Tooth bleaching – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Posted on October 30, 2011 by
An X-ray showing enamel and dentin replaced by...

Image via Wikipedia

Tooth bleaching

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2009)

Dental bleaching, also known as tooth whitening, is a common procedure in general dentistry but most especially in the field of cosmetic dentistry. A child’s deciduous teeth are generally whiter than the adult teeth that follow. As a person ages the adult teeth often become darker due to changes in the mineral structure of the tooth, as the enamel becomes less porous.[citation needed] Teeth can also become stained by bacterial pigments, foodstuffs and tobacco. Certain antibiotic medications (like tetracycline) can also cause teeth stains or a reduction in the brilliance of the enamel.[1]

There are many methods to whiten teeth, such as bleaching strips, bleaching pen, bleaching gel, laser bleaching, and natural bleaching. Dentures can also be whitened using denture cleaners. Traditionally, at-home whitening involves applying bleaching gel to the teeth using thin guard trays. At-home whitening can also be done by applying small strips that go over the front teeth. Oxidizing agents such as carbamide peroxide are used to lighten the shade of the tooth. The oxidizing agent penetrates the porosities in the rod-like crystal structure of enamel and oxidizes interprismatic stain deposits; over a period of time, the dentin layer, lying underneath the enamel, is also bleached. Power bleaching uses light energy to accelerate the process of bleaching in a dental office. The effects of bleaching can last for several months, but may vary depending on the lifestyle of the patient. Factors that decrease whitening include smoking and the ingestion of dark colored liquids like coffee, tea and red wine.

Internal staining of dentine can discolor the teeth from inside out. Internal bleaching can remedy this. If heavy staining or tetracycline damage is present on a patient’s teeth, and whitening is ineffective, there are other methods of whitening teeth. Bonding, when a thin coating of composite material is applied to the front of a person’s teeth and then cured with a blue light can be performed to mask the staining. A veneer can also mask tooth discoloration.

Contents

1 Methods

1.1 Light-accelerated bleaching

1.1.1 Criticism

2 Risks

3 Internal bleaching

4 Agents

5 References

[edit] Methods

According to the American Dental Association there%

via Tooth bleaching – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Related articles
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sleep apnea – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Posted on October 30, 2011 by

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea (or sleep apnoea in Great Britain; English pronunciation: /æpˈniːə/) is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing, during sleep. Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last from a few seconds to minutes, and may occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour.[1] Similarly, each abnormally low breathing event is called a hypopnea. Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram, or “sleep study”.

There are three forms of sleep apnea: central (CSA), obstructive (OSA), and complex or mixed sleep apnea (i.e., a combination of central and obstructive) constituting 0.4%, 84% and 15% of cases respectively.[2] In CSA, breathing is interrupted by a lack of respiratory effort; in OSA, breathing is interrupted by a physical block to airflow despite respiratory effort, and snoring is common.

Regardless of type, an individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening.[3] Sleep apnea is recognized as a problem by others witnessing the individual during episodes or is suspected because of its effects on the body (sequelae). Symptoms may be present for years (or even decades) without identification, during which time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance.

Contents

[hide]

1 Signs and symptoms

2 Diagnosis

2.1 Oximetry

3 Classification

3.1 Obstructive sleep apnea

3.2 Central sleep apnea

3.3 Mixed apnea and complex sleep apnea

4 Treatment

4.1 Surgery

4.2 Alternative treatments

5 Epidemiology

6 History

7 See also

8 References

8.1 General references

9 External links

[edit] Signs and symptoms

Sleep apnea affects not only adults but some children as well [4]. As stated by El-Ad, “patients complain about excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and impaired alertness.” [5] In other words, common effects of sleep apnea include daytime fatigue, a slower reaction time, and vision problems [6]. Moreover, patients are examined using “standard test batteries” in order to further identify parts of the brain that are affected by sleep apnea [7]. Tests have shown that certain parts of the brain cause different effects. The “executive functioning” part of the brain affects the wa

via Sleep apnea – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Full Service Dentist in Danbury, Connecticut

Posted on October 30, 2011 by
We pride ourselves in offering all aspects of dentistry, from implants to children’s care. Our office offers the newest technology in teeth whitening, hard and soft tissue laser, digital x-rays with ultra-low radiation exposure for the patient, as well as all implant crown, bridge, and periodontal services. In addition Dr Chahine is one of the few dentists in the State of CT who is board certified in dental sleep medicine treating snoring and sleep apnea and serves on the educational committee of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Related articles
Posted in About Us, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment