Archive for the ‘Teeth Whitening’ Category
Showers, Blossoms, Babies, and Bleach
Greetings from the dental office! Spring has made its presence quite obvious outside lately. First crocus and now daffodils, forsythia, and magnolias are blooming here in the Spokane Valley. The rhubarb is up and trees all around us are budding out and ripe for a foliage explosion.
At our house, we have had 3 baby lambs and 4 baby goats born in the last 3 weeks, one new doeling last night. In the next two weeks, what will spring bring? I expect to see hummingbirds and serviceberry blossoms. Who will be the first to spot these landmarks of spring.
And, what are dental patients looking for? Well, as people do their spring cleaning inside the house and outside in the yard, to make the house and property look great, likewise, people want to have their smile look great also. Whiter teeth is a frequent request all year, but more so in the spring. Many people may be looking forward to graduation, reunions, weddings, and whiter teeth may be on their mind. But, whatever drives the desire, we can whiten teeth.
Just a couple caveats to consider before bleaching teeth:
- Whitening toothpastes are really a con – don’t buy into it. What is done during and after bleaching is a big determiner of success vs. failure.
- Teeth are covered with enamel rods. Despite the fact that enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, under an electron microscope enamel is quite porous. It looks like PVC pipe stacked in a pile, from the end you see all the tubes. When teeth are bleached, all the coffee, tobacco, tea, blueberry, etc. stains are cleaned out of those tubes. Following bleaching, the teeth reflect light better and look both whiter and brighter.
- Once teeth are bleached, those now clean tubules need to avoid all staining colored liquids, not forever, but for at least 2 weeks. This gives these newly bleached enamel rods a chance to fill in with clear fluid. This interim period must be gone through without cola, tea, coffee, huckleberry sauce, apple juice, etc. If you can’t give up coffee, tobacco, etc. for two weeks, don’t consider bleaching teeth. Anything with color can and will re-stain those freshly bleached tubules.
Ask your dentist about bleaching your teeth for a fresh spring smile.
Keep smiling,
Dr. James G. Hood
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!
James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100 | Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com
Websites: www.drhood.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalley.com
Blogs: www.drjamesghoodblog.com
www.dentalhealthandnutritionblog.com
www.dentalcareassociatesofspokanevalleyblog.com
www.jamesandkarenhoodfoundationblog.org
www.sjogrensblog.org
Online Store: www.dentalhealthandnutritionstore.com
Dental Health and Nutrition FAQ And Glossary
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does the dental health and nutrition store carry?
A. Dental Health and Nutrition Store is an online store offering dental health products as well as products for nutrition and health information. We will be adding more and more products as we expand our site, so come back and visit often. Check out our store category list to select the current products.
Q. Do you provide shipping?
A. Yes, Dental Health and Nutrition Store ships worldwide, and we use all the major shipping services such as UPS, USPS, and FedEx. We can ship using the most economical method, and overnight shipping is available.
Q. How often should I visit the dentist?
A. The American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines recommend visiting a dentist at least every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning. Although bi-annual dental examinations are recommended, the frequency of routine dental visits should be based on individual need – some people will need to see the dentist more often than others. More frequent visits may be necessary for persons at increased risk for oral diseases due to age, pregnancy, tobacco and alcohol use, periodontal diseases, oral hygiene, and health conditions (e.g., diabetes, dry mouth, HIV infection). Your dentist or dental hygienist can help you determine how often you should have your teeth cleaned.
Q. What should I expect during my appointment?
A. One of our staff members will compile your medical and dental history during your first visit. We will then examine your teeth and gums, screen you for oral cancer and periodontal disease, make X-rays of your teeth as needed and complete a TMJ (temporomandibular or jaw joint) exam. After we review your dental profile, we will discuss a diagnosis with you. If treatment such as a root canal (endodontics), braces (orthodontics), or oral surgery is needed, we will plan to treat you in our office or refer you to a specialist. We will discuss your options for treatment and fee payment and help you determine the best plan to fit your needs.
