Unhappy with the colour of your teeth? A desire for brighter, whiter teeth is much more common than you think. Lifestyle, habits, and diet all contribute to the colour of your teeth. Dr. Pasha and his team are ready to help return your smile to its former, brighter self.
Natural teeth are a combination of colours ranging across the yellow/orange and brown/grey spectra. The true colour of your teeth is quite complex, with different effects and levels of translucency in each tooth.
Saturation also plays a role, with the degree of the saturation of each tooth dependent on factors like dietary habits, genetics, and antibiotic use in early years.
Teeth stains can be categorized as external or internal. External stains are attached to the tooth’s surface and can be removed by brushing or polishing. Internal stains change the tooth’s inherent colour, making it appear darker, more yellow or grey.
These two terms have been used interchangeably for some time, causing confusion about which method or products to use.
Teeth whitening is generally referred to as the removal of external stains on the tooth, either by polishing or abrasive agents, to restore the tooth’s original colour.
Bleaching uses hydrogen peroxide to change the inherent colour of the tooth from the inside, i.e. the internal colour of the dentin.
Dentin is the inner layer of the tooth. Dentin can change colour over time depending on lifestyle, habits, and dietary preferences.
Not all teeth respond to bleaching in the same way. Many factors can affect a tooth’s ability to change colour by means of bleaching.
Teeth with grey/brown stains tend to require more prolonged bleaching periods and multiple rounds of treatment, while teeth with more yellowish colours will respond better. But there are some situations where teeth don’t respond to bleaching at all.
In some cases, a single tooth may change colour due to deterioration of the nerve from trauma or other factors. Typically these teeth have had root canal treatments, and will darken faster than the rest of the dentition. These teeth can be bleached with a process called non-vital bleaching. The process involves applying a bleaching product within the chamber of the tooth. The product remains within the tooth for a designated period of time to bleach the tooth from inside. For patients who have root canals in the front teeth, this is a very important step for successful teeth whitening results.
There are two different ways to bleach teeth: at home treatments or in office treatments.
At-Home
Dr. Pasha creates custom fabricated bleaching trays for you, and provides a bleaching gel based on your specific needs. For optimal results you will wear your custom made, bleaching gel-filled trays daily for 3-4 weeks.
In-Office
This method involves a bleaching appointment at the Wellington Aurora Dental office. At the appointment, the patient’s lips and gums are isolated and protected. Once lips and gums are protected, a higher concentration of bleaching product is directly applied to the teeth. Typically the product stays on your teeth for 20 minutes. This process is usually repeated 2 or 3 times in one appointment.
How long your whitening results last depends on the current nature of your teeth as well as lifestyle and dietary habits.
Yes. During treatment some patients may experience temporary cold sensitivity on their teeth. This can occur if too high of a concentration is chosen or if the material is left in the mouth longer than recommended.
If you experience any teeth sensitivity after a bleaching treatment, please contact us so we can adjust the concentration and provide you with proper guidance.
To learn more about teeth whitening, visit Dr. Pasha’s Cosmetic Insights or Procedures Insights. Additionally, Dr. Pasha would be happy to discuss your personal teeth whitening goals at your next appointment. Book a consultation here.
