Cosmetic Surgery & Beauty Magazine #70

feature
Teeth
whitening
In the blossoming world of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening
reigns supreme as arguably the most commonly recommended
procedure. Teeth are often stained from poor oral hygiene or
smoking, food, coffee, tea or red wine. Bleaching the teeth can
enhance the appearance of your smile.
Universally valued by men and women alike, whitening (or
bleaching) treatments are available to appeal to every budget and
time frame. Whether in the form of one-hour bleaching sessions
at your dentist’s office, or at-home bleaching kits, teeth whitening
solutions abound. Virtually everyone who opts for this cosmetic
treatment will see moderate to substantial improvement in the
brightness and whiteness of their smile. However, teeth whitening
is not a permanent solution and requires maintenance and repeat
treatments for a prolonged effect.
There are three types of teeth whitening techniques to choose
from: pure laser, kick-start laser and at-home kits. The pure laser
technique is a quick fix to whiten teeth. It involves laser beams or
light emitting wavelengths to provide an intense light that activates
a whitening agent made from carbamide peroxide or hydrogen
peroxide pasted onto the enamel of the tooth. This chemical
reaction lifts the stain out of the enamel and is then washed away
by the dentist. It takes about one-and-a-half hours and needs
topping up once every three to six months.
With the second method, a mould of the teeth is taken by the
dentist and a mouth guard made to exact specifications. The
patient wears the mouthguard filled with a whitening gel made from
carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide of professional strength.
‘Kick start’ laser beams, or light emitting wavelengths, activate the
gel pasted onto the enamel of the tooth. Two appointments, two
weeks apart offer results of three to six months.
At-home teeth whitening can be in the form of a mouthguard
filled with whitening gel or whitening strips. Both do not harm the
teeth but slightly change the composition of the dentine – the
part of a tooth that is hard, contains calcium and lies underneath
the enamel – making it appear whiter. Results last between three
and six months. Typically the home-use whitening products can’t
achieve the bleaching effect from the dentist’s office, but it’s a
good alternative for more superficial staining.
Dental
Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth root
replacements that are used as a part of
prosthetic (artificial replacement) dentistry to
compensate for tooth loss. Often the result is
not only an enhanced smile, but also a more
youthful appearance, since missing teeth
cause the face to collapse and make you look
older than you actually are.
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