During regular follow-up visits, we will examine your teeth and gums and periodontal tissue, screen you for oral cancer, clean your teeth, and make plans for treatment, as needed. We will discuss any pain or problems you may be experiencing and answer any questions you may have.
Q. How old should a child be for their first dental visit?
“First visit by first birthday” sums it up. Your child should visit a pediatric or family dentist when the first tooth comes in, usually between 6 and 12 months of age. This visit will establish a dental home for your child. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child’s smile now and in the future.
Dr. James G. Hood generally recommends that an infant be seen by a dentist by the age of 1 or within 6 months after his or her first tooth comes in. Do not wait for the child to be in pain to bring him or her to the dentist. Most procedures are pain free, and your child should know that a trip to the dentist can be a comfortable and fun experience.
Regular brushing should become a part of a child’s daily routine as soon as he or she can hold a brush. Parents should also swab infant’s gums to prevent plaque buildup. Children’s teeth should be brushed and flossed as soon as they break through the gums.
Although the enamel of a child’s tooth is stronger than that of an adult, it is also thinner, so cavities develop more quickly. Children’s primary teeth require as much care as their permanent teeth. Untreated cavities in primary teeth can adversely affect the development of permanent teeth. Such cavities result in a roughening of adult teeth, or may result in primary teeth that develop cavities.
Q. What does “painless dentistry” mean?
A. Painless dentistry is a means of ensuring your total experience in our office is as stress-free and pain-free as possible. We will discuss treatment options that may require no local anesthetic and whenever possible, alleviate pain by the means most comfortable to you.
Q. What if I have an emergency?
A. Please call our office at (509) 928-9100 as soon as you determine that you have a dental emergency. We will be glad to work you in to our schedule if you have a dental emergency during regular business hours. For an emergency after hours, over the weekend, and during holidays, please call our office for the doctor’s emergency contact number.
Q. Are payment plans available for my dental treatment?
A. Yes, we accept all major types of dental insurance and will process your claim for you upon receipt of your co-payment. We offer a low interest rate payment plan and also accept most major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
Q. Can the dentist whiten my teeth?
A. There are several methods available for bleaching the teeth: in office, overnight or daily. Brite Smile bleaching is done in our office. One session generally lasts one and a half to two hours, and you can read or relax during the treatment. For overnight bleaching, we make an impression of your teeth and create a mouth guard that fits your bite. Each day you fill the mouth guard with a small amount of bleaching gel and wear it overnight or for a few hours during the day. The overnight bleaching process takes approximately two weeks.
Other over-the-counter daily bleaching products are available, but it is important to use any bleaching product only under the supervision of a dentist. To achieve the whitening results you desire, the ADA recommends that you seek the professional advice of a dentist, including examination and diagnosis of the cause of tooth discoloration, before you begin any bleaching program.
Q. What if I have a gap in my teeth, a chipped tooth, or teeth that do not respond to normal bleaching methods?
A. Porcelain veneers are designed to look like your natural teeth and are individually and permanently attached to the fronts of your existing teeth. Bonding utilizes a composite material made of acrylic to fill in areas of your teeth and correct chipping and shape problems. Both porcelain veneers and bonding are color-matched and color-stable to the rest of your teeth.
Q. What is tooth decay?
A. In short, tooth decay is a location on a tooth where so much of the tooth’s mineral content as been dissolved away that a defect (a hole or a “cavity”) has developed.
Q. What is gum disease?
A. Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally means “around the tooth.” Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth.
Q. Is teeth whitening safe?
A. Most studies confirm that teeth whitening is safe and effective. Whitening gels that contain 10 percent carbamide peroxide (equivalent to 3.6 percent hydrogen peroxide) have not been shown to cause any damage to the enamel of the tooth. Higher concentrations of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide available from the dentist may weaken the enamel, but most of these formulas also contain fluoride offsetting this potential side effect.
Q. Why does my child need fluoride?
A. The tooth is made more resistant to decay by the use of fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral, like calcium or sodium, that when used on a tooth makes the enamel more decay resistant. The best way to do this is by fluoridating the drinking water.
Q. Why are baby teeth so important?
A. Often parents do not think primary (baby) teeth are important since they are lost anyway. Primary teeth need the same care as permanent teeth. Your child needs healthy primary teeth for chewing, for good speech habits, appearance, and to preserve space for the permanent teeth.
Q. What is DOCS?
A. Dr. James G. Hood is a member of DOCS Education. As a leading provider of sedation training to dentists in North America, DOCS Education firmly supports the use of all the tried-and-true dental sedation modalities. Oral sedation dentistry, intravenous sedation, and general anesthesia are safe – and in many cases, the medically appropriate option – in the hands of a properly trained dentist. In fact, DOCS Education provides courses in both oral and IV sedation so that dentists can offer these choices to their high-fear patients. DOCS Education founding members and faculty are still practicing dentists and hygienists. Every day they put what is taught in these courses to use.
Glossary of Dental Terms
Breath Treatment: This treatment is necessary for people with halitosis or offensive breath. The majority of cases of bad breath come from inside the mouth and can be cured by restoring infected, decayed or broken teeth, and/or through the regular use of mouth rinses. Some odor may originate from the esophagus or stomach and may require more individualized treatment.
Cosmetic Dentistry: Any operation performed on teeth or other oral tissues to improve the appearance of the patient.
Dentin: The calcified tissue which forms the major part of a tooth. Dentin provides the color for the tooth. Dentin is covered by enamel over the crown of a tooth and covered by cementum over the roots and itself surrounds the pulp chamber and root canals.
Dentistry: The art and science of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the teeth and adjacent tissues, and the restoration of missing teeth and oral structures.
Enamel: The pearly white hard (hardest substance in human body) calcified substance that covers the crown of a tooth.
Floss: Floss is the thread, string or tape used to mechanically remove plaque from between teeth (some say up to 40% of tooth surface) which the toothbrush is unable to reach.
Fluoride: Fluoride is an inorganic chemical element (13th most common element in the earth’s crust) naturally occurring in most foods and water supplies, as well as a natural component of tooth enamel and bone. The body uses fluoride in two ways, systemically (ingested) and topically (gels, solutions, and pastes) and at optimal levels helps teeth to be more resistant to tooth decay.
Health: The state of dynamic equilibrium between the organism and its environment, which maintains the structural and functional characteristics of the organism within the normal limits for a particular form of life (race, genus, species) and the particular phases of its life cycle.
Holistic Health: A concept in medical practice upholding that all aspects of people’s needs, psychological, physical, and social, should be taken into account and seen as a whole. As defined above, the holistic view on treatment is widely accepted in medicine.
Hypnosis: a mental state (state theory) or imaginative role-enactment (non-state theory) usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary instructions and suggestions. Hypnotic suggestions may be delivered by a hypnotist in the presence of the subject, or may be self-administered (“self-suggestion” or “autosuggestion”). The use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is referred to as “hypnotherapy.”
Minerals: An organic chemical compound found in nature, especially one that is solid.
Mouth Rinse: Any oral rinse used to kill bacteria, freshen breath, chemically treat oral tissues, or any combination of these functions.
Nutrition: The sum of the processes concerned in the growth, maintenance, and repair of the living body, as a whole, or of its constituent parts.
Oral Cancer Screening: When your dentist examines your mouth at your routine check-up appointments, he/ she is also screening you for oral cancer. This process only takes about 90 seconds and consists of a visual examination for any presence of cancer. Visit your dentist every 6 months for regular check-ups.
Preventive Dentistry: Any activity that seeks to prevent oral disease, prolong the life of teeth, and promote the health of all oral tissues.
Pulp Cavity: The space within the central part of a tooth which contains the dental pulp (nerves and blood vessels) and comprises the pulp chamber and root canal for each root.
Relaxation: A quick release of tension, a return to equilibrium.
Sedation Dentistry: The use of pharmacological agents to calm and relax a patient prior to and during a dental appointment. The pharmacological agents usually belong to a class of drugs called sedatives, which exert their action by depressing the central nervous system, specifically those areas concerned with conscious awareness.
