This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Dubvit2012 (talk | contribs) at 21:32, 5 November 2013 (←Created page with 'Laser teeth whitening is a treatment which cosmetically whitens teeth for aesthetic reasons. It differs from teeth bleaching in that it does not necessarily rely...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 21:32, 5 November 2013 by Dubvit2012 (talk | contribs) (←Created page with 'Laser teeth whitening is a treatment which cosmetically whitens teeth for aesthetic reasons. It differs from teeth bleaching in that it does not necessarily rely...')(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Laser teeth whitening is a treatment which cosmetically whitens teeth for aesthetic reasons. It differs from teeth bleaching in that it does not necessarily rely on the use of peroxide to whiten teeth. Typically laser teeth whitening is offered by teeth whitening clinicians and dentists.
Teeth turn a whiter shade when hydrogen peroxide or nonperoxide whitening material penetrates the enemal and into the dentin. The whitening process is accelerated with the use of low intensity heat or sometimes by a high intensity curing light or a laser.
Today the most commonly used materials are sodium perborate, hydrogen peroxide and non-hydrogen peroxide systems that contain sodium chloride, oxygen and flouride.
During the laser teeth whitening process, the client is seated in a chair. A gel which contains either hydrogen peroxide or a non peroxide based product, is applied to the teeth. A cold filtered LED laser light is then placed over the teeth. At 15 - 20 minute intervals the gel is removed and fresh gel is applied. This is important as the gels usually have a life of just 20 minutes once they are exposed to oxygen. For maximum results, laser teeth whitening normally consists of three twenty minute treatments. Most clinicians will recommend that the client has been to visit their dentist in the past 6 - 12 months to ensure teeth are in good health and free of plaque.
Normally the colour of the teeth is recorded using a scale chart before and after the treatment. This is the most scientific way of measuring the shade difference achieved. Photographs are unreliable as they can appear different depending on light and shadow.
Laser Teeth Whitening EU Regulations
In October 2012, European laws changed to help regulate the use of peroxide by dentists and teeth whitening clinics. This came about due to the large amount of patients who reported sensitivity during and after teeth whitening treatment at their dentists. According to EU law from 2012, the legal use of peroxide for the purposes of teeth whitening is 6% with a recommendation of 0% for non dentists. The latest teeth whitening methods use no peroxide but instead they use a compound known as Sodium Perborate which has the same effects of peroxide without causing acidity, dehydration and sensitivity.
Aftercare for Laser Teeth Whitening
After teeth whitening dark food and drinks should be avoided. Consumption of white foods such as cheese, bread, rice, pasta and potatoes is recommended for 24 hours. This ensures that stains are not absorbed into the teeth until they have remineralised. White spots may appear on the teeth after treatment. This is normal and will typically go away or become less visable after several days. The reason for "spotting" is due to florosis. The spots becomes more apparent as the stains are removed.
- Phinney et all, Donna J (2012). Dental Assisting: A Comprehensive Approach, 4th ed. Cengage Learning. p. 764.
{{cite book}}: More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help) - Flannery, Frances. "EU Regulations Teeth Whitening".
- Olitsky DMD, Colleen (2011). The Naked Tooth: What Cosmetic Dentists Don't Want You to Know. Texas, USA: Green Leaf Book Group Press. p. 61.