Brighter smiles

Summer is the season when people want bronzed bodies and glistening white teeth. And with some new products available, getting either is easy.

But if self-tanning lotion can sometimes give your skin an orange tint, what do those whiteners do to your teeth?

Area dentists say tooth whitening is completely safe and effective, if done properly. While there are dozens of over-the-counter products available for people interested in having a brighter smile, only those done by a dental professional are guaranteed to give you a truly white smile, the professionals say.

Cape Girardeau dentist Dr. David Kaelin has been whitening patients' teeth for 20 years, but the procedure has grown increasingly popular in recent years.

"It's just evolved into what it is now," Kaelin said. "It used to be very lengthy and very expensive. We had to lighten each tooth individually."

Now the process Kaelin uses takes about an hour. The bleaching gel, which has a minty taste, is applied to the teeth, and then a plasma arc light is used to activate the gel's whitening agents.

Kaelin said that the amount of pain or sensitivity a patient feels depends on the person. Some people experience no discomfort while others require a slower application because of sensitivity.

The whitening process done in a dentist's office usually costs between $375 and $500 and is rarely covered by insurance. The products available at discount stores and pharmacies usually run between $10 and $20.

The American Dental Association has been monitoring dental whitening products for the past decade, and there are dozens to keep track of, from Crest White Strips to Rembrandt's Whitening Wand.

You can either choose over-the-counter bleaching agents, which often contain less peroxide than what a dental professional uses, or whitening toothpastes.

Whitening toothpastes, like Colgate's baking soda and peroxide formula, improve tooth appearance by removing surface stains. The enamel on your teeth can be stained by smoking or chewing tobacco, sodas, coffee, tea and some fruits. The toothpastes don't bleach the teeth but use a mild abrasive to remove the stain.

When a dentist does the whitening, the color lasts for several years, though regular "boosts" are suggested every six months. And the whitening won't affect any fillings or crowns already in a patient's mouth.

Visiting a dentist's office gives you the greatest amount of whitening, said Linda Sudekeum, a dental assistant at Dr. Michael Bennett's office. "The results are more noticeable than the over-the-counter" products, she said. "Not only does it get your teeth whiter, but it gives a sparkle to your smile."

Because it's being done in a professional setting, the products used have more of the bleaching agent than what is sold at a drug store. The amount of peroxide in the solution can be adjusted at a dentist's office. Most people do well with a 10-percent peroxide solution.

"You have to be careful that you aren't burning your gums," Sudekeum said. "If it's not done correctly then you can get sensitivity, and at a dentist's office, they'll know to take care of that with fluoride, but you wouldn't know that at home."

The whitening process Bennett uses takes about four to six weeks to complete. The patient comes for an initial visit that requires taking impressions of the teeth. Plastic molds are then made to cover just the teeth so that bleaching splints, or trays, can be made and used during the whitening.

The patient wears the trays, which fit tightly over the teeth, at night while sleeping or for at least four hours a day. Inside the trays, a pea-sized drop of bleaching solution is added to each tooth's impression. Excess bleach must be removed from the gum line so that it doesn't harm the gums.

Sudekeum said only one set of teeth -- upper or lower -- is bleached at a time. That gives the patient some comparison for just how white their teeth can become. "Even in just a week's time, they can see that they are three or four shades lighter."

None of the bleaching agents harm the tooth enamel, but the products aren't suitable for anyone under 16. No dental work is done on freshly bleached teeth because the teeth can continue to lighten for 10 days after the procedure is complete.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

American Dental Association's tooth whitening page: www.ada.org/public/faq/whiten.html