Tooth whitening techniques

Tooth Whitening
The number of Americans on a quest for whiter teeth has skyrocketed over the last few years. A recent survey found that 80 percent of adults aged 18 to 49 said that they would like to have whiter, bright teeth. Over the past five years, the demand for tooth whitening has increased by more than 300 percent. New technology is being perfected to meet that demand.

In the past, tooth whitening products consisted of mild abrasives and detergents that were designed to scour the teeth and remove stains from the surface. Today, professional tooth whitening techniques go to work on the tooth structure itself, using peroxide to oxidize and decolorize gray and yellow tooth pigments.

The oldest method of tooth whitening at home is the "nightguard" technique. A custom-fitted plastic mold is filled with a 3 percent peroxide solution that stays on the teeth overnight. Results are often mixed. Some teeth that are gray or grayish brown do not lighten as well as those that are yellow or yellowish brown. Stains caused by tobacco smoke, coffee, and red wine also require more time to lighten. The effects are always temporary.

At the dentist's office, a single treatment with a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, coupled with a special light or laser, offers accelerated tooth whitening.

Consumers should note that tooth whitening techniques do not change the color of crowns, caps, or fillings. If these dental restorations are visible, the teeth will appear two-tone.

Oral disease has a substantial social and economic impact .on America. Children lose more than 51 million school hours yearly to dental-related illness. Employed adults lose more than 164 million hours of work yearly as a result of dental disease or dental visits.

Tooth Whitening
(*Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2000. Oral Health in America.)