Everybody knows about tooth
whitening and the amazing effects it can have on your smile, but not
everybody understands how it works. The actual whitening procedure involves
placing a whitening gel, containing the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide,
in contact with the surface enamel of the teeth. This is done using
specially prepared trays at the dentist’s surgery.
When it touches the enamel,
the hydrogen begins to seep into it and bleaches any discoloured or
stained patches and turns them white. This process can be very short
or it can be repeated over the course of a number of weeks for more
dramatic effects. It is always recommended that you have whitening carried
out by a professional as some take home whitening treatments can be
damaging to the soft tissue. Dentists will be able to use the necessary
safety equipment to protect the tongue, lips and other soft tissue from
coming into contact with the whitening gel.
As well as tooth whitening guide,
there are a number of other dental and cosmetic procedures that can
enhance your appearance. Orthodontic straightening or porcelain veneers
can also improve how your teeth look. On a more cosmetic level it is
possible to have the size and shape of your nose altered to look more
congruous with the rest of your face. This is called rhinoplasty surgery,
but more commonly referred to as a nose job or nose surgery. This is
one of the most popular cosmetic treatments because the nose is such
a dominant feature on the face.
It is also possible to have
dermal fillers to firm and freshen facial tissue. These involve using
proteins such as collagen, botox and hyaluronic acid which occur naturally
in the skin. By injecting these proteins into the muscles just under
the surface of the skin you can prevent the appearance of wrinkles and
even the reverse the process on a temporary basis. Dermal fillers last
on average about four months before they will need topping up.
Whatever you choose, cosmetic
dentistry and surgery can help to make you feel better about your appearance
which can give you the confidence you might want to do other things.
See your practitioner to ask what they could do for you.