Teeth Whitening

Nowadays, many people seek to get teeth whitening, so they can have perfectly white and shiny smile. Inspired by the Hollywood smile, it is no wonder why everyone wants to have whiter teeth. When all surroundings, such as billboards, magazine covers, internet pages are overloaded with people that have a white smile, we all wish to have it as well.

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening helps to remove stains and discoloration from the teeth, making them whiter. This procedure is the most popular cosmetic dental treatment, which improves the look of the teeth.

This treatment is not one-time treatment because it will need to be repeated from time to time, so the bright color of the teeth can be maintained.

The outer layer of the tooth is called enamel or protective layer of the tooth, which is the first layer that changes color for different reasons. The color of the tooth is created by the reflection of light on the enamel in combination with the dentin, which is under it. As the enamel is thinner, allows more of the dentin to be seen and with that, the color of the teeth becomes yellow.

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 Every day the enamel is picking up stains. The most common reasons for teeth to get discolored (yellow) are:

• Smoking
• Drinking dark-colored drink such as coffee, cola, tea and red wine
• Calculus – neglected plaque that is calcified
• Medication
• Exposure to metallic compounds.

Besides the outer factors, the tooth discoloration can be caused by:

• Dental caries
• Dental trauma
• Fluorosis
• Degenerative tooth diseases

Another reason for teeth discoloration is the age of the patient. With aging, the tooth enamel becomes thinner, so the transparency of the dentin is bigger and gives that yellowish look of the teeth. If you are suffering from bruxism (clenching of the teeth,) this can also lead to micro-cracking, which can give the teeth darker color.

How is the teeth whitening procedure done?

Some dental problems can affect on tooth whitening. Cavities need to be treated before starting the cosmetic procedure because the whitening solution can pass through the decayed areas and reach the inner part of the tooth, which can cause damage.

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Teeth whitening can be done in the dental office or at home. The procedure in dental office starts with taking picture of your current color of the teeth. That photography will help your dentist make a comparison of the achieved result after the treatment.Afterward, the dentist will take full anamnesis, so that he can be sure what the cause of the teeth discoloration is.

So, the next step is the preparation of the teeth for teeth whitening. The first stage is cleaning the teeth, by removing the film of bacteria, food or other substances between the teeth.

There are two main types of teeth whitening: vital and non-vital whitening. The vital whitening is performed on teeth that are alive (with nerves), and the non-vital which is done on the tooth without nerve.

The most common teeth whitening is the vital one. The vital whitening is performed by using a gel directly on the tooth surface. The gel contains hydrogen peroxide, specialized to be LED light activated for faster bleaching.

Usually, the treatment takes 30 to 60 minutes, and it can be done in 1 visit.

After teeth cleaning, the dentist is applying a substance that covers the gums (gingiva) around the teeth. After the gums are protected, the whitening gel is placed on the teeth. Every gel is activated by a LED light, so the procedure of whitening can take less time and be done only for 1 hour.

Immediately at one at the same time, your teeth can be whiter for up to 12 shades, and you can achieve the Hollywood smile that you always wanted with only 1 dentist visit.

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If your teeth are badly discolored, the dentist will suggest you continue in-home whitening. For this procedure to be done in your home, he or she will take an impression or your teeth and make a custom mouthpiece that will fit your mouth.

Inside of that mouthpiece, you will apply the whitening gel provided by your dentist, as well as the instructions on how safely and without teeth damaging you can apply and use the gel at home.

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As we mentioned earlier, besides the vital whitening there is a non-vital whitening as well.

This type of teeth whitening can be done only at the dental office and the procedure for application of the gel is different than the one with the vital whitening. For non-vital whitening, the gel is applied inside the tooth, in the root of it, because this type of non-vital teeth whitening is made on the inside of the tooth.

If the discoloration is really bad, the whitening gel can be sealed inside your tooth and be covered with temporary filling. After several days, the filling will be removed as well as the gel, when the wanted a whiter shade of the tooth is achieved.

Is it the teeth whitening a one-time treatment?

The teeth whitening is not a one-time treatment. This is due to the return of the stains. For instance, if you are a smoker or consuming a lot of dark drinks (coffee, cola, tea) these stains can return after 2 to 3 months. If you are avoiding these consumable sources, your teeth can stay with the same white shades that you get up to 24 months.

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The re-whitening process can be done after this period of 2 years, or if you are satisfied with the current color maybe you can postpone for a year later.

Are there possible risks of the teeth whitening?

Eventually, there are no side effects from the teeth whitening, although some people’s teeth are more sensitive after the treatment. This kind of hyper sensibilization is gone after a few days.

To emphasize, a pregnant woman can’t do teeth whitening because the whitening material can harm the fetus. Further, it is a cosmetic procedure that can be postponed after the labor.

What are the Benefits of the teeth whitening?

The main benefits from the professional teeth whitening are:

• It’s painless.Due to the controlled LED light pointed only on your teeth and the rest (gums) are protected with the gel, patients do not feel a thing.
• It’s safe.At every moment the doctor has full control of the length and the power of the LED light which does not lead to the affection of the tissue.
• It’s effective.The procedure is quick and the results are visible after 24 hours.
• It’s long lasting.The results of the teeth whitening can last up to 2 years.

If you have more questions about the teeth whitening procedure you can contact us and we will answer all your questions.Moreover, if you have already decided to try the cosmetic treatment schedule your appointment today. We are here for you and to make you smile more often!