Teeth Whitening--An Economical Way to Enhance Your Smile

Seeing a lot of people with white shining smiles lately?  Teeth whitening remains extremely popular, and it is one of the most economical ways to enhance your smile.

Your smile creates an immediate, subconscious, visual impact on people you meet, and studies show that it makes you look years younger (younger people naturally have whiter teeth).  A brighter smile gives the impression of youth, vitality, radiant health, happiness, and warmth. A bright smile is perceived as a healthy smile.  We all want that Hollywood smile with big, white and shiny teeth. But most of us live in the real world filled with teeth staining necessities like coffee, tea, soda and maybe an occasional glass of merlot. So what do we normal folks do to get that Hollywood smile? Having a beautiful smile may be even easier than you think. Many people achieve the look they’ve been dreaming of with our simple bleaching procedure. In this blog Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD, cosmetic dentist with offices in West HartfordCenter and Downtown New Britain outlines how teeth whitening works, when to bleach, the available options, and teeth sensitivity.

How does teeth whitening (bleaching) work?

Deciduous (baby) teeth are typically whiter than the adult teeth that appear later. As we age, our adult teeth often become darker, yellower, or stained. This is partly why white teeth make people appear more youthful.

Just as there are a number of ways to lighten or brighten teeth, there are also several different ways for teeth to become discolored. The main causes of darkened teeth are genetics, antibiotics, and certain foods, plus teeth tend to darken as we age. Internal tooth discoloration is caused by changes in the enamel of the tooth and the dentin. The main causes of internal tooth discoloration are exposure to high levels of fluoride, tetracycline, use of antibiotics as a child, developmental disorders, tooth decay, restorations, root canal issues, and trauma.  External tooth discoloration is caused by factors outside the body, mainly foods and tobacco. The main causes of external tooth yellowing are smoking, foods with tannins, coffee, tea, carrots, oranges, and other foods.  

So how do teeth whitening agents get the stains out from “inside” your tooth? Most whitening gels (or sometimes called bleaching agents) contain an oxidizing agent in the form of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These ingredients are the active ingredient in most whitening agents. The gel reacts with the internal aspect of your tooth, mixes with the discolored areas, and breaks them apart making them appear whiter!

When to whiten?

If you are having dental work done to your front teeth, you would typically bleach first, then once you reach your desired shade, wait one week to allow them to stabilize before having dental work done. Have a wedding coming up? Whiten at least one month before the big day!

What are my teeth whitening options?

Make sure you talk with your dental professional to see what’s best for you, but here are your teeth whitening options:

• In-office bleaching – Pros: Quick, dramatic results—most effective option. Cons: Some sensitivity issues, most expensive option.

• Professional At-Home trays – Pros: Works for long term results, accurate to your teeth, decreased sensitivity, convenient.  Cons: more expensive than over the counter.

• Over-The-Counter White Strips – Pros: Cheap, can whiten a few shades  Cons: misses areas between and around teeth (uneven results), gets on gums, least effective option.

Dr. Basil has In-Office and At-Home treatment options to give you your whitest smile.  Unlike over-the-counter whitening products, professional whitening is customized to all of your visible teeth surfaces.  In office whitening offered by Dr. ElzbietaW. Basil, DMD in her West Hartford Center dental office and her Downtown NewBritain dental office, utilizes the latest version of the Zoom!® Whitening System. 

In-Office Whitening

The Zoom! Advanced Power In-Office Whitening System is a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure. It's safe, effective and fast. In about an hour, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. Zoom! Advanced Power Whitening is ideal for anyone looking for immediate results. The convenience of Zoom! Advanced Power in comparison to days of wearing trays and gradual whitening makes it the perfect choice for the busy individual.   And you'll look years younger!  Dr. ElzbietaW. Basil, DMD uses the latest generation Zoom! whitening system by Philips in her West Hartford Dental Office and her NewBritain office.  

Professional At-Home Whitening

Philips Zoom DayWhite and NiteWhite give you superior whitening results by utilizing high-potency gels with custom-molded trays, specially made to fit your teeth. Philips Zoom DayWhite and NiteWhite kits offer five different options to meet your needs. Sensitive teeth? Check. Dramatic results fast? We’ve got it covered. With Philips Zoom, Dr. Basil will recommend the right whitening formula strength for you to take home. You will be matched with the treatment that fits your lifestyle to achieve your best results.

