Tooth whitening Flashcards
What are the extrinsic causes of tooth discolouration?
Smoking
Tannins
- Tea
- Coffee
- Red wine
- Guinness
What are non extrinsic causes of tooth discolouration?
- Chromogenic Bacteria
- Chlorhexidine
- Iron supplements
What are some intrinsic causes of tooth discoloration?
- Fluorosis
- Tetracycline
- Non-vitality (blood products)
- Physiological (age changes)
Dental Materials - Amalgam
- Root filling materials
- Porphyria (red primary teeth)
- Cystic Fibrosis (grey teeth)
- Thalassemia, Sickle Cell anaemia (blue, green or brown teeth)
- Hyperbilirubinaemia (green teeth)
What is the first method of tooth whitening for extrinsic staining?
- Always HPT (Hydrogen peroxide)
What are the two types of tooth bleaching?
- External Vital bleaching
- Internal Non- Vital bleaching
- Can be used together in non-vital teeth*
How is discoloration caused?
- Caused by formation of chemically stable, chromogenic products within tooth substance
- They are long chain organic molecules
How does vital external bleaching chemically change the long chain organic molecules that cause discoloration?
- Bleaching oxidises the compounds
- Oxidation leads to smaller molecules which are not pigmented
- Oxidation can cause ionic exchange in metallic molecules leading to lighter colour
What is the active agent in Vital external bleaching?
- Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
What is hydrogen peroxide used for?
- Bleaching agent in industry
- Bleach hair
- Disinfectant
- Rarely in modern tooth bleaching products
How does hydrogen peroxide bleach things?
- Forms an acidic solution in water
- Breaks down to form water and oxygen
- Free radical per each hydroxyl (HO2) is formed which is the active oxidising agent
- Is a very fast oxidising agent
What are the constituents of tooth bleaching gel?
- Carbamide peroxide
- Carbopol
- Urea
- Surfactant
- Pigment dispersers
- Preservative
- Flavour
- Potassium Nitrate
- Calcium Phosphate
- Fluoride
What is carbamide peroxide used for in vital external bleaching?
- Active ingredient
- Breaks down to produce hydrogen peroxide and urea
- 10% carbamide peroxide leads to 3.6% H2O2 + 6.4% urea
- Urea increases pH
What is Carbopol used for in vital external bleaching?
- Thickening agent
- Slows release of oxygen
- Increases viscosity of gel so it stays where you put it (stays on teeth and on tray)
- Slows diffusion into enamel
What is urea used for in External tooth bleaching?
- Raises pH
- Stabilises hydrogen peroxide
What is surfactant used for in external tooth bleaching?
- Allows gel to wet the tooth surface
What is potassium nitrate and calcium phosphate used for in external tooth bleaching?
- Tooth desensitising agents
What is fluoride used for in external tooth bleaching?
- Prevents erosion
- Desensitising effect
What factors affect bleaching in external vital bleaching?
Time (more time = more effect)
Cleanliness of tooth surface (Cleaner = better)
Conc of solution (higher conc = more and quicker effect)
Temp (higher = quicker effect)
What is the first thing to check on a patient before you start external vital tooth bleaching?
- Check patient is dentally fit
- Any leakage around carious cavity margins will lead to pulpal damage
- Take shade and agree with patient and record in notes (Take photo with shade guide in pic)
What are some warning you should give patient for external vital tooth bleaching?
- Sensitivity
- Relapse
- Restoration colour
- Allergy
- Might not work
- Compliance with regime
What are the two ways to do vital external bleaching?
- Chair-side/in office
- Home
What are the two ways to do vital external bleaching?
- Chair-side/in office
- Home
What are the advantages to in office bleaching?
- Controlled by dentist
- Can use heat/light
- Quick results for patient
What are the disadvantages to in office bleaching?
- Time for dentist
- Can be uncomfortable
- Results tend to wear off quicker
- Expensive
What is the technique for in office external bleaching?
- Thorough cleaning of teeth
- Ideally rubber dam
- At least gingival mask
- Apply bleaching gel to tooth
- Apply heat/light
- Wash/dry/repeat
- Takes 30mins to an Hour
Are heat/light/laser really necessary for external bleaching?
- No evidence of better bleaching
- Good heat sources
- Mainly marketing technique
- Good initial result due to dehydration but wears off quickly
What is an essential structure that should be protected for in office bleaching?
- Protect the gingivae