Think Japanese cherry blossoms; falling snow; wedding gowns; cotton fields. The classic, ethereal feel of white. Clean, pure, serene. These days, people want whiter skin, but not hair. And now, the teeth. Laser teeth whitening has become Hollywood’s new battle gear.
Laser teeth whitening is a procedure that aims to whiten teeth using the dentist’s signature machine that emits blue light (laser). A layer of whitening solution (usually sated with hydrogen peroxide; at times, phosphoric acid) is applied on the enamels and “cooked” by the laser. Usually, the solution is applied only on the teeth within the smile line and angle of the mouth because this is what’s visible and the molars could be out of the picture.
The teeth usually involved are the frontliners: the incisors (4), canines (2) and premolars (4). These are the first eight or ten (per arch) – a smile’s varsity team. The count reaches ten if the patient is wide-mouthed and has a smile line that opens up almost to the molar area. Basically, the norm would just extend to the first premolar; hence, the count of just eight.
The primary reason for patients wanting to have their teeth whitened is due to esthetics. Despite the yellowish hue being pretty normal and a sign of strength, people are just so enamored by anything white. Yellowish teeth are actually stronger because it denotes a stronger and healthier dentin, which is the second layer of the tooth. It makes the teeth off white because it radiates through the enamel’s opacity. But if you were to ask a patient – strength or white – you would get a hands down answer.
Stains are the prime suspects. Smoking and certain medications, coffee, tea, soda and other colored drinks leave their marks on the tooth enamel. Chronic drinkers of the mentioned beverages would well manifest discoloration.
As in the case of medications, tetracycline is a particularly potent drug when it comes to stains. Mothers who have taken this during their pregnancy would render their babies’ dentitions compromised and discolored. However, this is a permanent condition and cannot be answered by mere whitening. More invasive procedures such as veneers and laminates would be necessary.
The chief advantage of laser teeth whitening is already obvious. It makes your teeth look pretty. Your smile sparkles. It improves the overall appearance. It gives you that certain charm and confidence. It makes one feel beautiful.
The main disadvantage, however, is a bit alarming. It has an adverse effect on strength. The solution used is composed of acids that compromise the structure of enamel. Just imagine a chalk being submerged in water. Eventually, it dissolves and softens a once solid structure. A more than regular teeth whitening appointment because of being too vain is not a good practice.
Laser tooth whitening, on the other hand, takes the approach individually. Patients may opt for this alternative if they are fairly satisfied with their teeth color and only want a specific tooth to be whitened. Take the case of the canine or cuspid. The canines particularly have a deeper yellow hue because of the bulk of its dentin. Among all teeth, they have the thickest dentin; hence, the color.
Laser tooth whitening can also be applicable for an endodontically treated tooth (tooth that has undergone root canal therapy). This procedure removes the nerves responsible for making teeth vital or “alive.” Removing the nerves would render a tooth “dead,” which would explain for the resultant grayish shade a few years after the endodontic procedure.
However, the chronics should eliminate this from their list. Laser teeth whitening would just be a waste of time, money and effort if one smokes four packs of cigarettes on a daily basis or drinks coffee more than regularly. It would totally defeat the purpose. They might enjoy the magic of a white smile for only a few days.
For laser teeth whitening to be as successful as any treatment, observe and follow post-operative care instructions religiously. Quit the cigarette. Stash the soda. Establish self control and discipline. If one is pious enough, then there’s no reason why you can’t have that million dollar Hollywood smile. One that is perhaps enough to rock the socks off the one who starred in Mona Lisa Smile.
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