What is teeth whitening (Bleaching) ?
Teeth whitening; It is the removal of the discoloration problem with the help of whitening gels of the porous enamel layer that has been colored for various reasons. Teeth whitening is a process that must be determined according to the tooth structure and applied under the control of a dentist.
Why is teeth whitening needed?
The daily cleaning routine for the teeth ensures that we have a healthy mouth and teeth. However, what we eat during the day, genetic structure and the drugs used by the mother during the development process in the mother’s womb, the products with coloring properties such as cigarettes and tea that we drink in daily life, and even the fluorine content in the water cause discoloration in the enamel layer. In fact, the elements we have counted so far are also “Why are my teeth not white?” is also the answer to the question.
Especially cigarettes, tea, coffee and carbonated beverages consumed during the day cause significant color changes in the teeth, as well as the importance of aesthetic concerns in the developing society and the need for a beautiful smile bring the option of teeth whitening. It is an important aesthetic option for service sector employees who are in direct contact with people, as in media, public relations, bank sector employees.
Two types of discoloration occur on the teeth:
Internal discoloration: These are stains that have penetrated into the tooth and cannot be removed by brushing. Structural disorders that occur during the formation of teeth (due to drugs or excessive fluoride intake, etc.) are also included in this class. The bleaching process is very successful in most of these cases.
External Coloration: Coloring that adheres to the tooth surface from some coloring foods such as cigarettes, tea, coffee and cola. Mostly, it is possible to get rid of these stains after dental calculus cleaning.
Different colorations require different treatments. For this reason, it is best for your dentist to decide what type of treatment should be done.
What are the teeth whitening methods?
There are two types of teeth whitening, performed under the control of a physician, according to the way it is applied. The so-called office type (Power Bleaching) whitening process is a procedure that takes approximately 1 hour in a clinical setting. The whitening gels applied to the outer surface of the reconstructed tooth react with a special light used. It is a fast and effective whitening management. In this process, 3-4 tones of tooth color are opened in one session.
Another method is home bleaching. The whitening process takes longer than office whitening. It is a process that takes between 5 and 7 days, depending on the coloration on the surface of the tooth. Before the home bleaching process, a personalized mouthpiece is made. The whitening gels that are put into the prepared mouthpiece are applied to the teeth with the help of the mouthpiece in 4 – 8 hours a day.
Can anyone whiten their teeth?
The bleaching process, in which the color of the teeth is lightened with the help of whitening agents, is a safe procedure that anyone can have. If this procedure is performed under the control of a physician in reliable clinics, there is no harm to the teeth. It is important for people who want to have a whitening procedure to undergo a dental examination. Advanced caries and gingival problems detected after the examination should be treated before the whitening process. The bleaching process, which is not recommended for those whose growth and development continues, should also be done with caution to pregnant and lactating mothers.
What are the side effects of teeth whitening?
Depending on the whitening process, temporary sensitivity may occur in the teeth. It is possible to eliminate these sensitivity problems with simple interventions.
Teeth whitening applied by the dentist is a safe procedure that does not cause any harm to the teeth. Tooth whitening prevents teeth from being cut to remove discoloration, allowing patients to use their own teeth for longer periods of time.
How long does the effect of whitening last?
How long the patient will use the white teeth obtained; It is directly related to their habits during and after treatment. After the teeth whitening treatment, the patient should stay away from tobacco and tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, pipes, and coffee, tea, wine, tomato paste, acidic and food coloring drinks and foods for at least two weeks, especially for the first few days, or if possible. It should consume as little as possible. After this process, the patient should take great care in brushing teeth and prevent the adhesion of coloring materials to the tooth surface as much as possible. If these conditions are not taken care of, the coloration of the whitened tooth will occur again. Therefore, the success achieved after bleaching treatment will continue for a longer period in patients with good oral hygiene.
The success of bleaching (ie how much it will whiten) varies from person to person. This variability is directly related to the condition causing the coloration. If the patient does not have advanced fluorosis, some hereditary fastnesses or advanced antibiotic discoloration, the chance of success will be very high. In addition, the success of whitening treatment will decrease in advanced ages. In such cases, bleaching treatments alone will not be sufficient, and advanced restorative and prosthetic treatments may be needed. However, such cases take up very little space in the routine, and almost every coloration type can be eliminated with bleaching treatment.