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Laser whitening is the latest modern dental procedure. Marketing offers customers whiter teeth in a shorter period of time than any other whitening solution. It’s safe and fast. This procedure may cost a little more than other methods, but the patient will no longer have to worry about this.
In today’s society, teeth whitening is a very popular cosmetic procedure, it is non-invasive and creates a beautiful white smile that is very attractive. As people begin to age, it is natural for their teeth to darken. This comes from smoking, as well as eating foods or liquids that can cause stains. Laser whitening can help with some of these problems.
What is the essence of the method?
Laser teeth whitening is one of the most common treatments for discolored teeth. In recent years, this procedure has gained a lot of popularity because it is safe and will not damage the patient’s gums or tooth structure. Since people cannot perform this procedure at home, they should consult their dentists at this point the dentist will determine which type of method is most suitable for them.
What can patients expect from this method?
One of the main advantages of laser whitening is that from start to finish, the whole procedure takes about an hour before all the differences are noticeable. Laser teeth whitening is not recommended for people who have bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, or other serious dental problems. Also, this procedure is not recommended for pregnant women and young people under the age of sixteen.
It is also possible that the patient’s teeth will be whiter than expected. This is not a long term problem due to the fact that laser whitening does not have permanent results. With this in mind, some spots may appear, which may require additional laser treatments. This, of course, leads to further costs. However, the immediate results are worth the investment.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage is that one procedure takes 15-60 minutes and is performed under dental supervision. Cons: increased likelihood of sensitivity, can damage tooth enamel and also high price.
The point is that laser whitening is still a very new technology and the battle over scientific data including response time, increased sensitivity and pulp exposure is still at stake.
Contrary to the high-tech notion that lasers themselves can remove dirt from teeth, the laser itself does not clean. Dentists must apply a peroxide paste, either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, and then heat it up with an argon or CO2 laser. Laser whitening involves the removal of all spots after 2-4 thirty-minute procedures (1 time in 10 days).
It is a misconception that the laser method will permanently whiten your teeth in one go. It is not uncommon for clients to report a slight difference in whiteness after just one session. However, even with multiple sessions averaging 30 minutes each, the process is still significantly faster than other methods. While the use of a laser appears to be reasonably safe, there have been disputes in the past about sensitivity, amount of peroxide, and chemical combination. Some believe that the thermal radiation of the laser can permanently weaken the pulp, while others worry about the erosion of enamel in patients.
The Canadian Dental Association notes that laser treatments have simply “underwhelmed little scientific evaluation” and should be studied more thoroughly before making judgments, while the ADA noted that most of their studies report no additional long-term benefit from using lasers for whitening.
Perhaps the biggest downside to laser whitening is the price, as it is the most expensive whitening option, especially since repeat visits are likely to be required.
Ultimately, it depends on the patient’s budget and time frame, and whether or not the personal dentist agrees that this is a good idea.
Stages of the procedure
The main stages of laser teeth whitening:
- Screening. It is recommended that pregnant women and adolescents avoid this procedure if possible. If tooth discoloration is a serious problem, teens can have their teeth whitened with close supervision by a dentist. During the initial screening, the dentist will also check the gums to expose a significant portion of the root of the tooth. If so, the teeth may whiten somewhat unevenly because the roots of the teeth are resistant to bleaching. The dentist may suggest alternatives to this method.
- Preliminary processing. The next step of the dentist will be brushing your teeth. All cavities are treated and filled because otherwise the bleaching solution can seep through the cavity into the inside of the tooth.
- Medical treatment. Any form of teeth whitening can cause temporary sensitivity, especially in individuals who already have sensitivity in their teeth. For this reason, the dentist may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before the first whitening session.
- Whitening. When it’s time to begin the procedure, the patient will lean back in the dentist’s chair as usual, and the dentist will use a rubber or plastic seal to keep the mouth open. The dentist will then apply a barrier on the gums to protect them from the bleaching solution. This barrier is often applied as a gel that cures to a protective rubbery layer. When the gum is fully protected, the dentist will use a syringe to apply the bleach to the front of the teeth. When all teeth are whitened with a laser, the dentist will allow the substance to sit for a few minutes and then wipe off the whitening substance with a small vacuum tool. He will then apply a new compound layer and repeat the process for three whole times.
