How does teeth whitening differ from scaling and polishing?
Scaling and polishing remove plague and external stains that stick on the outer surfaces of teeth. These external stains or discolouration may be caused by long-term smoking, frequent intake of certain foods or drinks, such as coffee and tea, or improper oral hygiene.
Although scaling and polishing may remove some of these external discolourations, they can not remove the deep stains that may be found in the deeper layers of the tooth. These deep stains are caused by the build up of dark pigmentation as a result of previous trauma or accident, old age, genetics, or certain antibiotic such as tetracycline. In these types of cases, a cosmetic dental procedure such as teeth whitening may be needed to give a whitening effect.
Teeth whitening uses an appropriate concentration of hydrogen peroxide to whiten the teeth. It can be carried out while you are lying on the dental chair (chair-side whitening) or it can be done by you at home with specific instructions given by our dentists (take-home whitening).
Teeth whitening is a treatment option that can give you a brighter smile while preserving the structural integrity of your teeth. It is important to note that not all teeth are responsive to whitening procedures as its success depends upon a number of factors, such as the cause of your teeth discolouration, how long your teeth have been discoloured and certain underlying medical factors.
Teeth whitening is a complicated treatment procedure and is carried out by our dentists only after a thorough assessment of your teeth and gum.