My teeth are sensitive when I bleach!

If your teeth are sensitive during bleaching there may be an underlying cause, so as always, talk with your dental professional. If you have traditionally had sensitive teeth, use a desensitizing toothpaste containing potassium nitrate (Sensodyne, Crest Sensi relief, etc.) for at least one month before whitening. Also tell us if you are having sensitivity, as he or she may be able to lower the percentage concentration of the whitening product. Check out our blog on toothpaste selection.

If you want whiter teeth, know that you have many options. There is no one best option for all, so give us a call and find out which product will work best for you.

Keep smiling!

The Truth About Oral Piercings

A leading British health charity is calling on people to understand the risks associated with oral piercings after uncovering their remarkable popularity.  Research carried out by the UK based Oral Health Foundation found tongue piercings are particularly popular, with 43% of people with oral piercings opting for them. A third (33%) of people had a lip piercing, with cheek (3%) and gum (7%) piercings much less common.

The poll also found that 13% of people with oral piercings had more than one, highlighting the current popularity of the trend.

The charity wants everyone who has, or is considering getting, an oral piercing to understand the risks associated with them and take the necessary steps to avoid the health problems which they are related to.

The study highlighted facts that dentists, like West Hartford Dentist, Dr. ElzbietaW. Basil, DMD already knows.   Body piercing is a popular form of self-expression. Oral piercings or tongue splitting may look cool, but they can be dangerous to your health. That’s because your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and swelling often occur with mouth piercings. For instance, your mouth and tongue could swell so much that you close off your airway or you could possibly choke if part of the jewelry breaks off in your mouth. In some cases, you could crack a tooth if you bite down too hard on the piercing, and repeated clicking of the jewelry against teeth can also cause damage. Oral piercing could also lead to more serious infections, like hepatitis or endocarditis.

If you pierce your tongue, lips, cheeks or uvula (the tiny tissue that hangs at the back of the throat,) it can interfere with speech, chewing or swallowing. It may also cause:

• Infection, pain and swelling. Your mouth is a moist environment, home to huge amounts of breeding bacteria, and an ideal place for infection. An infection can quickly become life threatening if not treated promptly. It’s also possible for a piercing to cause your tongue to swell, potentially blocking your airway.
• Damage to gums, teeth and fillings. A common habit of biting or playing with the piercing can injure your gums and lead to cracked, scratched or sensitive teeth. Piercings can also damage fillings.
• Hypersensitivity to metals. Allergic reactions at the pierced site are also possible.
• Nerve damage. After a piercing, you may experience a numb tongue that is caused by nerve damage that is usually temporary, but can sometimes be permanent. The injured nerve may affect your sense of taste, or how you move your mouth. Damage to your tongue’s blood vessels can cause serious blood loss.
• Excessive drooling. Your tongue piercing can increase saliva production.
• Dental appointment difficulties. The jewelry can get in the way of dental care by blocking X-rays.

If you already have piercings, Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD advises patients in her West Hartford dental office and her New Britain dental office to:

• Contact your dentist or physician immediately if you have any signs of infection—swelling, pain, fever, chills, shaking or a red-streaked appearance around the site of the piercing.
• Keep the piercing site clean and free of any matter that may collect on the jewelry by using a mouth rinse after every meal.
• Try to avoid clicking the jewelry against teeth and avoid stress on the piercing. Be gentle and aware of the jewelry’s movement when talking and chewing.
• Check the tightness of your jewelry periodically (with clean hands). This can help prevent you from swallowing or choking if the jewelry becomes dislodged.
• When taking part in sports, remove the jewelry and protect your mouth with a mouthguard.
• See your dentist regularly, and remember to brush twice a day and floss daily.

Of course the best option is to consider removing mouth jewelry before it causes a problem. Don’t pierce on a whim. The piercing will be an added responsibility to your life, requiring constant attention and upkeep. Talk to Dr. Basil for more information—and make sure you take out your piercing before a dental appointment! 

How to Manage Your Fear of the Dentist

I had a class at UConn Dental School called “Fear and Anxiety,” precisely because a significant number of people have dental phobias. Some people would rather be anywhere but the dentist’s office.

Recently, one of my patients reported that after her wisdom teeth experience in her late teens, her fear began to compound. Her stitches broke open after the surgery, meaning some of the work had to be redone. She also had braces for four years permanently linking dental work and pain in her mind.

