Teeth Whitening
In a recent report by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, it was determined that most Americans associate white, healthy teeth with success in business and in love-life too. Having a more beautiful smile that lights up a room has never been easier! More and more people across the U.S. are requesting teeth whitening treatments and getting whiter, brighter smiles has become the most popular dental treatment in the United States.
NYC cosmetic dentists Dr. Michael Gulizio and Dr. Steven Cordoves offer professional whitening services to give you that bright, dazzling smile using a safe, effective treatment that doesn't cause tooth sensitivity or destroy tooth enamel.
Why Teeth Whitening?
Most of us are born with sparkling white teeth, thanks to their beautiful enamel surface. Tooth enamel is designed to protect the teeth from the effects of chewing and acid attacks caused by sugar. But over the years enamel is worn down, becoming more transparent and permitting the yellow color of the tooth's core material to show through.
When we chew, dentin (the substance in the middle of the tooth) remains intact while millions of micro-cracks occur in the enamel. It is these cracks that gradually fill up with stains and debris. As a result, the teeth eventually develop a dull appearance, even yellow or brownish.
Teeth whitening removes the stains and debris, leaving the enamel cracks exposed. Some of the cracks are quickly re-mineralized by saliva in the mouth, while others are filled up with naturally occurring organic material.
Tooth Discoloration and Stains
There are two types of teeth staining: extrinsic staining and intrinsic staining.
Extrinsic stains are those that appear on the surface of the tooth as a result of exposure to dark-colored beverages (coffee, tea, soda), foods and tobacco, and routine wear and tear. Most extrinsic stains can be removed with regular brushing and a professional dental cleaning. Stubborn extrinsic stains can be removed with more involved efforts, like teeth bleaching. Persistent extrinsic stains can penetrate into the dentin and become permanent if they are not dealt with early.
Intrinsic stains are those that form on the interior of teeth. Intrinsic stains result from trauma, aging, exposure to minerals or drugs during tooth formation and/or too much fluoride. It was thought that intrinsic stains couldn't be corrected by bleaching, but today, NYC dentists believe that even deep intrinsic stains can be removed with professional, supervised at-home teeth whitening that is maintained over a few months.
What Causes Teeth to Stain?
Age plays a major role in teeth staining. Over the years, teeth darken as a result of wear and tear and stain accumulation. Teenagers will likely experience immediate, dramatic results from whitening. As the teeth begin to show a yellow cast in a person's 20s, teeth-whitening may require a little more effort. When a person reaches 40, the yellow gives way to brown and more maintenance may be called for. But even in later years, teeth can be whitened to a beautiful color and stains removed.
We are all born with a tooth color that ranges from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey, and intensifies over time. Yellow-brown is generally more responsive to bleaching than green-grey.
Translucency and thinness are also genetic traits that become more pronounced with age. While all teeth show some translucency, those that are opaque and thick have an advantage because they appear lighter in color and respond to bleaching. Teeth that are thinner and more transparent have less of the pigment that is necessary for bleaching. According to NYC dentists, transparency is the only condition that cannot be corrected by any form of teeth whitening.
The regular (or excessive) consumption of red wine, coffee, tea, cola, carrots, oranges and other dark colored beverages and foods causes staining. Also, acidic foods such as citrus fruits and vinegar contribute to enamel erosion. As a result, the surface becomes more transparent and more of the yellow-colored interior shows through.
Smoking leaves brownish deposits which slowly soak into the tooth structure and cause intrinsic discoloration.
Teeth Whitening Options
Read more about NYC tooth whitening on our NEW WEBSITE or contact us to schedule an appointment.