Teeth Bleaching or Whitening

Tooth bleaching or tooth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure designed to lighten the shade of your teeth. As people age, their adult teeth usually become darker. The darkening of teeth can be a consequence of:

• Natural changes in the composition of the tooth
• Bacterial pigments
• Foods
• Tea or coffee
• Tobacco

There are several options available to you when whitening your teeth:

• Dentistry office bleaching
• At home bleaching
• Whitening toothpastes

The bleaching procedure uses oxidising agents such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to lighten the color of the teeth. The oxidising agent penetrates the porosities in the tooth enamel and oxidises stain deposits. With prolonged treatment the dentine layer lying underneath the enamel is also bleached. Tooth bleaching will generally last from 5 to 7 years however is affected by factors such as cigarette smoking, tea and/or coffee consumption etc.

Office bleaching usually involves applying a high concentration of oxidising agent for a short period of time producing a quick result but has risks of chemical burns to the soft tissues such as gums, tongue and mouth.

Home bleaching involves using a teeth mouth guard to hold a low concentration of oxidising agent next to the teeth for as long as several hours a day over a period of 5 to 10 days. This is a slower process however has less risk to the soft tissues in the mouth. The bleaching agent is usually less than 10% in concentration.

Side effects of tooth bleaching include as mentioned, chemical burns, discoloration of soft tissue, over bleached teeth and sensitive teeth. Bleaching is not recommended in children under the age of 16 because the pulp chamber, or nerve of the tooth, is enlarged until this age and may increase probability of side effects. Teeth whitening is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women.

Rhinoplasty or Nose Surgery

Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure performed in order to improve the function and/or the appearance of a person's nose. Rhinoplasty can reshape the nose, make the nose larger or smaller, change the angle of the nose, alter the tip of the nose and correct bumps and other defects in the nose.

Rhinoplasty can be performed under a general or local anesthetic, depending on patient or doctor preference and generally completed as an outpatient procedure however, sometimes requires a one night stay in hospital or surgical center.

During rhinoplasty the surgeon makes incisions to access the bones and cartilage in the nose. A closed rhinoplasty involves incisions inside the nostrils and open rhinoplasty can be made by tiny incisions on the columella (skin that separates the nostrils). The surgeon separates soft tissues of the nose from the underlying structures and then reshapes the cartilage and bone to correct the deformity.

Rhinoplasty as mentioned can be carried out to improve the cosmetic appearance of the nose or to improve nasal breathing function by completing a septoplasty to straighten the nasal septum. Aft the end of surgery a splint is usually placed outside the nose to support the new shape of the nose as it heals as well as nasal packing inside the nose to provide additional support.

All surgical packing inside the nose is usually removed within a few days after surgery and the splint and bandaging around the nose is usually removed between 5 to 10 days. There may be some puffiness and bruising for several days as your nose heals. Cold compresses may help minimize swelling and reduce pain and your doctor may also recommend pain medication.

Wrinkle Removal and Reduction

Skin wrinkles are usually the result of skin aging however they can be exacerbated by:

• exposure to certain extreme weather conditions
• physical trauma or damage to the skin
• poor health resulting in poor circulation and dehydration of the skin
• rapid weight-loss

Treatments for wrinkle removal or reduction are generally classed as short term to medium term solutions with corresponding effectiveness and cost. The range of treatments include:

• Anti-aging creams – these creams contain ingredients designed to re-hydrate the skin or prevent skin from drying out. The effectiveness of these creams is usually short in time and usually require daily application to maintain their skin effect.

• Muscle relaxants and dermal fillers such Botox and Sculptura work by reducing muscle capability to contract and filling gaps or fat loss under the skin respectively. These treatments can vary in effectiveness from 3 month to 2 years.

• Surgical procedures such as dermabrasion (abrasion of the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars) and facelifts (removal and stretching of the skin to reduce and remove wrinkles) are the longest lasting of the treatments and usually the most expensive. These treatments can last anywhere from 1 to 10 years.

None of these treatments are guaranteed and the cost and recovery period increases with each of these treatments. The period of effectiveness is also not guaranteed and is only given as a guide. Some of the natural methods that can be used to avoid or reduce the wrinkle effects are:

• Drinking sufficient water to keep your skin and body hydrated
• Keeping your exposure to intense sunlight to short periods and apply suncream to protect your skin from the effects of the sun
• Avoiding smoking and smoke filled areas – nicotine can cause dryness in the skin
• Exercising on a regular basis and include cardiovascular exercise which improves blood circulation around the skin
• Eating a healthy and balanced meal – visit your local GP for a check up and assistance with your diet
• Taking some time out each day to try and relax and calm yourself mentally and physically. You may not notice it however, stress in your life may be causing you to frown for extended periods of time.