Teeth Whitening - Laser Whitening Procedures

jazzynfo | Feb 15, 2010 |

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Laser as a method of teeth whitening made its debut in 1994 and has been used ever since to treat dental problems. The Federal Drug Agency or FDA has approved the use of laser but the American Dental Association or ADA is yet to do so, meaning that the laser as a whitening process has not been approved for safety. It should however be mentioned that they are in the process of looking at it.

Some of the advantages of the laser teeth whitening process can be summed up as:
Whiter teeth improve the appearance and give people self confidence. They are a symbol of a healthier lifestyle. People with white teeth smile more and smiling makes you look young by doing away with the wrinkles.

The process of whitening teeth by laser is one of the easiest and pain free procedures; it is also the quickest. Coffee drinkers, smokers and people who have never used any kind of teeth whitening product before are all good candidates for the laser whitening method. Teeth have been known to become as much as 10 shades lighter with this procedure!

Laser whitening can only be done by someone from the dental profession who is qualified to do this work. The first step of the procedure is to remove all the plaque and debris from the teeth. Then a gel is applied to the teeth and it is the gel which is the actual whitening agent. The laser works to speed up the process by activating the whitening gel. Crystals in the gel absorb light energy from the laser, which then penetrates the enamel to whiten the teeth.

How long the process actually takes depends on the condition of the patient's teeth. If the teeth are in fairly good condition, then the procedure should not take too much time; however a heavy smoker for example will have badly stained teeth and will need to keep the gel on for a longer period of time. The general time frame is approximately one hour for the whole procedure.

The biggest advantage to laser teeth whitening is you get to see results immediately; extreme cases may require more than one sitting but this is not usually the norm. Other advantages are the speed and the painlessness of the procedure. Also to be considered as a great advantage is the degree of confidence one gains the moment you walk out of the dentist's office. Having a grand smile boosts you up no end and makes you feel really good about yourself.

As with all things there's always a downside to be considered; in this case we can sum up the disadvantages of laser teeth whitening to include: prohibitively expensive treatment when compared to all the other methods of whitening teeth that are available. Treatment can begin around $1000 and it also depends on the condition of the teeth and the number of visits you will have to make. Sore gums and teeth are part of the process, you will feel discomfort for a few days but it should pass.