Article written by Keith Emuang (keithg@emuang.org)

                 Name: Robert Santoso

                 Procedure: Teeth Whitening

                 Nationality: Indonesian

We all want to strike that all-important impression at work. Smart threads, grooming and even etiquette classes are helpful tools but there’s one other that has, perhaps, the biggest impact of all.  

There’s a saying that people seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile. Fair enough. But does that mean if you can’t afford to smile, then splurging a month’s pay-check on expensive power suits will do the trick? Unlikely!

Take Robert Santoso, a high-flying company director. Early in his career, the industrious 33-year old bachelor had toiled for every rung up the corporate ladder. Various postings took the Indonesian-born from his homeland to Australia until he finally ended up in Singapore in 2007.

“I’ve been smoking for the past 10 years and this made my teeth yellow. As a result, I felt uncomfortable meeting up with business associates and clients. Clearly, it had affected my smile and working life.” Though he was determined to do something about it, his ruthless schedule meant that he had precious little time to do so.

Seeking a solution

With less travelling required during his Singapore posting, Robert could finally take time off to sort out his dental woes. Recalling a colleague’s recommendation, he got in touch with Specialist Dental Group (SDG) to see how they could help whiten his teeth. 

He reveals, “A company shareholder actually went to there to have dental implants done. He had nothing but good things to say about the dental specialists there and the quality of treatment he received. So I needed no convincing.”

Prosthodontist, Dr Neo Tee Khin, who first saw Robert in January 2007, recalls, “His teeth were deep yellow with spots of brown stains. There were also multiple dark discolorations located at the proximal surfaces of the front teeth.”

According to Dr Neo, there can be multiple causes for this discoloration. The patches of brown were due to external stains acquired through smoking or drinking coffee and tea. Apparently, even curry and red wine have the potential to create external stains. Nonetheless, these are easily removed by polishing since they are superficial in nature.

Another cause of discoloration may be due to cavities or recurrent cavities around previous fillings. This can be fixed through tooth-colored fillings with colors that properly match the teeth.

As for the internal colour of teeth, foods with a strong colour may affect it while ageing is a possible cause of darkening.  Unfortunately, these types of internal discoloration cannot be removed by brushing or polishing. The best way to remove most of these types of stains would be through In-office whitening or home whitening using a professionally administered peroxide-based gel or a combination of both.

A smile returns

With various causes requiring different treatment approaches, it was thus important for a detailed dental examination and X-ray to ascertain the exact factors involved in Robert’s case.

Once completed, scaling and polishing were done to eliminate the surface stains and also to allow Dr Neo to evaluate the base colour of Robert’s teeth. Thereafter, In-office whitening using the Zoom System was performed.

Dr Neo explains, “In this procedure, the teeth were first isolated before a peroxide-based gel was applied on them. The gel was then activated using a specially designed light system for an hour. Because of the extent of his teeth’s discoloration, home whitening with a customised tray and peroxide-based gel had to be done for another few days. It then took about two weeks for the colour of his teeth to stabilise.”

Robert declares, “I’m very happy with the outcome. My teeth are clean and healthy and I tend to take better care of them nowadays. I’m also more confident during business meetings and enjoy my outings with friends.”

 Robert cites the patience, professionalism and expertise he received by the dental specialists, their assistants and even the customer service staff, as nothing short of ‘first-class’. 

“It was easy to trust everyone there and they always made sure I was comfortable and stress-free. Thanks to them, I’ll be smiling a lot more from now on.”

 Specialist Dental Group’s Comments

Teeth whitening is the most effective method for removing stains due to ageing or the excessive consumption of food with strong colorings. However with discolorations acquired through the use of certain medication at a young age, veneers (thin custom-made porcelain shells designed to fit discreetly over the teeth) may be required. Therefore a detailed examination to ascertain the cause of discoloration is important.

The result of In-office teeth whitening generally last about 2 years depending on the diet preference of the patient. For maintenance, regular tooth-brushing and flossing with six-monthly dental check-ups should be sufficient.

More information on teeth whitening can be found here.

     Name:             Moonlake Lee

     Procedure:     Teeth Whitening

     Nationality:     Malaysian

I had my first experience with teeth whitening this morning. Being a staff member of a dental clinic, it is actually surprising to many people that I have not had my teeth whitened prior to today.

While I did not see the need for whitening in the past, the timing this time was right since I had an event coming up. I also thought that this would be an educational opportunity for myself and for others to know what it would be like to go through teeth whitening treatment.

Before the Process

The dentist gave me a mirror and explained what I could expect to see after the whitening treatment – I would see a difference in the areas between my teeth, and also on the surfaces of the teeth themselves.

I did not need to take an impression for a customized bleaching tray as I was able to use my retainers (from my just completed Invisalign clear aligners treatment) for the home whitening portion of the treatment.

The teeth whitening procedure started off with the dentist taking some photographs of my teeth, to establish the “before” shots…   Clinical photos are not the most flattering photos…. A lip retractor was used to separate the lips so that the gums and teeth were clearly seen.

My teeth were then cleaned – this is usually a good option for those that have light stains on their teeth… my teeth are prone to stains and sometimes, a good scaling and polishing is all you need to get your teeth gleaming again.

