Julia Roberts, Eva Longoria, and Cindy Crawford do it - they all are caring for their white and shiny teeth. Ashlee Simpson, too. They whiten their teeth for the ultimate Hollywood smile. Do you want bright white teeth? We introduce you to the different methods of bleaching.
General information about whiteningThe history of whitening - white teeth is in fashion since ever. For hundreds of years, people conceive the desire for white teeth. Already our ancestors used the most adventurous home remedies to whiten their teeth. They applied chemicals, acids or even urine from animals and humans to their teeth. Without success. In the 1960s, American dentists pioneered tooth whitening and they also found methods that are successful.
What do you have to consider when bleaching?What color our teeth have is in our genes. By consuming tobacco, coffee, tea or red wine, formerly white teeth may discolor externally. But even the intake of certain medications, tooth decay or malnutrition can change the tooth color from the inside. Nowadays, there are different ways to lighten the tooth color, so to bleach.
Health goes before beauty!Before each bleaching, you should make an appointment with the dentist. Professional teeth cleaning removes pads and exposes the patient's exact tooth color. So you can see if whitening is necessary at all. The whitening can not brighten tooth fillings, crowns, and bridges. Teeth and gums must be completely healthy when whitening up your teeth. Otherwise, it can cause damage and pain. For bleaching most dentist use hydrogen peroxide, which is also used to bleach the hair. Pregnant Queens should, therefore, refrain from whitening. In the first days after treatment, the teeth can be sensitive to acid, sweetness, heat or cold. However, this unpleasant side effect should abate soon.
By adding fluoride one can reduce the sensitivity of the teeth. How long bleaching lasts depends on the daily care of the teeth. Mostly, however, the treatment has to be repeated after a few years. The health insurance does not cover the costs of bleaching because it is an aesthetic procedure that is not medically necessary.
Beautiful, white teeth with a professional whiteningBleaching at the dentist office bleachingDentists and dental cosmetics perform this method. Because in-office bleaching uses a highly concentrated bleaching agent, the dentist has to cover the gum first with something called rubber dam. The concentrate is applied directly to the teeth and stays there for about 15 to 30 minutes. Often, the so-called power bleaching is performed, in which the teeth are additionally irradiated with light to enhance the effect of the bleaching agent.
Internal bleaching Internal bleaching, also known as walking bleach, is a particular procedure for whitening dead teeth. For this reason, the tooth is drilled out and filled with a bleaching agent. After the tooth has been provisionally closed again, the remedy remains in the tooth for one or more days and can be removed then. Duration: One to three treatments. Cost: The in-office whitening costs in total between 300 and 1000 $. For single teeth whitening 30 to 80 $ per tooth are calculated. Advantages and disadvantages As the whitening is carried out professionally in a doctor's office or with a dental hygienist, the risk of damaging the teeth is low. The result of the treatment is immediately visible and can be corrected if necessary. Of course, so much care has a (high) price.
Home bleaching In the case of a professional home bleaching, the dentist makes special plastic splints after an impression of the dentition. These are filled with a whitening gel and remain on the teeth for between one and eight hours. Compared to highly bleached in-office whitening bleach, the gel contains only 10 to 15 percent hydrogen peroxide at home. Duration: 5 to 20 treatments, depending on how long you wear the splints and how persistent the discoloration is.Cost: between 250 and 700 $ for both splints. The gel costs about 20 $. Advantages and disadvantages
Isabella has tested the home bleaching: "From another dental treatment, I already had specially made plastic splints. That's why I did not hesitate when, just a few years ago, my doctor suggested adding whitening gel to the splints and lightening my teeth. I was supposed to wear the splint with the gel for eight consecutive nights for eight hours each. When I tried the over night bleaching out for the first time, everything worked wonderfully. My teeth got lighter, and I had no complaints after bleaching. Only the wearing of the rails bothered me a bit. But three nights of suffering in the service of beauty I could endure. When I wanted to repeat the procedure after a few years, my teeth suddenly became hypersensitive after the second treatment. I stopped home bleaching immediately because I was afraid of damaging my teeth. Since I now know that this hypersensitivity may occur after bleaching, I would try the home bleaching again today. However, only in combination with fluorides, which calm and protect the sensitive teeth. "
Veneers Veneers, or "facades," are dental veneers made of ceramic or plastic that are between 0.3 and 1 mm thick. They are attached to your tooth using an adhesive. The ceramic bowls look deceptively similar to your teeth and can not only change the color of the teeth but also repair tooth gaps or crooked teeth. The first veneers were manufactured in the 1930s by the American dentist Dr. Charles Pincus. He gave Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean the perfect celebrity smile. At that time, however, the bonding technique was not yet known, the ceramic shells held a maximum of one day on the teeth of the stars and had to be replaced regularly. Now, the ceramic veneers have a shelf life of up to 15 years after gluing. Duration: About 30 minutes per tooth.Costs: A single Veneer costs between 800 and 1500 $ or even beyond, depending on the quality and complexity. Advantages and disadvantages: Veneers have the most extended durability of all bleaching methods. That's why stars like Hilary Duff and Miley Cyrus swear on this method. Of all the whitening techniques, however, veneers are the most expensive option.