital darkening.

Once a root canal procedure is performed, a very strong bleaching agent can be sealed inside the crown of the tooth and the dark intrinsic stain can be lightened over a period of about two weeks.

All of the above methods for improving the color of teeth are offered in our Newport Beach and Costa Mesa cosmetic dentist practice. Sometimes these procedures stand alone as the only treatment needed but often some combination of bleaching –vital and non-vital- is used in conjunction with cosmetic restorative dentistry to restore a beautiful smile.