Etiology	Type of Discoloration
Stains	Mild Tetracycline stains
Discolotion	Caused by tobacco, coffee, tea or highly colored food
Yellowing	Natural aging

Factors & Causes

Tooth color is in most cases an inherited trait, however, tooth color mainly depends upon the condition of the teeth, dental health and lifestyle.

Various factors could lead to tooth darkening or discoloration. The most common factor are: the intake of staining fluids, such as cola, tea, coffee or wine; tobacco; cigarette smoking and time.

Change in temperature of foods and drinks allow the teeth to expand and contract, thus enabling the penetration of stains onto the teeth.

Foods that are slightly acidic open up the pores of the enamel and allow stains to move in. Teeth darken as we age because the staining factors act upon the teeth for a longer period of time.

There are also internal causes such as tetracycline stains, fluorosis, injury, dental work and, of course, the aging process. Depending upon the severity of staining, bleaching will lighten the darkest areas but may not totally remedy the condition.

Adventages of Diode Laser Tooth Whitening

* Dramatic results in less than one hour

* whitening the stained enamel surface without overheating the teeth

* No damage to the pulp

* No side effects

* No anesthesia required

* Long term effect

* Proven results over all other methods

* pain-free treatment

Questions & answers

Q: Is the process safe?

A: Yes, tooth whitening with the OpusWhiteTM diode laser is today the safest procedure. It does not heat the tooth thus no harm is done to the pulp. The special OpusWhite Tooth Whitening system has been specifically developed and tested to ensure that no harm is done to either enamel or dentine and that the PH level is neutral and will not produce any acidic effect associated with some other whitening products.

Q: Will the procedure hurt?

A: In general this a very simple procedure where no anesthesia is needed as no pain is experienced. However, serveral patients may experince minor sensitivity during or following the procedure. This sensitivity lasts no more than a couple of hours nad it can be resolved by taking an analgesic.

Q: What causes discolored teeth?

A: There are many causes of tooth discoloration such as hereditary factors, external causes, such as consumption of staining substances, or internal causes such as trauma, fluorosis and tetracycline discoloration.

Q: Is the treatment suitable for everyone?

A: Basically Diode Laser Tooth Whitening treatment is suitable for anyone who wishes to lighten his/her tooth color. Nevertheless, prior to the treatment, a dental examination will determine whether or not there is any condition that might prevent the treatment from working as it should. In such an event the dentist will recommend to undergo the relevant procedure before beginning the tooth whitening treatment.

Q: How white will teeth get?

A: Up until today tooth whitening with the OpusWhiteTM Diode Laser & OpusWhiteTM Tooth Whitening System have achieved better results than any other procedure effected with heat lamps, argon and CO2 lasers. However, during consultation the dentist will go over the patient's personal expectations and individual clinical situation in order to achieve the optimum natural whiteness.

Q: How long will the process take?

A: The dental whitening process with the OpusWhiteTM Diode Laser and OpusWhite ToothTM Whitening system will take 30-60 minutes.

Q: How long will the teeth remain white?

A: The long-term effect of the treatment varies from one person to another. Clearly, Certain habits such as smoking, drinking coffee, tea and wine, or neglect of regular cleansing could once again quicken the darkening process of the teeth.
Assuming regular care is provided (including dental check-ups), teeth can remain white for as long as 2 years.

Q: Will the treatment have any effect on existing crowns/veneers/bonds?

A: Generally speaking it is impossible to change the color of the caps, veneers or bonds with tooth whitening treatment. However, the treatment may remove stains from crowns, veneers and bonded teeth.