In a layman’s term, whitening is the process of making the teeth to appear whiter. Although whitening is commonly administered by dentists in their clinics, there are also teeth whitening products available for home use like whitening toothpastes. A whitening product can bleach (this product contains peroxide) the tooth by removing surface and deep stains while non-bleaching formula like whitening toothpaste only works by physical or chemical reaction that helps remove surface stains.

Consider bleaching products or peroxide-containing whiteners, these available products either dentist-dispensed or over-the-counter (OTC) for home use are bearing ADA Seal of Acceptance. It contains 10% carbamide peroxide just like the other products in this category. Carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea in a water-based solution.

Hydrogen peroxide becomes the active bleaching agent. There are other peroxide ingredients that contain tooth whiteners and the list includes glycerin, carbopol, sodium hydroxide, and flavoring agents. According to clinical studies, 10% carbamide peroxide is safe and effective tooth-whitening agent. However, there are temporary side effects that may occur during treatment process like tooth sensitivity (often occurs during early stages of bleaching) and occasional irritation of oral mucosa or soft tissues in the mouth (often caused by ill-fitting tray). Both of these side effects may stop after treatment. The bleaching product for home use treatment procedure usually lasts for two to four weeks.

There is also this professionally applied bleaching agent that contains 15-35% hydrogen peroxide and is sometimes being applied with a light or laser to activate the whitening process. Before the application of such product, gum tissues are being protected using a protective gel or a rubber dam. Unlike home use products, the professionally applied whitener is faster to apply. Usually, the procedure lasts for only an hour. The most common side effects observed for this product are similar to the side effects of carbamide peroxide: temporary tooth sensitivity and occasional irritation of oral tissues. Irreversible tooth damage has been reported also although this is a very rare case. Professionally applied whiteners are not eligible for the ADA Seal due to the fact that on December 31, 2007, the professional component of the Seal Program was discontinued.

On the other hand, another tooth-whitening product available is called dentifrice or the most common form is toothpaste. Most whitening toothpastes available OTC has received ADA Seal of Acceptance. They contain polishing or chemical agents to remove certain stains. These non-bleaching agents aid to whiten teeth gradually.

Just like any other medications or health products, it is advisable to consult a dentist before trying any teeth whitening product whether at home or under professional supervision. ADA recommends patients, especially those who have many fillings, crowns, and extremely dark stains, to submit to dental consultations and thorough oral examinations to determine the most appropriate treatment.

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Aside from denture toothbrushes, there are also denture cleansers available in the market. Never use household cleansers such as bleach in case you think it will help you to whiten your dentures. Regular toothpastes may also be too strong for the dentures, avoid them since the surface of dentures are very sensitive and easy to damage. Mild hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid may be used, but remember to rinse them thoroughly after. Rinse it under the faucet, with warm or cold water. Don’t use vinegar because this will cause your dentures to dry out.

You also have the option to buy ultrasonic denture cleansers. These are little tub-like devices that include cleaning solutions. These devices remove some of the food particles left between the teeth. If considering an ultrasonic cleanser, choose one that is proven safe. However, these still do not compare to regular brushing.

Handling

Dentures are fragile and weak. There is a high possibility of it breaking when dropped. When cleaning your dentures, stand on a soft towel so even if you accidentally drop it, it will not break. The sink should be full of water so even if it slips out of your hand, you will not have to worry picking up the pieces. Wrap your dentures in soft hand towel when you have to move around your house with your dentures in your hand. However, don’t keep them wrapped in a towel for too long. As soon as you finish cleaning it and want to put it aside, keep them soaked in warm or cold water, or in a denture solution.

Storing

When not in used, or at night, keep your dentures in water, warm to cold water, or in a solution advised by your dentist (if your dentures have metal attachments). Don’t use hot water or put them in a dry place, your dentures will dry out, warp, and might lose their good shape.

Don’t wrap them with paper towel. You or some other people might mistake think of it as garbage. Also, paper towels absorb moisture. You wouldn’t want to injure your mouth with dry and rough dentures.

Keep your dentures out of children’s reach. Kids love to play with almost everything, and some kids don’t care if it’s a denture they are playing with. Keep it in a place where your pets can’t go and reach. They will chew your dentures up.