- The ending. The patient knows that he has reached the end of the session when the dentist rinses his mouth thoroughly, then carefully removes the protective layer from the gum.
What to expect after the procedure?
After a whitening session, the patient may find that there is increased tooth sensitivity, especially in the first few days. It depends on the patient; some report numbness and several patients have compared it to being hit by a hammer. The dentist may prescribe medication to avoid or reduce the sensitivity, and of course the sensitivity will wear off after a few days. You should also see your dentist if your gums become white or sore, but this is less common than tenderness. The bleaching process is not permanent. Teeth can be re-stained, especially by cigarettes, drinks such as coffee or tea, or certain foods. It may be necessary to schedule a subsequent whitening procedure, the effectiveness of whitening lasts six months or up to several years.
Difference of methods
There is an opinion that the brighter and whiter the smile, the younger and happier the person will feel. But is the pursuit of a bright, sparkling smile as safe and effective as dental brochures claim? Cosmetic dentists are increasingly coming under fire when they make exaggerated claims about expensive laser whitening treatments.
Whitening toothpastes have been criticized for containing abrasive particles that can damage tooth enamel, and some researchers say that hydrogen peroxide, the most commonly used whitening agent, can be carcinogenic and weaken teeth.
There are three main approaches to whitening. Toothpastes containing anti-staining agents or hydrogen peroxide are slightly more expensive than regular toothpastes and are used daily by hundreds of thousands of people.
Home use whitening kits that include placing a hydrogen peroxide solution in whitening brackets worn on the teeth by patients overnight for two weeks. They claim to whiten teeth by six or eight shades and are the second most popular treatment.
The last and most expensive method is laser teeth whitening, in which a hydrogen peroxide solution applied to the patient’s teeth is exposed to strong light, which speeds up the healing process. Taking anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour, this procedure claims to lighten teeth by up to 11 shades.
But what is the evidence that these treatments work? While whitening toothpastes can slow down the staining process, a recent study in the British Dental Journal found that the vast majority fell short of claims that they lighten teeth.
Whitening toothpastes remove stain particles and are much less abrasive than they once were, but claims that they whiten teeth are dubious. Some contain hydrogen peroxide, but by the time you use it, it is so weak and unstable that the effect is often minimal. However, whitening procedures can be very effective and concerns about their safety have largely been allayed.
Whitening kits and laser whitening significantly whiten teeth. Each method can make teeth up to 11 shades lighter. The main difference is that whitening at home takes up to two weeks, while laser treatment takes about 30 minutes.
Risks of teeth whitening
There is little evidence that hydrogen peroxide demineralizes teeth, making them weaker. Some researchers have argued that the chemical is a potential carcinogen. However, when properly applied, it should only come into contact with enamel, which is dead anyway.
The main risk of hydrogen peroxide, whether at home or at the dentist, is that it irritates and whitens the gums. For this reason, dentists are very careful when using bleach solutions.
However, bleaching methods will not work for everyone. Enamel staining is also caused by antibiotics such as tetracycline, which discolors the enamel itself. Cosmetic dentistry practitioners claim – often unrealistically – that laser whitening can also remove this type of staining. In fact, in these cases, there is only a 10 or 20% chance of whitening.
Relevance of the method
As whitening has become more popular, some cosmetic dentists have begun using lasers or similar light sources to speed up the chemical reaction of the whitening solution. This method whitens faster and requires fewer whitening sessions. Unlike peroxide whitening, new laser whitening cannot be done at home; it must be completed under the supervision of a qualified dentist.
All forms of whitening work by releasing oxygen ions from the teeth whitening gel, which gently removes stains from the teeth. The laser simply eliminates spots faster. Another advantage of the laser is that (depending on the type of laser used) it is easier to use to whiten one tooth at a time. This is useful when one tooth is more discolored than the surrounding ones.