About one in five people have some fear of going to the dentist, often stemming from an experience or general life anxiety.  If you have some degree of dental phobia, really the first thing you should do is tell the dentist that you are afraid, and talk as specifically as you can about it. Are you afraid of the needle? Are you afraid of the sights? Are you afraid of the sounds? Is it the smells?  Is it just the environment?

The more your dental team knows, the better the plan of action can be put into effect.  Some of the best ways to cope are:

• Hand Signals: One of the best ways to cope is for the patient to try to establish control, so the patient can use hand signals or another type of method to let the dentist know when you might need a break. 
• Deep Breathing: Steady, even, deep breathing can help calm you during moments you think will be unpleasant.
• Distraction:  Listening to music through headphones, a podcast, or watching a video is very effective, and may take your mind off of the procedure altogether.
• Medication:  Some dentists offer sedation, which I don’t recommend.  However, I offer relaxation medication to be taken prior to the appointment, if necessary.

If the patient had a difficult experience in their dental history, the most important thing is to be realistic.  Despite your fears, due to modern equipment and techniques, most dental work is now relatively pain-free.  Even modern root canals are mostly just boring now, and not painful.  They just take a long time.

A small, but significant, percentage of people have an overriding dental phobia, which prevents them from getting the dental care they need.  That can have huge implications, as small problems are missed and turn into big ones.  Cavities, gum disease, early signs of oral cancer and other abnormalities in the mouth, neck or face are all on the radar during a dental exam.  For these people, keeping in mind that dental care is an important part of maintaining overall health is key to allow them to get through a visit. 

 

If you have a dental phobia, first find a dentist you trust.   Everyone in our West Hartford dental office and our New Britain dental office does their best to make every patient comfortable.  And if you practice good oral hygiene, you’ll minimize the number of procedures you might have to have.

Why Kathy Bates Chose Invisalign®

Kathy Bates is an accomplished, versatile performer and Oscar® winner.  Although she's taken on many different roles in her career, Kathy Bates is perhaps best known for portraying creepy characters — like the ones she played in the film Misery and the TV show American Horror Story.  So, when recently revealed in an interview, "I noticed my teeth were moving around," was she exaggerating for a sinister effect — or was it for real?

In fact, the celebrated actress was describing how her teeth had literally changed positions over time. That's why she decided to get orthodontic treatment in her fifties.

What's more, the changes she noticed aren't unusual. Over time, teeth really can — and do — move around in the mouth. (If they didn't, it would much more difficult for dentists to bring them into better alignment.) Many people don't realize that teeth aren't solidly anchored in bone — instead, they are held in their bony sockets by a network of stretchy fibers called the periodontal ligament. Dentists and orthodontists, like West Hartford cosmetic dentist, Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD, can straighten teeth by applying just the right amount of gentle force to teeth, using appliances such as traditional braces, FastBraces®, or Invisalign® clear aligners.  They all work the same way — but Kathy Bates, like many adults, opted for the aligners.

"When I heard about Invisalign®, I thought, hmm, maybe this is better than getting braces, so I'll give it a try," she said. "And I'm really glad I did."

Why? For one thing, they're more discreet. Aligners consist of clear plastic trays that are custom-made to fit over your teeth perfectly. Even from right up close, it's difficult or impossible to tell if you're wearing them. (And that's something that just can't be said about braces.) Plus, while they must be worn for 22 hours every day, they can be removed for cleaning, eating, or special occasions. So if you're concerned that braces don't fit your image, aligners might be right for you.

Here's how they work: The aligner trays are custom-made from impressions (digital or physical models) of your own teeth. As you go through treatment, you'll get a new tray about every two weeks. Each one causes your teeth to move just a little bit. All together, they can make a big change in your smile. Aligners may not be appropriate in every situation, but many people can enjoy the benefits of this effective and unobtrusive treatment. After an examination, your dentist or orthodontist can recommend your best options for orthodontic treatment.

Best of all, there's no age limit for getting straighter teeth: As long as they are otherwise healthy, teeth can be moved at any age. In fact, about one in five orthodontic patients today is an adult, and many opt for clear aligners — like Kathy Bates.

In addition to Invisalign®, West Hartford cosmeticdentist, Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD, also offers FastBraces®, which may be able to attain a final result with only one wire in just six (6) months.  These procedures can be performed in either her West Hartford Center dental office or in her Downtown New Britain dental office.

Whatever you decide, there are more treatment options than ever.