How is laser teeth whitening done?
Laser teeth whitening is the cheapest of the cosmetic dental treatments available. It works by extracting stain from your enamel. Whitening gel would be applied to the teeth and then worked with a laser beam. The bleaching gel is itself activated by the laser and aids in the breakdown of the surface pigments of the enamel, which are then more readily removed by the whitening agent. Whitening by as much as 7 shades can be attained with this process and give a person a painless way to get that brighter smile. Professional laser teeth whitening is done in the dentist’s office for greater safety and effectiveness one can see compared to home techniques.
What stains your teeth?
Types of stains that are bad for your teeth
Coffee: Coffee is one of the daily “villains” when it comes to tooth staining. Dark pigments in the coffee, called tannins, can cling to tooth enamel and after some time, discolor the teeth.
Tea: Just like coffee, there are tannins contained in tea that cause staining on teeth. Particularly, black tea is especially noted to strongly stain.
Red wine: The deep red color of red wine originates from a family of pigments called chromogens, highly before the enamel of the teeth and particularly adept at causing stains.
Soda: In any dark-colored sodas like colas, there exists artificial coloring, which easily can stain your teeth. In addition, elevated sugar levels in soda may cause discoloration of teeth because it feeds bad bacteria into the mouth.
Berries: Fruits like blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries have high pigmentation, which may quickly stain teeth. Their strong colors can be sticky to enamel, thereby causing staining.
Tomato sauce: The tomato sauce is acidic, with the red coloring that exists in it, causing staining on teeth. This has high acidity levels, making the enamel very weak to staining easily.
If you want to stay with a bright, white smile, limit your intake of green tea. This drink contains tannins that can turn your teeth yellow, too.
Root canal treatments: Though the root canal procedure is to treat the internal structure of the tooth, it ends up in tooth discoloration most of the time. This is because, after the treatment, the tooth becomes more porous and hence allows the stains to seep in and darken the tooth.
List of internal stubborn stains
Certain medications: A few medications, such as tetracycline antibiotics, are known to result in intrinsic discoloration of teeth. Intrinsic discolorations are then very hard to remove using the conventional teeth bleaching method.
Fluorosis: Fluorosis is the condition wherein too much fluoride is ingested during the phase of tooth development, giving the teeth an appearance of white spots or brown discoloration.
Grinding: Grinding wears down the enamel and exposes the dentin, making the teeth more yellow in appearance.
Trauma: Traumatized teeth due to a direct blow in the mouth may internally stain. This is caused because the blood vessels inside the tooth are disrupted and lead to the leakage of blood and other discoloring contents.
Genetic factors: People may have teeth that are more susceptible to staining and thus appear usually darker or more yellow.
Anterior teeth whitening treatments, and most especially laser teeth whitening, could specifically work both on extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
Professional options of teeth whitening
In-Office Procedures
Laser teeth whitening in a dental clinic is basically performed by cleaning the teeth first to remove tartar and stains. Protective goggles are provided for protection for the eyes, and then a rubber dam is placed on the teeth, protecting the soft tissues. A whitening gel is then applied by the dentist onto the teeth and later exposed under laser light. The applied gel needs to sit for 15 minutes, after which it will be washed off and the process repeated for two more times. The laser works better by accelerating the bleaching agents in the gel; teeth are up to 7 shades whiter. It’s the most powerful whitening that one can get. The normal percentage whitening gel applied is 35% hydrogen peroxide. The price charged for this application is €150 in an Ultradent brand and €200 with Zoom products.
Take-Home Kits
There are home kits for laser teeth whitening that give one the opportunity to whiten their teeth at their convenience and in the comfort of their homes. Most of the time, these involve custom-made trays that fit over the teeth and hold a whitening gel. The gel is applied onto the trays, and subsequently worn for a period of time—in some hours daily or overnight.
The whitening gel in at-home whitening kits is less potent than that used with the in-office procedure, since it does not have to be activated by a laser. Still, results can be effective; they will just take a little longer to realize. Be sure to follow instructions that come with your kit and don’t use it for a longer period than indicated. Too much time with the gel on your teeth could lead to tooth sensitivity or irritated gums.
The overall cost of take-home whitening kits would depend on the brand and the dental office or clinic offering these. The general price ranges from €100 to €400. Some dental offices may include the cost of a take-home kit as part of the overall laser teeth whitening treatment, while others charge it separately. Always consult a dentist or dental professional to determine whether take-home teeth whitening products are appropriate for your needs and to get an estimate about the cost of the professional or at-home kit.
At home teeth whitening Tirana cost varies between €100 to €180
Over-the-counter whitening products
Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpastes physically remove the surface stains of teeth by their abrasive ingredients. Normally, these toothpastes contain ingredients that could polish or chemicals which break down and then wash away food, drinks, and tobacco stains. Some whitening toothpastes will also include hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide so they can whiten the teeth at a molecular level.
While whitening toothpastes are useful in having a brighter smile and reducing surface stains, the concentration of the whitening agents is much more in professional teeth whitening treatments so that relevant results are obtained. Recent reports show that with long-term use, these whitening toothpastes could add to teeth sensitivity. The price of whitening toothpaste in Tirana is 4-6 euros.
Whitening Strips
Another over-the-counter method for whitening teeth is by the use of whitening strips. Thin, flexible strips are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel, usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. A person applies the gel directly to the teeth and leaves the strips on for some time, usually 30 minutes to an hour.
The whitening gel in the strips penetrates into a tooth enamel and breaks up the discoloration, hence leaving a person with a whiter smile. These strips are designed to stick on the teeth and hang on while this whitening gel does its thing. They are removed after the recommended time has passed and then thrown away.
You can buy them in pharmacies or shops that import cosmetic products from the USA. The prices range from $20 to $50 per kit, depending on the brand and the number of strips one package includes.
