It s a message that is advertised in print, online and on the television that gleaming pearly whites are the only way to go. For example one television commercial shows a man approaches a woman at a social event and with the flash of a grin she frowns and quickly moves on to another guest. Over the past few years, the new trend of teeth whitening has emerged and has people flocking to their dentist for the cosmetic procedure. As most trends do, a following of over the counter products that promise a sparkling set of chops have also flooded the market. According to a statement from the American Dental Association, whitening your teeth may be one of the easiest things to do to improve your appearance.
Studies show more people are keeping their teeth for a lifetime, as people age, their teeth age too.
Years of coffee, tea, colas, wine and smoking can build up and contribute to the dulling of teeth. However, most dentists urge individuals interested in the process to see a dentist first to make sure their teeth are a good candidate for bleaching before guiding them in the process. The dentist performs an oral examination of the patient to determine whether the patient will benefit from the bleaching process. If the patient is a good candidate for bleaching , then the dentist provides a custom fit tray for the patient that holds bleaching gel. That customized tray allows maximum contact for the bleaching gel with the teeth, while minimizing the gel s contact with the mouth s soft tissue.