FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Reception
1. Is gum disease associated with heart attacks, strokes and overall general health?
2. Do tooth whitening gels really work? How safe are they?
3. Is it better to whiten teeth at the dental office, or do it myself with a home whitening kit?
4. What is the ZOOM whitening seen on television makeover shows?
5. Whitening has made my teeth sensitive to cold. What can I do?
6. What is the best way to replace a missing tooth?
IS GUM DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH HEART ATTACKS, STROKES AND OVERALL GENERAL HEALTH? |
Periodontal disease affects 75% of people over 35 years and is the leading cause of lost teeth in adults. It is a significant risk factor in many other general health problems.
Periodal disease is a bacterial infection that starts in the mouth but can affect the whole body. There is a significant association between oral health and overall general health.
Periodontal disease has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
It can influence blood sugar levels, inducing insulin resistance. Prevention and treatment of periodontal disease can have a beneficial effect on glycemic control in diabetic patients.
Women with severe periodontal disease during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to a low birth weight baby. Pregnant women with red, inflammed or bleeding gums are up to eight times more likely to have a premature baby than women with good oral health.
Pregnant women with gum disease who have a simple scaling and root planing to clean their teeth cut their risk of spontaneous, pre-term labour by as much as 84%.
To learn more, click on the following link:
DO TOOTH WHITENING GELS REALLY WORK? HOW SAGE ARE THEY? |
Whitening your teeth is the easiest, quickest way to improve your smile and make that "first impression".
Whitening gels have been proven to be completely safe when used as directed.
Everything we eat and drink has some colouring, from bread, blueberries and broccoli to coffee, tea, red wine and even water. It is natural for these colours to soak into the enamel making teeth look grey and yellow over time.
Whitening gels contain a bleaching peroxide that lifts out the years of stain without damaging the tooth.
Whitening will brighten your teeth for about a year.
Your teeth will naturally continue staining as you eat and drink normal food. Many people find that using the whitening gel for a quick touch up about 2 or 3 times a year will maintain their brighter smile.
IS IT BETTER TO WHITEN MY TEETH AT THE DENTAL OFFICE, LIKE ON THE TV MAKEOVER SHOWS, OR TO DO IT MYSELF WITH A HOME WHITENING KIT. |
.
The "do it yourself" whitening gels and strips you can buy at the local retail store are not as effective as the more advanced light activated formulas and custom tray systems available from your dentist. They can whiten some areas of the teeth better than others, leaving a blotchy appearance. I have found a high incidence of sensitivity with retail products, especially with whitening toothpastes.
There are two types of whitening systems available from your dentist:
1. IN-OFFICE WHITENING: Whitening done in the dental office that uses whitening gels that are activated by special, hight intensity lights. This takes about 1 hour.
2. AT-HOME WHITENING: Whitening system you use at home by placing the whitening gel in a custom made tray that fits over your teeth. This takes about 2 to 3 weeks.
There is no final difference in how bright teeth can become whether you use the IN-OFFICE 1 hour system or the AT-HOME 2 week system.
What people like best about whitening in the dental office is that the results are immediate. You do not have to wait 2 or 3 weeks, sleeping every night wearing a whitening tray in your mouth.
After IN-OFFICE Whitening, you should use an AT-HOME whitening system for quick touching up of future staining. If you are a busy person and want an instant, bright smile for a special occasion, like a wedding, a meeting or a special photograph, then you will love the in-office whitening.
Home whitening kits are convenient because you can touch up your smile whenever you want. You need to wear a custom designed whitening tray to hold the gel against your teeth for at least 4 hours a day for up to 3 weeks to achieve optimum brightning. The custom tray is invisible, very easy to wear, and lasts for years. Home whitening is the most economical way of making your smile brighter.
.
.
.
| WHAT IS THE ZOOM WHITING SEEN ON TELEVISION MAKEOVER SHOWS? |
Of the many IN-OFFICE whitening systems available, ZOOM seems to get the most media coverage. It uses a special, high intensity light to make its gel whiten teeth faster with less sensitivity. It is one of the more popular systems on the market because it is designed to promote safety, comfort and satisfaction for the patient, and ease of use for the dentist.
More advanced whitening gels, like the ZOOM 2 have special light-activated additives that accelerate the bleaching process. ZOOM 2 can make your teeth an average of 8 shades brighter in only 45 minutes. This helps to reduce sensitivity by 73% compared to the original ZOOM system. .
WHITENING HAS MADE MY TEETH SENSITIVE TO COLD. WHAT CAN I DO?
Thermal sensitivity can occur on some teeth from whitening gels. This is temporary and will go away naturally if you stop using the gel. For faster help for sensitive teeth a fluoride treatment by the dentist will instantly stop the sensitivity, and you can continue with the whitening.
Most of my patients who have used whitening gels for over ten years have never had cold sensitivity. Some patients have required one or two desensitizing fluoride treatments over the ten years. A few patients have needed a fluoride treatment once or twice over the two weeks of initial whitening. It has never been a significant problem.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REPLACE A MISSING TOOTH?
This site under construction.
..............................................................................................