Nothing ages a person more than faded, dark, dull or uneven teeth. A great smile and white teeth are basic to looking good and can bolster self esteem and confidence. So how can a person improve their smile?
Dr. Andrea Cameron, a partner in Naples Dental Studio, is an expert both from professional and personal experience.
Dr. Cameron says, "I have been a teeth whitening guinea pig over the course of twenty years. Teeth whitening products first came out in the early 1990s. Back then many people had yellow teeth that really showed their age . . . . the early products for whitening were messy but very simple and gave people a great smile."
But today's teeth whitening technology is more advanced.
Dr. Cameron explains, "Today, whitening techniques are much faster and give terrific results to remove stains that happen with aging, wine, coffee, tea, cola and dark colored fruits and vegetables. The whitening gel contains carbide that penetrates the tooth enamel and oxidizes the stain deposits that lead to discoloration."
There are two superior methods of tooth whitening: in-office laser teeth whitening and the custom tray system:
- In-office teeth whitening uses light energy to activate the whitening solution and produces immediate results.
- With the custom tray system, you simply wear trays containg the gel for an hour and a half during the day or while you sleep for two to three weeks. There are many companies that create this sysem like Contrast PM and Nite White. The most common concentration of carbamide peroxide is 16-22%.
According to Dr. Cameron, both whitening systems "give amazing results, far superior to over-the-counter whiteners that are much weaker in peroxide concentration and can lead to chemical burns on the gums due to a lack of custom-fitted trays."
After consulting with Dr. Cameron, I personally opted for the custom tray system. I wear the trays containing the gel for an hour and a half during the day or at night. I found that after two weeks there was a very significant whitening of my teeth.
I have noticed that you can get trays online (they send you a mold to make on your own) but, as Dr. Cameron advises, that could wreak havoc on your gums.
I can speak from personal experience in endorsing the trays. It was messy having the technician make the molds but I am very pleased with the outcome. I also had cosmetic bonding applied to my front teeth which were uneven. I had the bonding applied about five years ago and they still look as great today as when they were initially done. A bit more expensive are porcelain veneers, very thin shells that can be placed over stains, cracks and chips to give a smile a youthful and natural-looking shine.
A bright, white smile never goes out of fashion and is definitely the best investment you can make in yourself for your personal well-being, self-confidence and style.
No comments:
Post a Comment