Σελίδες

Σάββατο 1 Φεβρουαρίου 2014

Whitening vs Bleaching..

 
Today's post is about a popular procedure,that is one of the main reasons that people go to the dentist;to have their teeth bleached..




This is the first of a series of two posts that cover the bleaching process.Today I am going to cover Over-the-counter whitening products and explain why they are different than the bleaching procedure performed in the dentistry.
 
 In the era of white-and-bright smiles everyone wants their teeth sparkling white;I like bleached teeth that look naturally white and more important healthy,and that is what I try to have as an outcome of any bleaching procedure.Some of my patients go for the bathroom-tile-white extra bleach color.Even though I don't recommend it,if the patient wants it I will give it to him.
 
Due to the fact that the economy is not exactly booming,there are some patients that consider using products that are advertised on tv or web ads that promise the spectacular results of the professionally applied bleaching products in half or a quarter of the price.
 

When-and sadly not if-they don't deliver the promised result the patients think:
 
Why didn't it work;it said it would whiten my teeth and my teeth are still dark.



It didn't work because the product was a whitening agent and not a bleaching agent.

Well excuse me doctor,I am not interested in linguistics;I just want a sparkling smile


Sadly dear readers of the blog,the terminology is of great essence.Because the devil lies in the details

 

There are  whitening agents and  bleaching agents.

Whitening agents are marketed as cosmetics,thus able to be sold in a variety of places from the local drug-store to supermarkets.These agents do not have to be applied by a dentist or a doctor.That is why some of these agents are referred to as over-the-counter medicines.On the other hand there is little credible proof that these agents work.
 
These agents can be found in the shape of a pen,strip,gloss etc


 
                                                     pen-formed whitening agent



Bleaching agents on the other hand can only be sold to health professionals(dentists-doctors);it is dangerous and highly illegal to be used by non-doctors.Unlike their whitening counterparts,bleaching agents have a well documented mode of action.in other words they work!


In a nutshell,if a product doesn't have acid(hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide),or it has an extra low concentration of the aforementioned substances,it is a whitening agent.It works but it doesn't bleach the teeth.It gives them a sparkle and nothing else.If a product has the aforementioned substances,it is illegal to be sold to non-doctors but it is a bleaching agent and it gives you the white smile you always wanted.
 
I am telling you these facts because it is nice for the consumer-that is you-to be informed about what and why you pay. There are some patients that come to the dentistry wanting a bleaching done and when they hear that the price is greater than the one they had decided-or thought that they would pay,they mentioned these whitening agents.And when I try to explain the difference between whitening and bleaching they look at me sceptically.



 
Wanting the best possible treatment in the best possible price is not wrong;wanting to have your own in the expense of someone else is.

I hope I gave you some food for thought.Remember knowledge is the key to many things!


Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:

Δημοσίευση σχολίου