Everyone wants it: a brighter, whiter, more winning smile. Tooth whitening can help you get it. Is going white just right for you? Following are seven simple answers to help enlighten you about our Chicago tooth whitening services.

1. Is tooth whitening right for all teeth? Ask the dentists at Dental Professionals to evaluate you and your teeth before whitening. Yellowish, hued teeth respond well to bleach, but brownish-colored and grayish-hued teeth do not. Tooth whitening does not whiten caps, veneers or bonded teeth. Finally, if you're nursing or pregnant, we do not recommend whitening.

2.Is tooth whitening safe? Yes. Be assured that tooth whitening will not soften enamel or existing fillings. The primary ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, used safely in whitening procedures for over 100 years.

3. Can tooth whitening be done in your Chicago and Skokie offices? If you prefer, chair side power bleaching can be done in one hour at our Chicago and Skokie offices. We'll apply a protective gel or rubber shield for your gums, apply tooth whitening agent and use a special light to enhance the action of the agent. One session is generally enough to significantly whiten your teeth; some patients may require an additional session.

4. What if I want to whiten my teeth at home? Take-home tooth whitening is available to be done anywhere and anytime. We'll give you a custom-made bleaching tray filled with a mild bleaching agent. Just wear the tray daily as prescribed by your dentist for two to four weeks for great results.

5. How much whiter will my teeth look? Most people see a significant change in the whiteness of their smiles; but results will vary by individual.

6. Is bleaching painful in any way? The majority of patients experience no pain or sensitivity during the process or after.

7. How do I keep my teeth white after the bleaching? To maintain your new bright smile, brush your teeth twice daily or after each meal and floss once a day, visit our dentists regularly for cleanings and check-ups and do a touch-up bleach at home. With regular professional care and use of after-care products, you can maintain your new whiteness for many years.

A number of studies have linked periodontal disease and poor oral health to coronary heart disease (CHD), the leading cause of death in the United States. According to an article in The Oral Care Report: "With a third of all adults suffering from periodontal disease, such a relationship could have serious implications for millions of people." The article goes on to state that the number of teeth is also a factor in the relationship between CHD and periodontal disease. One study of male health care professionals, 58% of whom were dentists, found that men with periodontal disease and less than 10 teeth had an increased risk of CHD when compared to subjects with 25 or more teeth. There was no relationship to CHD found in the subjects with no periodontal disease.

Researchers have linked endotoxin produced by gram negative bacteria associated with periodontal disease with CHD. One research team offers the hypothesis that the "underlying inflammatory response trait" may place an individual at risk for developing both periodontal disease and atherosclerosis.

Another researcher states: "Dental disease is associated with an increased risk of CHD, particularly in young men." His study showed that men with dental disease who were younger than 50 had double the risk of CHD compared to men older than 50. Positive relationships with CHD have been shown for caries, periapical lesions, pericoronitis, edentia, and baseline alveolar bone loss, according to the researcher.

The link has been established. The challenge for researchers now: to find the cause.

Dental Implants are structures that are implanted into the gum or bone to help support tooth replacements. Over the past centuries, a spectrum of designs have come and gone in man's pursuit to permanently replace teeth.

The Early Years

Man has been quite ingenious in developing tooth replacements independent of other teeth. Egyptians buried gold roots into the gums. Thousands of years later, dentists drilled holes into the gums to snap removable dentures in for additional retention. In Europe and America, dentists started to open the gums, drill troughs into the bone and place metal structures to support teeth. These implants were shaped as flat plates or vents and were usually subject to biting forces shortly after placement.

Other large implants, requiring two surgeries, were placed on top of broad areas of bone but under the gums. The first surgery was performed to get an impression of the bone. After a laboratory created the implant, a second surgery was performed to place the implant on the bone. Usually these implants were surrounded by scar tissue or fibrous encapsulations, which were often unstable and susceptible to deep infections. Additionally, significant procedures were performed to remove the implants, resulting in additional loss of bone or gum.

One fairly stable system, which enjoyed some success and popularity, was called the trans-mandibular staple. Two to four long metal screws were placed through the lower jawbone using a surgery from under the chin and in the mouth. A plate was fastened to the base of these screws and over the jaw but under the gum. These two to four screws served to anchor dentures, which may have been unstable without the implants. The most widely encountered objection to this system was the relatively involved surgery and limited applications. This procedure was mainly used in the lower front jaw.

Discovery Of Osseointegration Advances Implants Treatment

In the 1950's and 60's, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Dr. P. I. Bränemark, performed research on bone circulation in rabbit tibias. He implanted titanium metal screws with optic chambers to evaluate circulation in bone when select conditions were created. He discovered that these titanium chambers were difficult to remove after healing.

Dr. Bränemark then performed a series of research studies in dogs to determine the potential applications for implants to replace teeth. The basic difference between this system and past designs included an approach that emphasized the protection of living bone around the implants. This approach required minimal damage to the bone supporting the implants. Dr. Bränemark discovered that time was required to allow for growth of bone directly to the implant surface. This resulted in a direct bone-implant interface that Dr. Bränemark named OSSEOINTEGRATION. Implants that successfully integrated to the bone functioned predictably and comfortably for long time periods. In the 1960's, human studies were initiated to test dental implants to support bone anchored dentures. These patients were followed over thirty five years with success rates near ninety six percent success rates!

Modern Implants:

Implants were still so unpredictable in the 1970s that at a consensus meeting held at Harvard University in 1978 it was determined that an implant system was considered acceptable if 75% of the implants were still functioning after five years. In contrast, today's systems enjoy success rates ranging 90 to 98% over time periods from 5 to 35+ years.

Most of today's dental implant systems are designed around the same concepts that Dr. Bränemark developed. These implant systems are placed into the jawbone, allowed to integrate with living bone, and then used to anchor tooth replacements. Most are screw-shaped with internal openings that allow teeth to be attached. Most systems are made with a roughened titanium surface to increase implant surface area and improve bone integration, and increase chances for success in bone with poor density. This implant surface is growing in popularity as research shows improved success rates. Some dentists use an implant surface coated with chemicals as research shows this can improve the speed and quantity of connection of the implant to bone.

Research continues today to find chemical treatments that further enhance the quality and quantity of bone-to-implant connection.