Supplements: Anything added to, when considering oral health, it is either an oral addition of vitamins or minerals taken systemically or topically. It may also include more frequent tasks such as additional brushing, flossing, etc.
Teeth Whitening: The process of making teeth whiter. Methods include in-office professional whitening systems (i.e. ZOOM) as well as custom-made plastic trays which deliver bleach solutions to teeth at home. Bleaching is most safe when delivery is overseen by a dentist.
Tongue Scraper: A device used to provide oral health to the tongue by scraping to remove bacteria and plaque from the taste buds on the rough dorsal surface of the tongue.
Toothbrush: A preferably soft bristled brush with rounded edges (best if ADA recommended) is used to mechanically remove plaque and bacteria from the surfaces of the tooth which it contacts. Certain brushing techniques (i.e. Bass technique) are most effective.
Vitamins: Any of a group of organic compounds present in variable, minute quantities in natural foodstuffs, required for normal growth and maintenance of life of animals (including man) which, as a rule, are unable to synthesize those compounds.
Wellness: “Wellness is a multidimensional state of being describing the existence of positive health in an individual as exemplified by quality of life and a sense of well-being.” Charles B. Corbin of Arizona State University
Teeth Bleaching
Perhaps the simplest and most frequently used technique to beautify teeth is Teeth Bleaching.
Today, we find a plethora of products which can be used to whiten teeth. Since these products are among the most used, they are also among the most abused products in dentistry.
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body; however, microscopically it is very porous. What people often fail to realize is that the bleaching process opens up those enamel pores on tooth surfaces to accept the bleaching liquid. While bleaching, therefore, it is most important that dark liquids do not come in contact with bleached enamel. Yes, coffee, tea, wine, huckleberry sauce, even apple juice, can stain (or darken) these bleached surfaces. For approximately two weeks following a bleaching period, avoid liquids, sauces, etc., with color.
In our office, we use Zoom! Advanced Power ® the very latest in-office teeth whitening system. We can lighten most people’s teeth in about an hour or less with long-lasting results.
Teeth bleaching has never been safer, faster, or more effective than with Zoom! Advanced Power ®.
Brighten your smile today!
Dr. James G. Hood
Hurry! Save Money on Teeth Whitening!! Source: CNN News
Don’t Break the Bank: A Mom’s Trick to Whiter Teeth
(CNR) — Amidst the second worst recession in United States history, thrifty consumers are turning to the internet to take advantage of special offers.
Amy, an ordinary mom from Palo Alto,CA, discovered a clever trick to get a Celebrity Smile for a little over $4.
Thanks to the trick she discovered, thousands of consumers have been able to whiten their teeth from home.
STEP 1:
First get True White
(use promo code: Smile, brings the shipping cost down to $3.87.)
STEP 2:
Then get Pure White Smile
(Use our exclusive link to drop shipping to $2.95 HERE!)
This is key:
Use both for results like Amy’s
Amy, a school teacher and mom from Palo Alto,CA, is one such consumer. It all started about three months ago when she bought an authentic Coach pocketbook on sale for only $55 (75% off the retail price). She was determined to seek out other great offers and recently made her best find. Amy discovered a clever way of combining two different teeth whitening offers from two different companies – True White and Pure White Smile — to get results similar to that of a professional whitening done by a dentist. Rather then spending $500 at her local dentist to attain a sexy smile, she was able to do so for close to $4 by using free trial offers she found online.
Amy: “I like to consider myself a smart shopper, always finding the best bang for my buck. My online teeth whitening discovery was without a doubt one of the best finds I made this year.”
How did Amy wind up with yellow teeth?
“While my mom always told me be to be proud of who I am and what I look like, I have always been self conscious about my yellow teeth. Truthfully, I have no one to blame for this problem but myself. I smoked for 8 years, drink 2 cups of coffee a day (only way to stay awake at work), and love a glass of red wine to help me sleep at night. Furthermore, I would be lying if I said that I brushed my teeth 3 times a day every day. While I recently quit smoking and have cut back on the amount of coffee I drink, my tooth discoloration seems to be permanent. I used just about every “whitening” toothpaste and mouthwash product on the market and saw little if any improvement.