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Even before the teeth show, it is possible, and in fact recommended, that an infant’s mouth to be cleaned. Lightly dab the gum pads in a baby’s mouth with a clean damp, soft cloth. This will decrease the germs that form in the mouth, and begin the healthy practice of dental care.

An infant is also recommended to have a dental check-up in as early as 12 months of age. Pediatric dentists suggest that a baby’s first dental visit should be before all 20 primary teeth have completely erupted. This first visit is for a complete exam and evaluation. It is also for parents to be educated with proper dental care for infants at home, and the recommended diet proper use of toothbrushes and fluoride for infants.

Once the teething starts and first tooth erupts, which occurs about as early as six months, others follow until all 20 baby teeth are in. During teething, a lot of babies experience discomfort that is seen when they become irritable, drool a lot, suck on their toys, blankets, or fingers, and lose their appetite. When a baby gets a fever, diarrhea, or flu-like symptoms, it is best to consult a pediatrician. Hard, cool teething toys and frequent drinks of water can ease the teething discomfort.

Below is a list to remember after the teeth erupt.

” Do not let sweet or sweetened liquids to stay in a baby’s mouth for a long time. These lead to early dental decay.
” During feedings, always hold the baby and the bottle. Not only it could choke the infant, the milk or juice can bring cavities while in contact with the new teeth. When the baby falls asleep during feeding, remove bottle from his/her mouth. If a bottle is needed to get the baby to sleep, fill it will water instead of milk or juice.
” Do limit the use of sippy cups. The use of those can lead to cavities and other dental problems such as misalignment of teeth.
” Start a healthy eating habit by regulating intake of sweetened beverages and food. Do not spoil your baby with sweets, because it will eventually lead to dental problems with his or her primary teeth.
” Educate yourself with fluoride supplements for babies. This will help make your baby’s teeth stronger and prevent tooth decay without using a normal adult’s toothpaste.
” When a baby is learning to walk, or can walk already, do not let the child walk with a bottle or sippy cup in his/her mouth. Be watchful to dental injuries.

When a baby grows with proper dental care, the routine will become his/her practice until he/she grows old. It will be a healthy habit that will help create a positive self-image.

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The fact that a smile affects a person’s appearance has something to do with his or her self-esteem. When we present ourselves, it is our appearance that we naturally use first. Your smile is one of the first things a lot of people see upon meeting you. It affects how we relate to other people, and in fact it affects our confidence in ourselves.

When one is embarrassed by his or her smile, that person becomes less confident. Unknowingly, as they hide their smile, they begin to hide a part of their personality. They feel like they can’t be all that they can be. They can’t laugh openly. They feel like they can’t even talk that much. The feeling grows, and their habit of hiding and being shy will worsen. When some people are given the chance to change how their smile looks, they change. Maybe by not much, but a lot of people who have been into cosmetic dentistry become a lot more sociable.

Improved confidence is not the only way cosmetic dentistry can impact your life. A great smile can even affect your youthfulness. A great smile can make someone look younger. Knowing you have a beautiful smile, you feel younger, and even act like as if you are always in the prime of your youth.

Some cosmetic dentistry procedures are optional, like teeth whitening. Some depends on one’s needs. Consult with you dentist first. The dentist will be able to inform you on what you need to improve. Your own oral health and condition is best described by your dentist. He or she knows what you need to fix first, in case you are considering two or more procedures. Also, discuss with your dentist the threats, or risks that these procedures may bring.

When considering a cosmetic dentistry procedure, choose a dentist who really knows how to and is certified to perform such procedures. If the dentist has experience performing cosmetic dentistry and has used modern technology, it would be better. If your dentist has been performing cosmetic dentistry, then it is better that you stick with him. If you are not associated with a single name, try to ask some people you know.

Also, keep in mind that quality is more important than cost. Though a lot of cosmetic dentistry procedures are not that costly, the cost may differ from one clinic to anther. It may be because they use different of the items (which may provide a result slightly different from what other dental offices) or because of the name of the dentist.

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With the number of products and services that results in whiter teeth, people become confused with what to choose. These products and dental procedures differ in cost and pace in providing results. While the products used to be strictly classified with professional and home use, nowadays, products that are of the ‘professional use’ quality are now in the market. These products provide results closer to the professional dental treatment compared with the ‘home use’ products like toothpastes.

