teeth bleaching

Teeth Whitening Does Not Damage Tooth Enamel

May 18, 2010 By Julie Frey 7 Comments

Tooth whitening brightens teeth, but some worry it may damage tooth enamel. Well, researchers have found that home bleaching does not damage enamel.

Published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, this study examined the effects of 10% carbamide peroxide (the active ingredient in many home teeth whiteners) on human tooth enamel.

They found that teeth bleaching does not effect enamel wear. (However, dentin is susceptible to erosion from tooth whitening products.)

This is excellent news, dispelling any notions that whitening yellow teeth through cosmetic dentistry can be bad for one's oral health.

Filed Under: Science & Technology Tagged With: bleaching, cosmetic dentistry, teeth bleaching, teeth whitening, tooth enamel, whitening

Teeth Whitening… at the Airport?!?

March 21, 2010 By Julie Frey 10 Comments

Teeth whitening isn't just for Americans… it seems the whole planet wants white teeth.

Well, that just got easier for UK travelers, who can now get tooth whitening at the airport. Yes, the airport.

Passengers can make appointments at the Manchester and Birmingham airports for a 20-minute laser teeth whitening session before their flight departs. Patients can book online ahead of time, or even drop in for whitening at one of the 5-chair clinics.

The teeth bleaching program, launched under the name of "Smile Company," is an offshoot of Brighter White Teeth Company, and uses a tooth whitening process developed in the US.

And of course, while patients get rid of their yellow teeth at the airport, they're also welcome to pick up at-home teeth whitener products…

"Coffee, anyone? Peanuts? Teeth whiteners?"

Filed Under: Cosmetic Dentistry Tagged With: cosmetic dentistry, teeth bleaching, teeth whitening, tooth whitening, white teeth, whitening, whiter teeth

Dentist Teeth Whitening Popularity (video)

February 19, 2010 By Julie Frey Leave a Comment

Tooth whitening is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic dentistry, and even though some patients overdo it, five out of six dentists don't think it's a problem.

“If people want ‘toilet bowl teeth,’ so what?" asked one cosmetic dentist. "Too white? Isn't that like being too rich?"

“I still see 5-10 patients daily asking about teeth bleaching who have never done any teeth whitening previously," offered another dentist.

Dentists still see many patients asking about tooth whitening and procedures like laser teeth whitening that can only be done in a dentist's office. However, many patients choose over-the-counter teeth whiteners (often containing carbamide peroxide) to get the white teeth they desire.

Read more about whitening in the dentist's office: Are Today’s Consumers Over-Whitening Their Teeth?

Filed Under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Videos Tagged With: cosmetic dentist, teeth bleaching, teeth whitening, white teeth, whiteners, whitening

Teeth Whitening and the Cosmetic Dentist (video)

January 22, 2010 By Julie Frey 1 Comment

Teeth whitening is quite popular, but the average dentist says it doesn't necessarily lead to more cosmetic dentistry.

This survey found that less than half of teeth bleaching patients go on to get additional work from their cosmetic dentist.

"With tooth whitening, there is only one answer: deep bleaching!" said one dentist who is enthusiastic about teeth whiteners. "Whitening and cosmetic dentistry go hand in hand. 95% of my highest earning cases are cosmetic."

Filed Under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Videos Tagged With: cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, dentist, dentistry, teeth bleaching, teeth whitening, tooth whitening

UV Teeth Whitening May Be Ineffective, Even Harmful

January 30, 2009 By Julie Frey 5 Comments

UV light-enhanced tooth bleaching may be harmful to skin and eyes, especially among fair-skinned patients. A new study claims that bleaching with UV is no more effective than bleaching without UV, and can cause four times the damage of sunbathing.

The study's lead author, Ellen Bruznell of the Nordic Institute of Dental Materials, also found that bleaching can damage teeth, leading to more exposed grooves on the surface of teeth. (The study was published in Photochemical & Photobiological sciences, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Read more about the study