A co-worker of mine recently recommended to do some research online before making my next purchase. As an elementary school teacher with a modest salary and a sizeable mortgage, cost was a major concern. While searching the Web I found a few online teeth whitening companies giving away free trials where you only had to pay a few dollars for shipping. I ordered two products, True White and Pure White Smile, both of which had 9/10 ratings and positive feedback from all users. After using the first product the results were noticeable, but after following with the second product I had an incredibly brighter smile. I’m far from a medical expert, but it appears that each product focused on DIFFERENT parts of the problem and that the second one put the whitening effect into overdrive. By using them both in a row I had absolutely unbelievable results. I can’t believe companies are practically giving these products away!”
Amy: “I’m an optimist and always look for the silver lining in any situation. While this recession has negatively impacted me like everyone else, my savvy shopping skills got me the smile I always wanted.”
Online teeth whitening companies are DESPERATE for new customers and are giving away free trials as a way to find new clients and offload excess inventory. You can and should take advantage of the downturn in the economy just like Amy.
When asked to elaborate on her discovery Amy said:
“I was impressed with the results after the first 3 days – but once I saw my teeth after a week, I was absolutely blown away… I knew I was onto something. The trick is to use TWO trial products that compliment each other TOGETHER to give yourself a whitening comparable to that of your favorite actress.”
Consumer News Reporting would like to thank Amy for this amazing teeth whitening tip. If you are interested in using Amy’s trick, we have provided links and coupon code information for the two products she used. After further research, we have learned that these coupon codes will work until July 14, 2010, so you have until July 14, 2010 to obtain these free trials. Remember, to get results like Amy’s, you will want to use BOTH products together ($3.95 for True White, $3.87 for Pure White Smile, valid until July 14, 2010):
STEP 1: Click here for True White (Use Code: Smile) (expires: July 14, 2010)
STEP 2: Use our exclusive link to drop Pure White Smile shipping to $2.95! <!–Use Promo Code:–>(expires: July 14, 2010)
Make sure to use both the products as instructed and you’ll have a bright, white smile just like Amy in no time!
Article and photograph courtesy of CNN News at http://www.consumernewsreporting.com/2/index2.php?t202id=31573&t202kw=
Teeth Whitening
Everyone loves clean, glistening white teeth that make a beautiful smile. At Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S. we can help brighten and whiten your teeth as well as help you maintain your dental health.
Dental bleaching, also known as teeth whitening, is a common procedure in general dentistry but most especially in the field of cosmetic dentistry. A child’s deciduous teeth are generally whiter than the adult teeth that follow. As a person ages the adult teeth often become darker due to changes in the mineral structure of the tooth, as the enamel becomes less porous. Teeth can also become stained by bacterial pigments, foodstuffs, and tobacco. Certain antibiotic medications (like tetracycline) can also lead to teeth stains or a reduction in the brilliance of the enamel.
There are many methods to whiten teeth: bleaching strips, bleaching pen, bleaching gel, laser bleaching, and natural bleaching. Traditionally, at-home whitening is done with bleaching gel, which is applied to the teeth using thin guard trays. At-home whitening can also be done by applying small strips that go over the front teeth. Oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide are used to lighten the shade of the tooth. The oxidizing agent penetrates the porosities in the rod-like crystal structure of enamel and oxidizes interprismatic stain deposits; over a period of time, the dentin layer, lying underneath the enamel, is also bleached. Power bleaching uses light energy to accelerate the process of bleaching in a dental surgery. The effects of bleaching can last for several months, but may vary depending on the lifestyle of the patient. Factors which will decrease whitening include smoking and the ingestion of dark colored liquids like coffee, tea, and red wine.
Internal staining of dentine can discolor the teeth from inside out. Internal bleaching can remedy this. If heavy staining or tetracycline damage is present on a patient’s teeth, and whitening is ineffective, there are other methods of whitening teeth. Bonding, when a thin coating of composite material is applied to the front of a person’s teeth and then cured with a blue light, can be performed to mask the staining. A veneer can also mask tooth discoloration.
