Dental Bleaching
Dental bleaching, also known as tooth whitening, is a common procedure in the field of cosmetic dentistry. As a person ages, the teeth often become darker due to changes in the mineral structure of the dentine, and also because with age the external ‘white' enamel becomes thinner due to wear. Teeth can also become stained by bacterial pigments, foodstuffs and tobacco. Certain antibiotic medications (e.g. tetracycline) can also lead to tooth discolouration.
Bleaching can be an effective, conservative and relatively inexpensive method to improve the colour of natural teeth. However, bleaching effectiveness is dependant on the severity and type of stain, and also the willingness to comply with bleaching instructions when wearing a bleaching stent.