>Q. My teeth have been yellow since I was young. Who can fix this problem for me, or is there some product I can buy to do it myself?
A. Tooth bleaching - also known as tooth whitening - is a common procedure in general dentistry and especially in cosmetic dentistry.
Your teeth enamel can be discoloured by ageing, chemical damage or stains from external sources, including medication, coffee, tea and cigarettes.
Tooth bleaching can be done on your own at home, but in the dentist's office you have a special light or laser, both of which use a whitening gel.
This translucent bleaching gel is applied to the teeth and a laser beam is used to activate crystals that absorb the beam's energy and penetrate the enamel.
The time this takes depends on the degree of discoloration. One visit is usually enough for brighter teeth, but often you need to follow up with bleaching at home for the best results.
To do the bleaching at home you need a custom-fitted tray that contains bleaching gel and is worn over the teeth for a short period each day.
Some people experience discomfort wearing the mouth tray, but your dentist can adjust it for a better fit.
"Take-home" or "over-the-counter" bleaching is easy and less expensive that a trip to the dentist, but results can vary with the kind of application used.
Results can sometimes be evident in a couple of days, but it usually takes a week or two to see the full whitening. Meanwhile others might see no results at all.
And while bleaching is quite effective, there can be short-term disadvantages, such as sore gums or teeth due to the bleach.
Some individuals are more chemically sensitive. If you are, inform your dentist. He'll test your sensitivity to the bleach solution.
When there is serious discoloration, veneers or crowns might be the better choice.