If you are more into fast results, the advised dental procedure is chairside teeth whitening. It is usually performed at a dentist’s office. Also called teeth bleaching, this provides results in about an hour. The difference that can be seen in the result within an hour is four to six shades lighter, which depends on every individual.

Below are some facts that describe how it works.

– Bleaching is performed with the use of a product that contains 15% to 35% of hydrogen peroxide in gel formula. Before this treatment is started, the gums are protected with a gel (some use a dental dam) that shields the soft gum tissues. After this, the dentist will apply to the teeth the hydrogen peroxide gel. To increase the whitening effect, a laser or a special light (of the same purpose as a laser) can be used. After a while, the gel is rinsed off. The application of protective gel and whitening agent is repeated several times. Right after the treatment, you will notice the impact of your teeth’s new shade to your appearance. This treatment provides a ‘natural white teeth’ result, in just about an hour.

– In case you have white fillings, it is advised that you replace them with a shade that does not go against the shade of your teeth after bleaching.
After the procedure, you might notice that your teeth sensitivity has increased. This is to be expected and is a natural reaction of your teeth after the treatment. The degree of teeth sensitivity however varies from one person to another. Nonetheless, the sensitivity will disappear within 24 hours after the treatment.

The advantage of an in-office whitening treatment is that you, as the patient, are sure that only your teeth will get in contact with the hydrogen peroxide. Also, with the dentist performing the treatment, he or she will know if the teeth in contact with the agent can still take another round of the treatment.

Before deciding, it is important that you consult with your dentist. Also, visit your dentist for check up and cleaning. It is only after these two procedures that your dentist can decide and advise you if you need a teeth whitening treatment. Your dentist will also advise you with what type of treatment is going to work best for you considering your current oral health.

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Since diagnodent is new to the public, people have a lot of questions about it. The following are the more frequent ones being asked, enlisted below with the answers.

– Does it hurt?
No, diagnodent does not include procedures that will make a patient experience pain. It features a similar energy level to a laser pointer. The laser beam or energy emitted by this tool is completely harmless to the tissues around inside the mouth.

– How does it work?
First, the tool should be calibrated. Second, teeth should be clean. Teeth are scanned using the laser beam emitted by this tool which is harmless. The cavities are identified by the read-out in digital form produced by the countertop unit. The degree of decay within the tooth is defined by the amount of fluorescent the machine detected.

– How long does this dental procedure technique take?
Scanning will only take a few minutes, and that’s just it.

– What does the tool actually measure?
Diagnodent measures the fluorescence within a tooth. When the laser beam is used to scan teeth, a two-way optical hand piece quantifies the reflected light energy from the laser. Diagnodent is used with a specific wavelength. Using this, a healthy clean tooth will reflect very little fluorescence (or none at all) and the fluorescent signify readings on the display.

– What are the benefits of diagnodent to a dental patient?
Decays are detected earlier. This will keep new decays from developing into more complicated dental problems. This will reduced the amount of money one will need in keeping his or her oral health in good condition.

– Is it effective with composite resin restorations?
No. Composite resin restorations fluoresce.

– Is it effective with amalgam?
Diagnodent will provide an accurate reading when used with caries at the margin.

– Can diagnodent be used on primary teeth?
Yes. Diagnodent is both accurate in detecting decays in permanent and even primary teeth.

– What are the disadvantages of the conventional dental methods?
Traditional techniques in finding and treating decays are not that much effective in detecting decays. These methods may even not detect 50% of the decays.

– How long has this technology been around?
Europe has been using this device for quite a few years now. The FDA recently approved the dentists of using laser-using tools for detecting cavities in the United States.
– Where do most tooth decays start nowadays?
Today, these mostly start in areas that are hard to see. They start in valleys and canyon-like parts of the surface of the teeth.

– Why are pit and valley cavity detection given more importance today than before?
The use of fluoride in toothpastes and water has strengthened the teeth enamel. Teeth have become more resistant to damage. However, the pits and valleys are not much protected.

– Why are conventional techniques like x-rays not effective in seeing the cavities in the pits and valleys?
Pits and valleys are hidden from direct views of the dentists. Even with the use of x-rays, these parts are hidden from the direction where the images are taken from.