As I was an existing patient and the dentist was familiar with my dental history, there was no need to have a pre-whitening consultation.  However, for those who are new to the clinic, a pre-whitening consultation (which takes place at the same appointment as the whitening) is important as there are some situations where whitening is not recommended, e.g. those with gum problems, sensitive teeth, deep cavities, etc.

During the Process

The dentist placed a protecting plastic covering on my lips and gums to protect them during the whitening process.  I was also informed that they would be applying a whitening gel on my teeth, and a special light would be shined on the gel to activate the bleaching ingredients in the gel.

The dentist explained that there would be two cycles of treatment, each lasting about 20 minutes.  I grabbed the opportunity to sit back and relax for 40 minutes while listening to a CD of Michael Jackson’s hits… certainly brought back the nostalgia of the 1980s…

The time flew rather quickly and before I knew it, the dentist was telling me that the teeth whitening treatment was all done.  The protective plastic covering was removed and I was told to rinse well.

After the Process

“After” shots were taken of my teeth as my lips were retracted again. I was given a mirror so I could have a good look at my teeth and there was certainly a visible difference after the bleaching treatment was done.

I was also provided with a take home whitening kit and given instructions on how to administer the whitening gel and the de-sensitizer gel. A handout on Post Treatment Instructions for Whitening was also given to me.

According to the dentist, the bleaching results would be enhanced or maintained with a take home post-whitening kit.  I was supposed to use this diligently for the next 2 weeks. I was also to avoid eating foods or drinking drinks that would stain the teeth… at least for the next 24 hours. Thus, no red wine, tea, tomato sauce, curries and other food or drinks of such nature.

Conclusion

I was delighted with the results… I could see a marked difference between my “before” and “after” photos, and at least in my situation, the teeth whitening treatment turned out well. 

There was some slight sensitivity  – it felt like ‘tingling” in my teeth, but the sensation was not at a level that caused discomfort.  I was able to have a good lunch shortly after my treatment.

I am looking forward to the continued sparkle in my teeth …..

Some practical things to bear in mind:

• Go for a washroom break BEFORE the whitening treatment unless you are sure you will be fine sitting in the dental chair for at least 40 minutes
• Bring your CD or iPod so that you can enjoy some relaxing music or your choice of music. Otherwise, feel free to ask if the clinic has a video or CD for you to borrow during your treatment.

               Before Teeth Whitening                                                        After Teeth Whitening

For more information on Teeth Whitening, click here.

Benefits of Whiter Teeth

Teeth whitening or bleaching is a quick method to restore the sparkle back into your smile. Apart from having a whiter smile, another benefit of gleaming pearly whites is the positive impact this has on one’s confidence and self-esteem. A side benefit is a more youthful smile since yellow and stained teeth are often associated with ageing.

Consultation with the Dentist is Important

A dental examination and consultation is important to assess whether teeth whitening is appropriate.

While most people will be suitable candidates for whitening, those with gum problems, tooth infections, ulcers or sensitive teeth may have to address outstanding dental issues before having teeth whitening done.

In addition, the dentist will determine the cause of the stained or discoloured teeth. Tooth discolouration can be due to either external or internal causes, and the treatment is different for each.  Smoking, as well as tea, coffee and soft drink consumption are some of the biggest causes of external staining. At times, irregularities on teeth surfaces may contribute significantly to the uptake of external stains too. For external discolouration, a proper cleaning and teeth whitening should be sufficient to restore the sparkle to the smile.

Internal or intrinsic discolouration could be the result of a dead or infected tooth or a result of medication (e.g. tetracycline stains). Treatment for intrinsic discolouration is more complicated. In such cases, bleaching alone may not be sufficient, and other types of treatment, such as veneers or crowns may have to be considered.

There are also different shades of stains on the teeth that play a part in determining how the final result of whitening would look like. For example, teeth that have yellow stains or brown stains would respond best to bleaching treatment, compared with teeth that have a grayish tinge.

The key to effective treatment is to get a proper examination and diagnosis. Your dentist would be able to identify the causes of your concern and the relevant treatment.

The process

Teeth whitening can usually be completed in an hour’s visit to the dentist.

A whitening gel is carefully applied to the teeth. A safe, whitening light is used to activate the gel and bleach away stains on the teeth. Once the gel is activated, it remains on the teeth for 20 minutes until the process completed. Several rounds of this process are performed in the clinic during the visit.

What to expect?

Teeth whitening is a painless procedure and patients who undergo this treatment will be able to resume their daily activities immediately although on rare occasions, some teeth may experience sensitivity to cold drinks or air. But, nothing to worry about as this will settle with time.

Teeth that are whitened generally stay that way for approximately 24 months; however certain stain-inducing lifestyle habits such as smoking or drinking coffee, tea or red wine, will increase the likelihood of a patient requiring teeth whitening treatments from time to time.

What’s next?

Maintenance is required in order to keep the result achieved after the treatment. Thus, in some cases, dentists will also provide the patients with a take home kit, so that they can do touch up from time to time, as advised by the dentist.

Lastly, basic rule of thumb applies, maintaining a good oral hygiene is essential. Dental cleaning, combined with regular check-ups to your dentist will help in giving you healthy teeth and a good looking smile.

For more information on teeth whitening, click here.