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What to Expect at Your Teeth Whitening Session with a Dentist

 

You will find that a fine amount of people have tried teeth whitening. It is so easy, affordable and you can do it at home. It has some benefits such as enhancing your appearance and also boosting your self-confidence. Many people do not find it necessary to visit a North Little Rock dentist for a teeth whitening procedure. After all, it’s not like it’s a surgery to be done by expert hands. However, this notion is very wrong and misleading. A dentist will ensure that your teeth are whitened at no threat to your health. For example, did you know that you should not apply whitening substances if you have a cavity? Here are more things you will learn on your first teeth whitening appointment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis of the teeth

When you go in for teeth whitening, the doctor will do a quick survey of your teeth. He/ she will take note of any irregularities and teeth formation too. Many a dentist will take some photographs of your teeth to find the way forward to whitening your teeth. Apart from this, the dentist will try to establish the cause of the staining. The purpose of the photograph is to not only view your teeth structure, but also can be used to track the progress of the treatment. Complications such as cavities have to be treated first. This is because the bleaching solution can get into the inner part of the tooth and cause pain.

 

Procedure

The procedure for teeth whitening is very straightforward. It basically entails applying bleaching chemicals on the teeth. After the dentist finishes inspecting your teeth, the next part is whitening. The dentist will start by cleaning your teeth. This will remove any food or particles. It is usually these stuck food and the minor debris which cause staining of the teeth. The dentist will then put a piece of rubber over your gums. This will prevent your gums from being harmed by the strong bleaching agent/ chemical. When the bleaching solution has been applied, the next step is laser treatment. A laser light is used to activate the bleaching agent and get your teeth whiter. There are two types of whitening; vital and non-vital.

 

Vital whitening

This is the most common type of whitening. It involves whitening a live tooth i.e. one that hasn’t undergone root canal or still has live nerves. In this case, hydrogen peroxide products are applied on the surface of the teeth. It is very straightforward and is just the easier way of tooth whitening. Strips, gels, mouthwash/ rinse, toothpaste among others are products for vital whitening.

 

Non vital whitening

Non vital whitening is another kettle of fish. It involves a dead tooth or one that has no nerves in the pulp cavity e.g. one which has undergone root canal before. In this case, the way the bleaching solution is applied differently. The dentist will simply put some of the bleaching agent from the inside of the tooth. He/ she will then fill it with temporary material. The bleaching chemical will work slowly over a couple of weeks until the tooth is brighter.    

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