First off, tooth stains can be characterized as being either extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic stains are the type that appears on the outside surface layer of your teeth. Intrinsic stains are interior stains, developing deep within your dentin. The dentin is the layer of your tooth that is underneath your enamel. Extrinsic stains are the easier of the two to remove, with many of them being able to be removed with at-home products like whitening toothpaste. Intrinsic stains are a little bit more difficult. As a result, intrinsic stains are only able to be removed through professional teeth bleaching products or an in-office whitening treatment by our Northridge cosmetic dentist.
The active ingredient in most whitening agents is hydrogen peroxide. Sometimes the whitening agent is combined with a special light to enhance the effects of the hydrogen peroxide, sometimes not. When the hydrogen peroxide penetrates your enamel, oxygen molecules react with the discolored molecules in your teeth, breaking the bonds that keep them together. This process plays out for the whole tooth, thus providing the whitening effect.
If you would like to learn if teeth bleaching is right for your cosmetic dental needs, contact our expert in teeth bleaching in Northridge to schedule a consultation.