Glossary

 

ACP - Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is a chemical technology developed by The American Dental Association Foundation and used as a dental treatment. Calcium and phosphate are natural building blocks of teeth, and when present in insufficient amounts, there can be sensitivity after procedures such as dental bleaching or professional dental cleaning. Amorphous calcium phosphate restores the necessary mineral balance in teeth in an easy and efficient way. [1] ACP can be found in several products such as toothpaste and in certain professional whitening gels.

ADA – American Dental Association.

ADHA – American Dental Hygienists Association

“At-Home” Whitening – This is the common name for whitening systems or products that are used in the patient’s home, as opposed to taking place in a dentist’s office. There are “professional” at-home whitening products that are dispensed by dentists, but administered at home. It’s always best to discuss your whitening options with a dentist in order to maintain a healthy, white smile.

Bleaching – In the world of teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry, “bleaching” is the term used for procedures that use either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide in order to remove stains that are set deeply within the structure of the tooth.

Bleaching Tray – Similar to a mouth guard used in sports or worn overnight by people who grind their teeth, a bleaching tray is a piece of fitted plastic that fits over the teeth. In the bleaching process the tray holds the bleaching agent against the surface of the tooth, while keeping the caustic gel from touching the soft tissue of the mouth and gums.

“Boil and Bite” – These are a type of bleaching tray that are not custom made by a dentist. Instead, these plastic trays come out of the package as a piece of plastic that you submerge in boiling water to soften. When the plastic is hot, you bite down into it. When the plastic material cools off, the trays will retain an impression of your teeth.

Carbamide Peroxide: This type of peroxide is an oxidizing agent frequently used in teeth whitening or “bleaching” procedures. The molecular formula is CH₆N₂O₃, or CH₄N₂O.H₂O. Carbamide Peroxide has been used in custom tray bleaching processes since the late 1980’s. 10% Carbamide Peroxide is the only professionally dispensed bleaching agent that has the ADA seal of approval.

Clinical research: Research that either directly involves a particular person or group of people or uses materials from humans, such as their behavior or samples of their tissue, that can be linked to a particular living person. Dental professionals perform and publish clinical research with respect to many scientific aspects of teeth whitening.

Cosmetic Dentistry: The branch of dentistry dealing with the appearance of the teeth, in addition to the overall health of the teeth.

Custom Tray – Dental professionals make custom bleaching trays from an impression taken of the patient’s mouth. Bleaching gel is placed in the tray and holds the whitening materials in place during the bleaching process. Custom trays are crafted so that they maximize the exposure of the tooth to the bleaching agent, while minimizing contact between bleaching materials and the soft tissue of the gums and mouth.

Dental Impressions: Impressions are made from an imprint of a person’s teeth. The person bites into a viscous material placed in a tray that hardens and makes a mold of the teeth. From the mold, the dentist makes a perfect model of your teeth from which to make custom bleaching trays.

Dentin: The main part of the tooth that is between the hard outer layer, enamel, and surrounding the pulp chamber and root canals.

Dual-Arch: “Dual Arch” Impression trays are a set of trays fitted to the upper and lower rows of teeth or “arches.”

Enamel: Tooth enamel is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance of the body, and is one of the four major tissues which make up the tooth. It is the outermost layer of the tooth.

FDA: United StatesFood and Drug Administration

Fluoride: A compound of Fluorine with another element. In some countries, fluoride is added to the drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is used to help harden the enamel on adult teeth.

Fluorosis: A condition defined as white or brown discolorations caused by excessive ingestion of fluoride during the tooth mineralization process. Fluoride stains are generally confined to the enamel layer, so these stains respond well to most whitening procedures. Traditionally these stains were treated with abrasion techniques, which remove the fluoride-rich enamel layer of the teeth. Fluorosis-stained teeth can be successfully treated with whitening in most cases. Brown discolorations usually respond the best to bleaching. If a white fluorosis-stained area is a single isolated spot or a few spotty areas, bleaching will lighten the background of the tooth, making the white areas less noticeable.  Though the white spots do not actually disappear, the background gets lighter, which makes them less noticeable. Some white areas will brighten due to dehydration during the bleaching process but will revert back to their original color

Hydrogen Peroxide: H₂O₂ is a liquid that has strong oxidizing properties and acts as a strong bleaching agent. Hydrogen Peroxide is present in many whitening products to varying degrees including professionally dispensed and over-the-counter whiteners.

