Welcome back to our blog page here at Boulder Dental Designs! Our Boulder clinic is passionate about giving patients the smile that they’ve always wanted, and our dentist, Dr. John Montoya, is the best-suited person for the job. We can handle any type of cosmetic dentistry and we also offer lots of options for orthodontics and more. Whether you want to brighten up a smile that’s already pretty straight and healthy or you feel like you’re starting from square one with crooked and decaying teeth, we are the right people to help you on your journey to a great smile. Contact our dental clinic today to schedule an appointment!
The Growing Popularity of a White Smile
There is one thing that almost every A-list movie star and celebrity seem to have in common: they all have gorgeous white smiles. Having the “perfect smile” is not a new craze. People have been wanting to improve the look and brightness of their teeth for centuries. In fact, nowadays, cosmetic dentistry is becoming even more popular than regular dental services. So what is all the fuss about? In today’s blog, we’re going to take a look at the history, the popularity, and the amazing options for teeth whitening. Continue reading below to learn more!
The History of Teeth Whitening
Though whitening technology has grown immensely over the past few decades, whitening the teeth is hardly a new idea. The ancient Egyptians created a whitening paste using ground pumice stone mixed with white vinegar. Believe it or not, the ancient Romans performed teeth whitening by using urine; the ammonia found therein was the key ingredient.
Fast forward thousands of years and we see that the 17th-century methods of whitening were for a barber to file down the teeth and apply a layer of acid. While this method worked for whitening, as you can imagine, it ate away the tooth enamel and led to massive tooth decay. In the 18th century, it was discovered that fluoride works well to whiten teeth, however, it was also noted that too much of it could stain the teeth.
With the dawn of the 19th century came the discovery of the success of hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth. Through much experimentation and trial and error, dentists discovered that when combined with a heated lamp, the hydrogen peroxide did work to lighten the teeth. Furthermore, in the 1960s, it was discovered that carbamide peroxide can be quite successful for teeth whitening.
Tooth Whitening Today
In 1989, opalescence carbamide peroxide was patented as a tooth whitener and is still widely used today. Soon after that patenting, lots of other whitening methods also began to take off, such as tray whitening, strip whitening, and other methods. One of the most effective and highly recommended methods is a session at your Boulder dental office. During this whitening session, a whitening gel will be applied to your teeth, and an LED light will be used for the process of whitening. After a 90-minute whitening session at Boulder Dental Designs, you’ll notice immediate results!
Though whitening has come a long way over the decades and centuries, we’re blessed to be living in a day and age in which whitening is easier and more effective than ever. Thankfully, there’s no need to resort to early methods of whitening, and you don’t have to worry if your whitening method is destroying your enamel or contributing to tooth decay.
Visit Our Dental Clinic
If you’re ready to get started on whitening your smile in the most effective and easiest way, contact your Boulder dentist. Dr. Montoya and our amazing staff at Boulder Dental Designs would love to get you on the path to the smile that you’ve always wanted.
