Professional Teeth Whitening - Common Misconceptions

Teeth whitening, performed by a cosmetic dentist, is a great way to help you get your teeth looking beautiful when they have become stained. Tooth staining happens quite frequently and can be caused by a variety of factors, such as smoking or drinking coffee or tea. While professional whitening is a great option to help make the teeth look beautiful again, there are many misconceptions about whitening that can cause people to avoid having the procedure done.

Oral Cancer

One of the most bizarre misconceptions is that having professional teeth whitening done can cause oral cancer. This is likely because there are chemicals that are used in the whitening agents, and a lot of people automatically associate chemicals with cancer. This procedure, however, does not cause oral cancer. There have even been several studies done which have proven that the chemicals, which include hydrogen peroxide or carbomide peroxide, do not cause oral cancer when used to whiten teeth.

Damage to Nerves

Another rumor that is common for a cosmetic dentist to hear is that having professional teeth whitening done can damage the nerves or pulp in the teeth. If the chemicals are not used correctly, they definitely could cause problems with the teeth. There are, however, regulations in place which ensure that the amount of chemicals used are mild enough to cause no damage to the teeth, which is why it could take two or three treatments before the teeth become fully white.

Other Dental Work

Many people have other dental work done on their teeth due to necessity or desire, including caps and fillings. Fillings or root canals are not negatively affected by professional whitening techniques, and actually respond very favorably to them. There are some instances, however, such as bonding or crowns, which will not react well with tooth whitening. This is why it is a good idea to go to a Denver cosmetic dentistry center that you trust and to get an opinion about what the best option is for your teeth whitening desires. There are always other options, which include porcelain veneers or replacing the existing work, which can allow you to have a beautiful looking smile even if you can’t have professional teeth whitening done.