According to the American Dentist Association there are different options to whiten one’s teeth that include: in-office bleaching, which is applied by a professional dentist; at-home bleaching, which is to be used at home by the patient; over-the-counter, which is applied by patients; and options called non-dental, which are offered at mall kiosks, spas, salons, or other similar places). Whitening products intended for home use include gels, chewing gums, rinses, toothpastes, among others. The ADA has published a list of accepted over-the-counter whitening products in order to help people choose appropriate whitening products.
The ADA recommends having one’s teeth checked by a dentist before undergoing any whitening method. The dentist is recommended to examine the patient thoroughly including a health and dental history, observation of hard and soft tissues, an allergy and sensitivity history, placement and conditions of restorations, and even x-rays in order to determine the nature and depth of possible irregularities.
There are two main methods of gel bleaching—one performed with high-concentration gel, and another with low-concentration agents. High-concentration bleaching can be accomplished either in the dental office, or at home. Performing the procedure at home is accomplished using high-concentration carbamide peroxide, which is readily available online or in dental stores and is much more cost-effective than the in-office procedure. Whitening is performed by applying a high concentration of oxidizing agent to the teeth with thin plastic trays for a short period of time, which produces quick results. The application trays ideally should be well fitted to retain the bleaching gel, ensuring even and full tooth exposure to the gel. Trays will typically stay on the teeth for about 15–20 minutes. Trays are then removed and the procedure is repeated up to two more times. Most in-office bleaching procedures use a light-cured protective layer that is carefully painted on the gums and papilla (the tips of the gums between the teeth) in order to reduce the risk of chemical burns to the soft tissues. The bleaching agent is either carbamide peroxide, which breaks down in the mouth to form hydrogen peroxide, or hydrogen peroxide itself. The bleaching gel typically contains between 10% and 44% carbamide peroxide (15% is recommended) which is roughly equivalent to 3-10% hydrogen peroxide concentration.
Low-concentration whitening is far less effective, and is generally only performed at home. Low-concentration whitening involves purchasing a thin mouth guard or strip that holds a relatively low concentration of oxidizing agent next to the teeth for as long as several hours a day for a period of 5 to 14 days. Results can vary, depending on which application is chosen, with some people achieving whiter teeth in a few days, and others seeing very little results or no results at all. Whitening is potentially better at a dentist because the strip or mouth-guard does not completely conform to the shape of the teeth, sometimes leaving the tips of the teeth (near the gum line) unbleached. The bleaching agent is typically less than 10% hydrogen peroxide equivalent, so irritation to the soft tissue around teeth is minimized. Dentists as well as some dental laboratories can fabricate custom fitted whitening trays that will greatly improve the results achieved with an over-the-counter whitening method.
A typical course of bleaching can produce dramatic improvements in the cosmetic appearance of most stained teeth; however, some stains do not respond to bleaching. Tetracycline staining may require prolonged bleaching, as it takes longer for the bleach to reach the dentine layer. Case studies have been performed on people with tetracycline stained teeth. They used custom bleaching trays every night for 6 months and saw dramatic results and improvement. White-spot decalcifications may also be highlighted and become more noticeable directly following a whiting process, but usually calm back down with the other parts of the teeth becoming whiter. Bleaching is not recommended if teeth have decay or infected gums. It is also least effective when the original tooth color is grayish and may require custom bleaching trays. Bleaching is most effective with yellow discolored teeth. However, whitener does not work where bonding has been used and neither is it effective on tooth-color filling. Other options to deal with such cases are the porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
Although there is a wide range of whitening products and techniques available, the results after using them may vary from very positive results to almost non-existent results. Our office is also delighted to provide Zoom whitening services. Zoom is a revolutionary whitening procedure that is safe, effective, and very fast. In just one hour, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. It is a light activated gel that is a scientifically formulated, pH balanced Hydrogen Peroxide that, when activated by the Zoom light, gently penetrates the teeth to remove deep stains and discoloration. Please ask our staff for details.
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