Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Whiter Teeth

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, February 28, 2005

STORY:  WHITER TEETH

This year, Americans are expected to do one thing in greater numbers than ever before. Bleach their tooth enamel. Some dentists are calling it the year of the "white out." Whitening products have grown into a half billion dollar industry. Dr. Linda Niessen helps you decide which bleaching method to use in this Dental Health Check.

People are doing it while they sit in traffic. Or while they watch television. They are even doing it while they talk on their cell phones. Dina Graham joins millions of Americans who are whitening their teeth. Dina's choice: new Crest White Strips Premium.

"I think they're great. They really work. They're really easy to use. I've noticed that they are longer than they used to be which is great. And they are really easy. You just put them right on your teeth and they stay on and you can go and do whatever you need to do so it's real easy."

Dr. Dale Greer said, "It has almost become a need not a want in society these days to have whiter teeth. People just look better with whiter teeth."

Dr. Greer calls the demand for whitening products "an explosion."

"The first option," continued Dr. Greer, "is professionally administered--what we would call in office, one-hour power bleaching. Second, there is professionally dispensed, custom fit trays that are very comfortable. It's self-directed at home. You dispense the solution into the tray. There is an over the counter market, which are usually more diluted whitening solutions."
    
In office bleaching takes just one day, and costs up to a thousand dollars.

Tray bleaching takes a couple of weeks and averages about 300 dollars. Over the counter products cost much less and now work faster.

Whitening is getting easier and and less expensive than ever before. But remember, none of these methods whiten fillings, veneers, crowns, or composite bonding. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Science Center, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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