A guide to teeth whitening

According to a study conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), an improved smile naturally bestows you with a halo-like effect, with attributes like attractiveness, success, being more interesting, engaging, and intelligent. In a similar study, 84% of Americans said that having an attractive smile was an asset and one-third of those who were part of this survey said that they would not want to be set up on a blind date with someone with bad teeth. Well, even if we ignore the dubious news that is for our love lives, there is no ignoring the fact that the process of teeth whitening is growing to be increasingly popular.

Tooth whitening is an effective way of lightening the colour of your teeth removing the stains and discolouration, and it is fast becoming one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures. People have different reasons for opting for this treatment from wanting to enjoy a younger appearance, removing yellowish stains or to boost self-confidence. Aside from the natural ageing process, some of the most common reasons for teeth discolouration are tobacco, drinking dark-coloured liquids such as coffee, tea, cola, red wine, etc., and not maintaining dental hygiene – these are considered as the extrinsic reasons. It is though equally possible to have stains on the inside of the tooth. The exposure to too much fluoride as a child whilst the teeth are still developing, or the use of tetracycline antibiotics before the age of ten, or a fall, impact or trauma to the teeth can all factor in on the staining of the teeth.

We spoke to Dr Vikee- a famous cosmetic dentist about what to expect from teeth whitening at his clinic in Delhi. The clinic is in the gorgeous and tranquil environs of the Asian Roots Spa, designed to promote relaxation from the moment you enter the space. We’ve been consulting with him for bleeding gums, teeth cleanings, cavities and so we figured its best to get advice from someone we trust. At the clinic that day, we met two really happy clients who had just got Zoom whitening done for the first time. They were, as you’d expect, nervous before but absolutely thrilled with the results.

The Zoom whitening process is broken down into three steps. First, you book a checkup with Dr Vikee- to make sure that the gyms are healthy and the teeth are suited for whitening. This is followed by the impressions so that custom trays can be made for you to use at home with ease.

Then, when your trays are ready, Dr Vikee will call you in for a consult to discuss the shade you want to achieve. Also how to protect your gums before the treatment begins and to answer all your questions. The process takes about an hour while the Philips zoom lamp is used to activate the whitening solution. Before your session is up, the doctor will discuss post-treatment care and follow-ups to ensure you are able to look after your pearly whites.

Risks: Whitening doesn’t have serious side-effects. Be prepared for tooth sensitivity, and if the whitening gel gets on the gums one may suffer from mild irritation, or even white patches on the gums. Some people even complain of a sore throat post the procedure, however, most of these side-effects are temporary and pass in no time. We recommend that you go to a dentist or cosmetologist you trust so you are able to discuss your fears before and after the treatment is up.

Verdict: What is essential to know from the get-go is that whitening is not a permanent solution, the stains will come back especially if you smoke or consume dark liquids, in case of which the whitening starts to fade anywhere between a month or three. In the best case scenario, it is possible to go without a re-whitening treatment for 6 months to one year and some cases two. However, it is best to book your consultation with Dr Vikee and speak to him before your concerns to determine if Zoom is right for you.