– With today’s presence of diagnodent, are x-rays still important?
Diagnodent is for finding cavities on the teeth surface we use for biting. X-rays are tools for finding cavities on the roots and in between teeth.

– Why should we be concerned with sides of our teeth that we cannot see?
Decays progressed. They are not always detectable, especially at the start. Even while decay is still a mild problem, it will progress and may penetrate inward. If not given attention, this will eventually lead to decays that destroy teeth from the inside out.

– Why are dental probes not enough to find cavities in pits and valleys?
Probes may appear too large to detect the certain cavities. It may be due to the location of the cavity or it may be because the cavity is newly formed and too small. Detection of cavities in pits and valleys is difficult also because tooth surface usually appears intact.

The above answers the questions most frequently asked. If still unsure, it is best to consult with a dentist who has experienced using diagnodent.

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The slightly transparent quality of ceramic veneers today gives a near appearance of natural teeth that you were born with when compared to what imitations you used to get some years ago. In other words, they are shells of ceramic that closely resemble your real teeth and when put around the problem tooth which might have been chipped, cracked, have a damaged enamel, be irregularly placed or spaced. So no matter what the problem is, these ceramic shells manage to successfully eliminate the problem.

If your teeth enamel has been worn out, veneers can be a good solution. Enamel is the thin white stuff that covers your teeth; over time it gets damaged and stained. This stained and damaged enamel may be a result of your genes. At the same time the stained, chipped or cracked teeth you might have may be due to your style of living. Drinking tea, coffee or soft drinks and smoking or chewing on tobacco could create such problems.

Then again cosmetic dentistry that uses these ceramic shells can also help restore teeth that are naturally getting bad. As we grow older, the teeth grow weaker. Older teeth are more prone to chip, crack or appear irregular. Or one could be born with an abnormal spacing between the teeth which I’m sorry to say gets larger as the person advances in age.

Quite a few people who are bent on making use of veneers to hide their teeth defects may be amazed when their cosmetic expert suggests the less complicated choice of teeth whitening. This occurs mostly when discoloration is the only problem with the patient’s teeth. Home teeth whitening might be a great option for teeth that are slightly discolored.

Actually home teeth whitening using gels recommended by a cosmetic dentistry expert is said to produce some of the best long lasting effects, perhaps more so because it takes a longer period of time for the effects to show. You may also choose from the several “over the counter” whitening products which you can try out at home. Whichever way you choose, home teeth whitening is a safe method so long as you go along with the directions provided by your cosmetic dentistry expert or which you can read from the product label.

In spite of all this, if you still experience bluntness, irregularity or discoloration of teeth, veneers are your best bet. They also provide you with the added advantage of being more durable and boosting your smile thereby lighting up your whole face.

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It is very important to take care of the teeth and this is the reason why a lot of people need to undergo series of dental treatments just to correct the alignment of the teeth and jaw to correct malocclusions. We all know that dental treatment is expensive since there will be a lot of series of medications and appliances that needs to be applied during the orthodontic treatment – this is the reason why it is expensive. Knowing how much it costs, there have been some dental insurance that were made and formulated for this type of treatment.

The Dental insurance or also known as Dental health benefit plans were are consists of different concepts and coverage – those insurance will depends on the needs of patients who will apply either a family or just an individual. Like packages and other insurances like for houses or cars, dental health insurance, is also designed to cover up some parts that would help a person when it comes to paying for expenses.

There are a lot of different types of dental insurances but they can be classified into different categories like Direct Reimbursement programs, Usual, Customary and Reasonable programs, table or Schedule of Allowance programs, and Capitations programs – all of these vary from its concept and content.

Direct Reimbursement program is about reimbursing some percentage of the total amount spent on the dental care to the patient – this can be done without considering the type of treatment that the patient will undergo. This will certainly lets a person choose whoever dentist he/she wants to go to and whatever treatment that would be the best for the person.

Next would be the Usual, Customary and Reasonable program or also called as UCR which will let the patient go to any dentist for the treatment and then the plan will pay a percentage on the fee of the dentist or it can also be the plan administrator’s customary or reasonable fee limit; it just depends on which is lesser – and those fees will be the result of the contract.

