Endemic fluorosis
Endemic fluorosis caused by the consumption of high-fluoride groundwater is a public health problem in Nakuru, in the Kenyan Rift Valley. The present study was carried out during the period January–February 2017 to determine the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis among patients of two Nakuru healthcare facilities. The patients consisted of both young and old members of the Nakuru population served with groundwater containing high levels of fluoride ranging from 0.1 to 72 mg/l.
How common are discoloured or stained teeth?
While no one knows for sure how many of us suffer from stained teeth, it’s clear that how healthy and white our teeth are is something we care about. These days, we see a shiny smile as a sort of social status symbol, making whitening products and procedures pretty popular. Most of us (99%) consider our smile our most important social feature, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
A simple stroll down any drugstore oral care aisle reveals a wide assortment of whitening trays, strips, toothpastes and mouthwashes. Now more than ever, we are putting our money where our mouths are, spending more on both over-the-counter and professional whitening products and procedures every year. If you’re ready to whiten your smile, there are options for every budget — but it pays to know which are safe and effective — and which may do more harm than good.
PROFESSIONAL TEETH WHITENING
Professional teeth whitening is much preferred over over the counter whitening products. Over the counter whitening systems often come in one size fits all, leading to uneven whitening. It can also lead to the bleaching agent getting on your gums and causing issues with sensitivity. Professional whitening helps to prevent that.
We offer both in-office and take-home whitening treatments. The in-office version is great for getting a whiter smile quickly, such as for an event. A bleaching agent is painted onto the teeth, with guards to prevent it from getting on the gums. A special light is used to activate the bleaching agent. In about an hour, you’ll have a smile up to eight shades whiter!
Take-home whitening is used to whiten your teeth gradually and for touchups after in-office whitening. We’ll take impressions of your teeth to create custom whitening trays. The bleaching agent is evenly spread in the trays and you wear them for a few hours every night. As the weeks go by, you’ll see your smile whitening to the shade you’re looking for.
PORCELAIN VENEERS
For a more permanent whitening solution, as well as if you have stains resistant to traditional treatment, porcelain veneers are perfect. Usually from certain medications, you can get stubborn stains that resist traditional treatment. Porcelain veneers are made of a thin shell of dental ceramic that goes over the front and sides of your tooth. They can cover the entire tooth that’s stained.
Porcelain veneers are ideal because they’re durable and stain-resistant. They’re a permanent solution for stains on your teeth. They can be color-matched to the rest of your smile and are shaped and sized to blend in seamlessly. Veneers can be placed on a number of teeth or just certain ones that are impacted.
DENTAL BONDING
Dental bonding is an economically sound choice, as well as a solid alternative to porcelain veneers if you’re not ready for a permanent solution. The bonding material is a biocompatible resin. This resin can be molded and shaped to fit whatever tooth has discoloration. The resin can also be color-matched to the rest of your smile or made to be as white as you’d like.
Dental bonding can be done in a quick visit to your dentist. The surface of your tooth is prepared for the resin to adhere to. The resin is painted onto your tooth, shaped to your liking. Once you’re happy with the result, a special light is used to harden the resin. It’s polished so that it matches the natural sheen of the rest of your smile.
COSMETIC DENTISTRY IN ASTRADENTAL SERVICES
Are you ready to get a whiter smile? Call us or schedule an appointment online.