In-Office Whitening: In-office whitening refers to a whitening procedure administered by a dentist or dental professional such as a registered dental hygienist or a dental assistant. These types of procedures are usually completed in one office visit and can range from 6o minutes to two hours depending on the type of procedure used and the degree and type of staining a patient may have. A high concentration is typically involved and the procedure may or may not include the use of a whitening “light” or laser to help enhance the effectiveness of the whitening gel. 

Isolation Techniques: With all high in-office procedures involving high concentrations of peroxide,  the dental professional must protect the gums from the whitening gel. By isolating the teeth from the gums, lips, and other soft tissues, the dental professional can ensure the best whitening results in the safest environment.

Laser Whitening: “Laser” or “Light-Activated” whitening refers to procedures that use a special light to activate the bleaching gel in order to enhance whitening results.Studies have shown that this technology does, in fact, impact results. [2][3]

Over-The-Counter (OTC) Whitening: Products that claim to whiten teeth and are available for purchase without a dentist’s recommendation.

Paint-On Whiteners: These are products, mostly gels, that are brushed or painted directly on the teeth. These products are generally available over-the-counter.

Power bleaching: A term commonly used in dentistry to refer to whitening procedures conducted in the dentist’s office and involving high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Power bleaching may or may not involve light or laser technology.

Professional Teeth Whitening – This term refers to whitening procedures that are prescribed or performed by a dental professional. Professional teeth whitening products can be sold or “dispensed” to patients in the dentist office and then used at home, or they can be administered in the office under the supervision of a dental clinician. 

Restorative Materials: These are materials such as crowns or fillings that may be affixed to your teeth. Most of these products cannot be whitened or bleached like a normal tooth.

Sensitivity: Also referred to as dentine sensitivity, is sensation felt when the nerves inside the dentin of the teeth are exposed to the environment. The sensation can range from irritation all the way to intense, shooting pain. This sensitivity can be caused by several factors, including wear, decaying teeth or exposed tooth roots.

Shade Guide (Vita): For 50 years, dentists around the world have used the VITA Classical (Lumin Vacuum) shade guide for their shade selection needs.  The dental professional holds the false “teeth” in the shade guide up to the patients to see which shade matches. By checking the patient’s tooth color before and after a procedure, the dentist or dental hygienist can determine the whitening results.

Side Effects: Any unintended outcomes or results of a procedure. In the case of teeth whitening, a side effect could be tooth sensitivity or gum irritation.

Tetracycline: An antibiotic indicated for use against many types of bacterial infections. Use of tetracycline can cause severe teeth staining, which can be treated to some degree with teeth whitening (bleaching) procedures.

Tissue: Any aggregate of cells in an organism that share a similar structure and function.

Touch-up: After an effective whitening regimen is completed, and desired results attained, some patients might want to do some “touch-up” bleaching months or years after their initial procedure in order to return to their whitest smile.

Vita Shade Guide: For 50 years, dentists around the world have used the VITA Classical (Lumin Vacuum) shade guide for their shade selection needs.  The dental professional holds the false “teeth” in the shade guide up to the patients to see which shade matches. By checking the patient’s tooth color before and after a procedure, the dentist or dental hygienist can determine the whitening results.

Whitening Strips: Plastic coated strips with active ingredients which can bleach the color of the enamel in teeth.

Whitening Toothpastes: There are several “whitening” toothpastes available over –the-counter. These products result in about one shade of improvement, as they only affect surface stains either by using mild abrasives or special chemicals that help break down surface stains. [4]

Zingers: This is a slang name for a moment of intense tooth sensitivity.

 

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