Tooth Whitening

[joe]

Years of cola, chocolate, rebelious non-brushing as a kid and once upon a time, coffee and cigarettes, have taken their toll. Recently there was a thread claiming Chinese dentists to be world class so it got me thinking once again about putting a laser to the ol pearly yellows.

Has anyone had any experience with cosmetic dentistry in China, specifically laser whitening? Cost? Effectiveness? Scarring and blindness?




And it seems it was the Chinese who invented bristle toothbrushes !

[Lotus Eater]

I know nothing about laser whitening. But back in Oz my dentist told me NOT to use the tooth whitening toothpaste as it's role is to take off a layer of enamel - thereby weakening the tooth itself.

Would laser work the same way?

[OZgronk]

Joe, I too was taken by those posts.

I am also thinking of starting off with something non too intrusive like whitening then depending upon that, going onto having my amalgam fillings replaced with tooth coloured ones.

I am worried though that whenever I stop to look at anything in the street, market, shops etc I attract a crowd, would the same thing happen around the shop front window of the dentists, or would they come right in to stand really close!

[Norbert Radd]

I keep on hearing ads on Hong Kong radio about beautiful teeth but people neglecting their gums.
Don't all the Hollyweird stars get their teeth capped? That may be an inexpensive option here

[woza17]

Lotus my Chinese dentist told me the same thing I would be interested in hearing more about the laser does it just take off the surface crap?

Teeth are very important for first impressions.. They are the windows of your genetic, financial and so on.

[joe]

I don't know how laser whitening works. All I know comes from watching George Clooney in that film about divorce lawyers. But I did once get a filling replaced in Changsha, Hunan. A lot of people looked in my mouth.

I had it done at an affiliated teaching hospital of some kind, so it was off the street. There were three chairs and two open doors and lots of students being directed to landmarks in my mouth by what I assume was the professor. The translator from the school had a look.

They used peroxide for sterilisation, but they didn't use anaesthetic, they just drilled until I made noise. But it was over quickly, and a year later an Oz dentist took a look and pronounced it a good job.

The dumbest part of it all was the being invited to lunch straight afterward by the twit who got me the appointment. Perhaps the actual dumbest part was being at the mercy of hungry translator. We did go to lunch.

[woza17]

Hey Joe, would peroxide make your teeth whiter. I have never heard of peroxide being used as a sterealizer just that it makes your hair blonder.


George spelling alert

[George61]

sterealizer

...sterilizer

[joe]

I think it was peroxide. They had this dark purple liquid they dipped sticks with cotton tips into. The sticks then went into my mouth.

[teleplayer]

woza17 said:

Hey Joe, would peroxide make your teeth whiter. I have never heard of peroxide being used as a sterealizer just that it makes your hair blonder.

George spelling alert

Be very careful with Peroxide. Having developed periodentitis (gum disease) and beating it, then having a recurrence, I used peroxide under a dentists care. However, it has since been found that peroxide weakens the tissue that connects gum to tooth. I DO NOT DO THAT ANYMORE.

Over the counter whitening kits, which contain peroxide, have a one-size-fits-all tray that, if not fitted will allow the peroxide to contact your gums. The ones used by dentists are trimmed to fit your teeth and gums so that the peroxide doesn't touch your gums. Then, after the treatment the peroxide is cleaned off.

Furthermore, peroxide causes sensitivity to heat. THe following article explains. They also say the sensitivity can be counteracted by exposure time and by fluoride. I say caveat emptor-- buyer beware. I'll stay with my cleaned quarterly, look like real ivory teeth instead of going for Hollywood Plastique.

www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MKX/is_3_73/ai_n6093036

Various scientific research studies have been published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. "The Effects of Bleaching Application Time on the Dental Pulp" concluded that some people experience increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures following tooth bleaching treatments, but this can be alleviated by shortening the bleaching time and applying fluoride (Schulte 1334).

Several studies have been done concerning the effects of bleaching on soft tissues in the mouth. In "Effects of a Bleaching Agent on Human Gingival Fibroblasts" Dr. Tipton determined that "despite protective mechanisms, bleaching agents may adversely affect fibroblasts ... if they gain access to the underlying gingival connective tissue. In situations where there may already be tissue injury, as in the case of alcohol use or smoking, the toxic effects may be exacerbated" (DSC Online). Gingival fibroblasts are those cells that develop connective gum tissue around the teeth.

In "Assessing the Effects of a 10 Percent Carbamide Peroxide on Oral Soft Tissues" James W. Curtis, Jr., DMD et al, discovered that "Under the supervision of a dentist, tooth bleaching is not harmful to oral tissues. In fact, the amount of plaque is even lowered during the first week of bleaching." Dr. Curtis added that "the six-week study may not be long enough to determine future conditions of the mouth" (1221-22).

[Lotus Eater]

In situations where there may already be tissue injury, as in the case of alcohol use or smoking, the toxic effects may be exacerbated"

You'd have to give up drinking. For whiter teeth??? Not worth it.

[teleplayer]

deborann said:

In situations where there may already be tissue injury, as in the case of alcohol use or smoking, the toxic effects may be exacerbated"

You'd have to give up drinking. For whiter teeth??? Not worth it.

Absolutely agree with that!

[Mr Nobody]

Hey, a topic about medical matters about which I know absolutely nothing.

I better do some research. . . .

Nah.

[teleplayer]

daoding said:

Hey, a topic about medical matters about which I know absolutely nothing.

I better do some research. . . .

Nah.

What!!!
Man, I would have thought you would be all over peroxide, it's virtues and vices!!
Then again, it's too easy for each do his/her own research.

[icebear]

I was curious about this too. Not tooth whitening, but rather something like that new invisalign process (the invisible braces). I've got good teeth with a gap or two and wouldn't be against getting them straigthened. Only problem is that runs around $6000, which probably would be barely worth it with the worst snaggletooth around. Anyone know of this being offered around China for cheap?

Then again, I doubt I'd feel very secure getting dirt cheap dentistry (or orthodontia).



This guy could probably use it though, regardless of cost.

[gengrant]

least he still has one good bottle opener left there...