All Clinics that provide Teeth Whitening in US

Lighten the natural colour of your teeth

Teeth Whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve the overall look of your smile. Once the preserve of movie stars, it is now both affordable and readily available, and there are quite a few options to choose from.

Modern teeth whitening methods are so effective, that almost anyone can get their teeth whitened to a significant degree of brightness, and many treatments can be completed in one visit to the dentist.

What is Tooth Whitening?

Tooth Whitening is the process used to improve the brightness of the teeth, which is achieved by removing as much staining as possible. The techniques used range from natural home remedies to chemical and laser teeth whitening methods performed by cosmetic dentists.

The constant build up of organic pigments on the teeth can cause them to discolour over a period of time. These protein pigments derive from the different kinds of food, drink, tobacco and even antibiotics people consume over the years, and cause the natural whiteness of their teeth to be gradually diminished.

The yellowing of the teeth is also a part of the ageing process, and is determined to some extent by genetic and dietary factors. Some people just have naturally brighter enamel than others.

What different types exist?

There are quite a few options available to choose from. Most artificial methods rely on some form of peroxide to remove stains and bleach your teeth white.

When peroxide compounds are used, oxygen is released and bleaches the pigmented substances present in the enamel the teeth. This method restores the natural colour of the teeth without corroding the surface enamel.

Teeth whitening procedures can be performed at a dentist’s office, or in the comfort of your own home. Here are some of the popular techniques.

Whitening Toothpastes

Whitening toothpastes contain certain mildly abrasive components which help scrub away the surface stains, and leave teeth looking cleaner and whiter. They don’t however have a bleaching action. Whitening toothpastes are generally not as effective as other methods of teeth whitening.

Whitening Strips

Teeth whitening strips come in the form of a sticky tape that may be directly applied across the front the teeth. They contain a bleaching solution that incorporates a peroxide compound, and are usually used twice a day for about half an hour each time. Teeth whitening strips may be bought over-the-counter as well as from your dentist.

Whitening Gels

Teeth whitening gels are also peroxide based, and they are applied over the teeth with a small brush. Self application gel kits are available that can be used at home. The kit usually comes with a peroxide gel-filled mouth tray that is fitted to your teeth. They are simple to use, reasonably affordable, and effective.

Whitening procedures at the Dentist’s Office

A cosmetic dentist can perform this procedure, which involves the direct application of a gel to the teeth under controlled heating, or with the help of a special light or laser, or even a combination of the three.

The procedure will typically last 30 to 60 minutes, and sometimes requires more than one sitting to be properly effective. This procedure will give you quick results, and will be correspondingly more expensive when compared with the home whitening kit.

Gel Treatment under Dental Supervision

This is one of the more popular methods of teeth whitening, and can be slightly more affordable when compared to the procedure performed by a cosmetic dentist.

A custom-made tooth tray containing carbamide peroxide gel is be provided. This is considered to be more effective than treatment using hydrogen peroxide, and reaches virtually every contour of teeth, rendering them as white as possible.

The method of usage is similar to that of a teeth whitening gel kit, and the tray supplied can be reused later as and when required.

How safe are Tooth whitening methods?

A vast body of research has been done on the efficacy and safety aspects of the teeth whitening methods that are in use today, and they have been reported to be quite safe. Modern techniques rarely give rise to sensitive gums or other side effects, and qualified dentists are quite emphatic that tooth whitening is one of the safest cosmetic dental procedures available.

The effects of tooth whitening typically last for one to two years, and sometimes longer depending on your dental hygiene and dietary habits

How much does teeth whitening cost?

The costs can vary depending upon location and the type of whitening treatment selected. Here are some sample prices from the UK.

Teeth whitening toothpastes are priced at £4.50 to £14.50 for a tube of 4.2oz. They contain a protein pellicle to which plaque, stains and bacteria adhere and get eliminated while rinsing.

A tooth whitening gel kit is usually priced at around £100.

Teeth whitening and teeth bleaching procedures cost around about £250 on average.

