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Bleaching (Whitening)
Etiology Type of Discoloration 
Stains Mild Tetracycline stains
Discoloration Caused by tobacco, coffee, tea or highly colored food
Yellowing, natural aging tooth whitening.
Factors & Causes
Tooth color is in most cases an inherited trait, however, tooth color mainly depends upon the condition of the teeth, dental health and lifestyle.
Various factors could lead to tooth darkening or discoloration. The most common factor are : the intake of staining fluids, such as cola, tea, coffee or wine; tobacco; cigarette smoking and time.
Change in temperature of foods and drinks allow the teeth to expand and contract, thus enabling the penetration of stains onto the teeth.
Foods that are slightly acidic open up the pores of the enamel and allow stains to move in. Teeth darken as we age because the staining factors act upon the teeth for a longer period of time.
There are also internal causes such as tetracycline stains, fluorosis, injury, dental work and, of course, the aging process. Depending upon the severity of staining, bleaching will lighten the darkest areas but may not totally remedy the condition.
The teeth can be discolored by many reasons including food and beverage like a tea, coffee, and definitely from smoking.
The teeth whitening procedure
Using of peroxide to remove any discoloration and stains to whiten the teeth. The peroxide will get into the oral cavity and let oxygen take effect with enamel to bleach the teeth. This process will whiten the natural color of the teeth, but not destroy the surface. Use of laser, light or heat may use as an activator. Ordinary non-laser whitening systems require longer treatment times and higher energy output because of their inefficiencies. Non-laser whitening devices use just a tiny percentage of the polychromatic light's energy. The rest of the energy is wasted as heat and light, which is absorbed by the teeth and adjacent tissues, which often results in intra-operative and post-operative sensitivity.
Laser Tooth Whitening
The treatment is to apply the bleaching agent such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide gel on the surface of the teeth. Then, the gel will be affected by the diode laser light to lighten the teeth. The laser wavelength output is synchronized to the proprietary whitening gel, which increases efficiency and minimizes the amount of energy required to produce maximum whitening. This results in shortened treatment time and increases effectiveness while eliminating the heating of teeth that can result in post-operative sensitivity.



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