In order to get you the information you need about tooth whitening, without you getting completely lost, we’re going to have to get some dental terms out of the way. Welcome to dental anatomy 101.

The top half of the tooth is known as the crown or the coronal half. The lower half is the root or radicular half.

Enamel:
The hardest substance in the body, the enamel is the outermost layer of the top of crown of the tooth. It has a crystalline structure (i.e. millions of tiny crystals forming a solid layer) just like ice and glass. Enamel comes in varying translucencies and thickness. Think of it as frosted glass with a hint of yellow/grey/brown tints).

Dentine:
Dentine lies below the enamel layer and extends all the way to the apex (bottom end) of the tooth. Unlike enamel, dentine is made of a tubular structure. The expansion of fluid within the microscopic tubules fire off the pulpal nerves, giving sensations of hot and cold.  With age, these tubules get filled up with secondary dentine (dentine formed after the tooth has fully erupted) and become increasing less hollow. It’s because of this, the colour of dentine gets more intense with age.

Pulp:
The pulpal tissue lies in the core of the tooth. The bundle of nerve fibres and blood vessels enter the tooth from the apex. While the hard tissues (enamel and dentine) have no capacity for regeneration, the pulp serves to provide sensation and nutrients.

Alright! Now that we’re all on the same page… let’s get to the good stuff.