When having the whitening treatment performed by a cosmetic dentist, the cost depends upon the number of sittings required to get the teeth whitened to a significant degree. Most often, dental insurance will not cover the cost of a teeth whitening procedure.

Laser teeth whitening is likely to be priced at over £500.

Dentistry in the US

Today's dentists are highly sophisticated health professionals who provide a wide range of oral health care that contributes to the general health and quality of their patients' lives.

Dentists are trained to treat all patients, adults and children, in many different treatment facilities and settings. In doing so, a general dentist may:

- use the latest techniques and equipment to examine the oral cavity to identify and diagnose oral conditions that may manifest into systemic disease and determine the oral health of the patient;
- use radiographic, computer-generated imaging, and other specialized diagnostic techniques to identify diseases of the teeth, supporting bone and gingival tissues, and other tissues in the oral cavity and head and neck;
- restore and replace teeth damaged by decay, lost from trauma or disease, with newly developed dental materials, implants, and crown and bridge techniques;
- perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease;
- extract teeth when necessary using the most up-to-date anesthetic techniques;
- eliminate pain arising from oral diseases, conditions and trauma, making use of prescriptive medicines to reduce pain and discomfort;
- correct mal-positioned teeth to improve chewing, speech, digestion of food and appearance;
- provide instruction and advice on oral health care and preventive measures to maintain healthy oral tissues and prevent oral disease;
- evaluate the overall health of their patients including taking and evaluating comprehensive medical histories;
- oversee the administration and business of private practice and frequently employ and supervise a large number of staff and allied dental personnel to help treat their family of patients.

US dental specialties

Approximately 80% of all US dentists are general dentists. Additional experience, training or education beyond a DMD or DDS allows general dentists to specialize. The American Dental Association formally recognizes 9 specialty areas of dental practice:

Endodontics – diagnosis and treatment of injuries that are specific to the dental nerves and pulp (matter inside the tooth).
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology - study and research of the causes, processes, and effects of diseases with oral manifestations.
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology - taking and interpretation of conventional, digital, CT, MRI, and allied imaging modalities of oral-facial structures and disease.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – diagnostic services and treatment for injuries, diseases, and defects of the neck, head jaw, and associated structures.
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics – diagnosis and treatment of problems related to irregular dental development, missing teeth, and other abnormalities.
Pediatric Dentistry – treatment of children from birth to adolescence.
Periodontics - corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease.
Prosthodontics - restoration and replacement of teeth damaged by decay, lost from trauma or disease, with fixed or removable appliances constructed with newly developed dental material.
Dental Public Health - development of policies and programs, such as health care reform, that affect the community at large.

Allied dental professions

Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory work. Additional duties vary from state to state, depending on that state's Dental Practice Act, and depending upon how involved the dentist would like the assistant to be.

Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals who have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program in an institution of higher education, licensed in dental hygiene to provide educational, clinical, research, administrative, and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimum oral health.

Dental laboratory technology is the art and science of manufacturing corrective devices and replacements for natural teeth. A dental lab technician (also called dental technician) works closely with the dentist, who plans the treatment and places the restoration or corrective device in the patient's mouth. There are two types of dentistry which call for the skills of a dental lab tech. Restorative (or prosthetic) dentistry is peformed when patients lose teeth through an accident or illness, and the teeth must be replaced to maintain normal functions. Orthodontic treatment is provided when teeth must be moved or stabilized to optimize function or to prevent painful dysfunction.

Resources

American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
312-440-2500
website: www.ada.org

American Dental Association has more than 156,000 dentist members. It was established in 1859 and it's the world's oldest and largest national dental asssociation. The Association's official publication is The Journal of the American Dental Association.

American Dental Education Association
1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202-289-7201
Fax: 202-289-7204
website: www.adea.org

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is a national organization representing academic dentistry. ADEA members are more than 16,000 students, faculty, staff, and administrators from all of the US and Canadian dental schools, many allied and postdoctoral education programs, and numerous corporations working in oral health education.

The biggest choice of teeth whitening clinics in US with Prices, Patient Reviews, Maps. Everything you need to find the best teeth whitening for you in US.