The desire to have whiter teeth has existed for centuries! But in some surprising ways, the methods for obtaining that dazzling Hollywood smile have shown tiny change. This is truly an area wherever the original techniques, with small modifications, are truly the greatest.

Think about the advent of hydrogen and carbamide peroxide bleaching for the teeth. Evidence shows that hydrogen peroxide was utilized as early as 1884 as a method for whitening teeth. Think about it: Even in the days of powdered wigs and wooden dentures, our colonial ancestors were committed to whitening their smiles.

Even our ancestors understood thatalthough the external tooth enamel is white, but it’s also clear, which will mean the colour from the structures beneath it will are inclined to show through. The material under the enamel is dentin. The normal colour of dentin is yellow. Nevertheless, materials from the internal nerve can cause even the yellow color of the dentin to darken to a brownish yellow as we age. The dingy look of normal enamel as the age is a result of the combination of enamel stains, which turn out to be irreversible if they go untreated, and also the root dentin that darkens over time as it gets more affected by the color from the internal nerve.

(A note- this is one of the primary causes whitening toothpastes will never be fully effective: Even if you brush all day, the whitening agents within the toothpaste are only briefly in contact with the tooth – and even should you manage to abrade away and lighten the stains on the outside from the tooth, they’ll still be affected by the color of the dentin that lies beneath. This really is 1 from the strongest reasons to consider teeth lightening bleach.)

Have you ever seen the normal shade of a tooth with a root canal? The teeth will be dim simply because the ınner material that has died has permeated the surrounding dentin. Here’s where our ancestors found a great concept: by steeping a cotton pellet with bleach and plugging it up inside the entry perforation inside of a tooth with a root canal for a few days and nights, they could appreciably brighten the tooth. After a few days, they would simply remove the pellet and close up the perforation with a filling. There you are!

A less severe Method

While the whitening materials are similar, the techniques of use have develop into much more sophisticated since the days of our forefathers in 1884. Although hydrogen peroxide is still an option, the more stable and lasting carbamide peroxide has turned into the defacto standard, in concentrations ranging from 10 to approximately Thirty percent (the pro strength teeth whitening gel you buy from a dental professional will typically range from 15-22 % strength; while over the counter whitening strips and products might provide as little as 2-4 percent strength!)

The secret is in the use – about 20 years ago, cosmetic dentists uncovered that a solution of 10-20 percent carbamide peroxide can easily be placed on the the teeth without the concern of burning the gums and soft tissues or even poisoning the patient as lengthy as the gel was used in conjunction with made to order teeth whitening trays to help keep the whitening materials in direct contact with the area on the teeth for as long as possible. The longer the contact, the brighter the tooth (up to a specific point – lightening potential is personal, at a certain point, there is no further lightening result being gained.)

While there is no health related gain to lightening (and gradually darkening teeth are, in fact, completely natural), most every dentist now understands a brighter grin contributes to a sense of well being, which can certainly create an hopeful frame of mind and good psychological health. So although we don’t have to resort to bleaching our tooth with cotton pellets, the fact that we’ve easy means of gaining brighter teeth is more than enough to make anybody smile!

Find out more. Make sure you check out the special offers from Shine Teeth Whitening, a Medical Spa MD Select Partner that offers custom teeth whitening services, whitening pens and more to MedicalSpaMD.com’s community.

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Electrolysis was the only form of long-term hair removal available before Intense Pulse Light (IPL) and laser devices entered the market. Electrolysis is still used today even though it is painful to the patient. It can also be invasive to the skin which allows for risk of infection. During the electrolysis procedure, a fine needle is inserted into the hair follicle, delivering a galvanic current to destruct the stem cells in the follicle. Unfortunately, this painstaking process is performed one hair follicle at a time. Maintenance procedures are often needed for years after the first treatment.

With laser and pulsed light technology, hundreds of hair follicles are treated at a time and vary upon the spot size (the size of the tip of the device delivering energy). These non-invasive laser hair removal procedures only take minutes to perform instead of the hours required with electrolysis.

What is Melanin?

A patient’s skin type and hair color can be the most important consideration prior to laser hair removal treatment. Laser hair removal is based on selective photothermolysis (using light and heat for destruction of a hair follicle) with melanin being the target chromophore (chemical grouping that produces color). The difference between the absorption of laser or light energy by melanin in the hair follicle and melanin in the epidermis determines the amount of energy that can be safely used without harming the skin.

A patient with very dark skin and gray or white hair, would have little if any response, while light-skinned patients with dark hair are considered to be the ideal patients for hair removal Since melanin in the hair shaft and follicle are the target source for laser and IPL hair removal procedures, patients should be advised during their initial consultation not to tweeze, wax or use any depilatory device prior to hair removal. Hair which is protruding from the skin can singe during a laser or light treatment which causes an unpleasant smell and possible flares. The patient can shave the area to be treated or can use hair removal creams, which preserves the chromophore in the follicle

Treatment Day

Most devices technically operate the same way when performing a laser hair removal procedure. The parameters on the device (joules, milliseconds, pulse, etc.) should be set according to the skin analysis and history performed on the patient. It is important to for patients not to wear dark clothing near the area to be treated as the pigment in the clothing could potentially be absorbed by the laser or light and can result in a burn. The patient should be instructed to refrain from using any body washes, lotions, cosmetics, or any skin medications the day of treatment. Some patients may prefer to have a topical anesthetic applied prior to the procedure. If any residue of the anesthetic remains, it should be wiped clean from the skin. A spot test, or patch test, should be performed on the intended treatment area. Several treatments are required at monthly intervals for an optimal outcome and a yearly maintenance procedure is recommended.

Medical Spa MD is a medspa community of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Dermatologists, and Aesthetic Physicians with more than 3,500 medical spa members world-wide. Medical Spa MD offers medical esthetician training manuals and provides information on nonsurgical cosmetic medical technologies and treatments.

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