4 - Tooth whitening Flashcards
What are the extrinsic causes of tooth discolouration?
- smoking
- tannins
- chromogenic bacteria
- chlorohexadine
- iron supplements
What are intrinsic causes of tooth discolouration? (9)
- fluorosis
- tertracycline (old antibiotic)
- loss of vitality
- age
- dental materials
- porphyria
- CF
- thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia
- hyperbilirubinaemia
What discolouration does porphyria cause?
Red primary teeth
What discolouration does CF cause?
Grey
What discolouration does thalassemia or sickle cell disease cause?
Blue, green or brown
What discolouration does hyperbilirubinaemia cause?
Green
What are the different types of tooth bleaching?
- external vital
- internal non-vital
Describe external vital bleaching.
- good for discolouration caused by chromogenic products
- bleaching oxides organic molecules, the smaller molecules are less pigmented
- hydrogen peroxide is the active agent
Describe how hydrogen peroxide acts as the active bleaching agent.
- forms acidic solution in water
- free radical is formed (hydroxyl) which is the active oxidising agent
- oxidises long organic molecules to breakdown into smaller molecules which are less pigmented
What are the constituents of external bleaching gel?
- carbamide peroxide
- carbopol
- urea
- surfactant
- pigment dispersers
- preservative
- flavour
- potassium nitrate
- calcium phosphate
- fluoride
What is carbamide peroxide?
- active ingredient
- breakdowns to produce urea and hydrogen peroxide
- maximum 16.7% carbamide peroxide in gel
What is carbopol?
- thickening agent, increases viscosity to keep gel where placed
- slow release of oxygen
- diffuses slowly into enamel
What is urea?
- raises pH of gel
- stabilises hydrogen peroxide and slows reaction
What is surfactant?
Allows gel to wet the tooth surface
What factors affect the bleaching result?
- time increases effect
- cleanliness of tooth surfaces increases effect
- concentration increases effect
- higher temperature increases speed of effect
What should you warn your patient of before beginning external bleaching?
- sensitivity
- relapse
- colour of restoration won’t change
- allergy
- may not work
- compliance is key