In our appearance-conscious society, many people are interested in improving their smile. One of the simplest and effective ways of doing this is through whitening or bleaching the teeth. Basically, this can be done by applying a type of peroxide to the enamel for a period of time each day over the course of a week or two. The peroxide changes the color of the teeth so they look lighter and brighter. The peroxide does not harm the enamel in any way. The amount of change in tooth color varies from patient to patient. Brown or yellow discoloration seems to respond better than grayish discoloration.

Smoking cigarettes and drinking red wine and cola beverages makes the whitening process take longer and be less effective. Only the enamel will respond to the peroxide solution. If there are fillings or crowns in the area that you are whitening, they will not change e color. They may have to be replaced to match the color of the newly whitened enamel. Whitening is not permanent, but it is longlasting. Some patients need a refresher after six months, and others can to a year or more before re-whitening. Next week, we'll talk about different techniques for whitening your teeth. Presented in the interest of promoting a better dental health environment from the office of" Frank Soltiz, DDS 13367 Broadway Alden, New York 14004 937-7812