Teeth whitening

The basis for a beautiful look is white and healthy teeth, so patients are increasingly asking what is teeth whitening, whether it is damaging and what results can be expected.

With the aging of the enamel, it becomes thinner and more transparent, so that dentin, which is yellowish, comes to the fore. In case the patient has an extremely thin enamel, the recommendation is to create esthetic veneers to compensate for the loss of the enamel and, at the same time, change the color of the teeth.

What is teeth whitening? 

Teeth whitening is a dental procedure that treats teeth with bleaching gels. The teeth become lighter by means ofthe oxygenation method when active oxygen molecules penetrate into the pores of enamel and bind to the pigment molecules. The shade achieved by the treatment is individual and it is essential for the patient to have realistic expectations. When the desired color is achieved,it can be maintained by an occasional sandblasting or home whitening.

Why does the tooth color change occur?

There are numerous causes of tooth color changes, and we  divide them  into the external and the internal causes. We associate the external causes with frequent coffee drinking, smoking and dark colored drinks. Internal causes are most often endodontically treated teeth, and accumulation of pigments before tooth development because of the use of medications in pregnancy (tetracyclines, fluorides).

 What does the bleaching procedure look like?

Since not every patient is a candidate for the whitening treatment, a detailed examination of all the teeth and gingiva is made first. If necessary, calculus removal and sandblasting are preferred to  prepare the teeth for the application of a bleaching gel. The gingiva and mucosa are  and then the gel is applied for 20 minutes to the teeth that we want to bleach . After 20 minutes, all the gel is washed off and a new layer is applied. The total process lasts 45 minutes. The procedure is repeated if the patient is not immediately satisfied with the color obtained. Lighter and yellowish teeth are easier to bleach, unlike the greyish pigmented ones. The true color of the teeth is visible a few days after the whitening. If the patient is a candidate for making esthetic veneers and is not satisfied with the color of their teeth, the teeth that are not included in the therapy are being whitened and then  grinded for the veneers and their creation.

There is also an option of bleaching  at home so that the jaw impressions are taken and the individual splints are made in which the gel is placed  in a much lower concentration.

Hypersenitivity after the whitening

Teeth whitening does not hurt, but sometimes a spontaneous sharp pain and hypersensitivity occur during and after the treatment. It is a temporary feeling that  lasts 12 to 24 hours.

What to avoid after the treatment?

Enamel’s pores are more open and more rejuvenated after the treatment, so it is advisable to avoid cigarettes, black wine, coffee, tea and dark colored drinks for at least 2 days after the whitening to make the effect more durable. The procedure itself does not damage the enamel if it is not repeated several times in a year.

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