Everything you wanted to know about Tooth whitening
What is it?
How is it done?
What are the main types of tooth whitening?
Is Tooth Whitening Right For Me?
Why didn’t my treatment give the results I wanted?
What are the contraindications?
What is the most effective Bleaching?
If any of these questions interest you then this article is for you.
When it comes to aesthetics we are constantly bombarded with promises that are often not kept. Learn everything about Tooth Whitening so that your treatment will be a success !
Tooth Whitening or Bleaching is one of the most common procedures in Cosmetic Dentistry as , when indicated, it can substantially improve the appearance of the smile , making it brighter and thus more beautiful.
Our culture associates white teeth with youth and health, which explains the popularity of this treatment.
To be safe, it should be done exclusively by dentists, as not all cases are good candidates , and should be preceded by a proper diagnosis and radiographic check-up (to detect cavities that must be treated before the treatment).
Causes of tooth discoloration
The outer layer of the tooth is called enamel and the reflection of light on the enamel, combined with the color of the underlying layer of the tooth (dentin) determines the color of the tooth (intrinsic tooth color).
The causes of darkening of the teeth are several:
Age:
The thinner the enamel layer, the more the dentin color appears (more yellow).
The enamel wears down and becomes thinner with age and the dentin darkens, which determines the darkening of the teeth over the years.
Extrinsic stains:
In addition, every day a thin film is formed on the surface of the enamel, which will stain with coffee, tea, tobacco, etc.
Dental Fluorosis:
Brown spots caused by excessive intake of fluoride while teeth are growing.
Tetracyclines (antibiotics):
Taken by pregnant women in the 2nd half of pregnancy or by children under 8 years of age; cause darkening of different degrees of severity, which are quite difficult to treat.
Localized darkening:
When only one or two teeth have a darker color than the rest, it is usually due to loss of vitality of the teeth in question.
How is Teeth Whitening done?
Extrinsic stains are easily removed by polishing done during a regular dental cleaning. They can be largely avoided with good brushing technique (if there is no plaque there is no way to retain the stains) and avoiding the foods responsible for them.
The intrinsic coloring can only be changed through tooth whitening.
This is done with Peroxide gel (Carbamide or Hydrogen) in different concentrations ( chosen by the Dentist according to each case). It can be done in the office in sessions of 30 to 45 minutes with gel at high concentrations and at home (with the same product at lower concentrations placed in custom-made trays for each patient) for a minimum period of 2 weeks.
From my experience, the best results are obtained with at home bleaching as it provides better and longer lasting results ( 2-3 years).
The protocol I follow is :
· Clinical Observation, radiographic check up, photos and impressions for individual trays
· Oral Hygiene Appointment. The patient is given the customized trays and whitening gel.
· Use of trays with whitening gel at home for at least 2 weeks (1 hour a day or overnight)
With it I usually get great results that last for long periods of time (2 to 3 years).
OBS: When you do only sessions in the office with laser or light, the results do not last more than 6 months…
Internal teeth whitening
In the case of darkened anterior teeth from previous root canal treatments, tooth whitening can be carried out from the inside of the tooth. To do so, we will use the root canal treatment access (located at the back of the tooth), and place the whitening product at high concentration inside the tooth for 2-3 days.
This usually returns the tooth to its original colour and is a quite simple solution for what used to be a big problem.
Frequently asked questions
Does Whitening Make Teeth Weaker?
No it doesn´t: neither weaker nor stronger, it has no effect on the tooth other than changing the color.
Does Tooth Whitening Cause Sensitivity?
There may be an increase in tooth sensitivity while the treatment is being carried out but it disapears at the end of the treatment.
People who already have a tooth sensitivity are not good candidates for this type of treatment.
Does Tooth Whitening also whiten ceramic crowns or veneers?
No, it does not have any action on them, which must be explained to the patient before starting treatment.
Do all people respond the same way to Teeth Whitening?
Not at all: the best candidates are people with yellowish teeth followed by brownish shades. Teeth that are gray in color or that have a high transparency of the incisal edge are poor candidates.
What precautions should I take during treatment?
You should avoid anything that could stain your teeth: coffee, red wine, tobacco, etc.
In case of exaggerated sensitivity, interrupt the treatment for 1 or 2 days.
Do not use too much whitening gel as, in addition to being a waste of product , it will harm the gums unnecessarily.
Do tooth whitening pastes and elixirs have the same effectiveness as the in-office treatment and the gel provided by your dentist?
No. The concentrations and active principles are different and the effectiveness is much lower. In some products results depend on abrasion of the superficial layer of the tooth which is completely contraindicated!!
Can Pregnant Women Have Teeth Whitening?
No.
You now have the basic information about Tooth Whitening to make a more conscious decision about this treatment .
For more information, do not hesitate to contact us.