Another category would be the Table or Schedule of Allowance programs which cover some specific services with an allocated amount so the plan will pay for the costs of some services without considering the amount charged by the dentist; so whatever difference between the fee of the dentist and the allocated budget will be billed to the patient.

The last category would be the capitation program which pays some dentists with a set of amount per month that would be per family or patient. With this type of insurance the contracted dentist may provide some services without charging additional fees since it is already a fixed amount of payment.

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In wearing those metal brackets as well as having the treatment, a person must be patient enough to maintain his teeth’s cleanliness so that he will not going to develop tooth decay. Since the equipments or appliances that were used in the orthodontic treatment like wires, rubber bands, springs and braces were easy to be stained by some foods and plaque there is a big possibility to develop tooth decay and to prevent this, a person should always maintain the cleanliness of the teeth using fluoride toothpaste or it would be best also to use fluoride mouthwash afterwards since it will clean those portions of the teeth that is not reached by toothbrush.

In cleaning the teeth it is a must to use floss and brush the teeth in the right way; first, you should place the floss to the space between the upper portion of the tooth that is close to the gum and the main arc wire and then try to do a saw motion on to it gently so that the food will be removed. After this, you have to brush your teeth with a normal soft toothbrush in an up and down motion; you have to make sure that you will clean each tooth.

The next thing that you have to do is to use a “Christmas tree brush” or what they call proxabrush that is solely designed for teeth that have braces. Then you can brush your teeth from the bottom up to the top and repeated motions until every tooth is clean. If this would be done always after eating then you can protect your teeth against cavity or tooth decay and you will also have a perfect smile of clean and fresh breath.

Of course, like other treatments, there are some things that a dental patient has to remember all the time and this is about the foods that a patient should avoid so that it won’t be hard for him/her to brush and clean the teeth. The foods that should be avoided were those foods that are hard to chew or those which can stick to your teeth like apples, caramels, corn, hard pretzels, popcorns, nuts, carrots, chewing gum and even cubes of ice and the likes. All of these can either break or damage and stain your braces and retainers so as much as possible avoid these certain types of foods.

It is also important to consider the cleanliness of your retainers; it is very important to clean it once a day to maintain its cleanliness or you can also wear a mouth
guard that is designed to protect your teeth if in case you get hit in the mouth.

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In using this type of braces instead of others, the main advantage is about its appearance; since Invisalign is designed with transparent brackets that are not too visible compared to the traditional metal braces. Since the braces are not too visible unlike the traditional metal ones, this has been very popular among adults because older people who don’t want to have the metal look on their teeth. This equipment is far more comfortable to use than the metal ones since it can be removed from the teeth, so if you are eating, you can take off the aligner and just put it back afterwards.

Another advantage of using this is that doesn’t cause the same problems that traditional fixed brackets give like tooth decay and shortening of roots of teeth. The reason for having tooth decay and shortening of teeth roots is that patients will not be able to take off the braces while eating so there will be a tendency that the food will be left in between the metals and teeth and can’t be removed that easily causing tooth decay. So if a patient is about to eat or clean his/her teeth, he can remove the aligners so that they will be able to clean it thoroughly.

After a few weeks the aligners should be adjusted with greater force and this is very helpful for bone remodeling or straightening the teeth as well as aligning the gums. Also, in using this appliance studies show that it provides quicker results than having the traditional metal braces.

On the other hand, the possible disadvantages of having Invisalign is that since this type of brace is not fixed on the teeth there will not going to be a continuous correcting or straightening of the teeth so this means that the progress will depends on the patient’s discipline when it comes to wearing the aligners. If a patient will use it for about 20 to 22 hours a day and will just remove it while eating or if they will drink and clean their teeth then most likely desired results will be achieved.

Another disadvantage would be its price since it costs more than other traditional metal braces; with its design and unique quality it costs more expensive than the usual braces. Also since the equipment should be removed before eating so that the teeth will be cleaned or brushed afterwards there is a big chance that the patient might lose it or forget about inserting it again to the teeth. If the person forgets and lose it then they will need to get another one done by orthodontic and if after eating he/she forgets about inserting it again, best results will not going to be achieved. There are also some rare cases that were reported about cough, nausea, sore throat and allergic reactions for some patients.

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