Teeth Whitening

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening lightens teeth and helps remove stains and discolorations. Whitening is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedures because it can greatly improve the appearance of your teeth. Most dentists perform teeth whitening.

Whitening is not a one-time process. If you want to maintain the brighter color, it will need to be repeated from time to time.

The outer layer of the tooth is called enamel. The color of natural teeth is formed by the combination of the reflection and scattering of light from the enamel and the color of the dentin underneath. Your genes affect the thickness and smoothness of tooth enamel. Thinner enamel allows more dentin color to show through. Having smoother or rougher enamel also affects the reflection of light and therefore color.

Every day, a thin layer (pellicule) forms on the enamel and collects stains. Tooth enamel also has pores that can trap stains.

The most common causes of yellowing or staining of teeth include:

• Using tobacco, smoking
• Consuming dark liquids such as coffee, cola, tea and red wine
• Not taking good care of your teeth
• Aging also reduces the brightness of teeth due to thinning of enamel and darkening of dentin color.

It is also possible to have stains inside the tooth. These are called internal stains. For example, intrinsic stains can result from exposure to too much fluoride as a child while teeth are developing. Other causes include tetracycline antibiotics. If taken by the mother in the second half of pregnancy or by a child 8 years old or younger, it may stain the child's teeth. During these years, teeth are still developing. Trauma can also darken teeth. Tooth whitening is most effective on superficial (external) stains.

Teeth Whitening Methods

• Teeth whitening in office / clinic
• teeth whitening at home
• Combined teeth whitening (Both home and office whitening)
• Internal Whitening (Whitening the inside of the tooth)

Which is the most effective teeth whitening method?

The most effective teeth whitening method is combined whitening, which combines office and home whitening.

Office Type Teeth Whitening

Office type teeth whitening method is a teeth whitening method that gives results in a shorter time than home type teeth whitening that can be applied by a physician in a clinic environment. As with home whitening, there are no dental stones etc. that will affect the whitening process. Negativities such as this should be eliminated.

The dentist begins the office bleaching application by first taking precautions to protect the gums and other soft tissues that may be damaged in the mouth. The gums are covered with a protective layer, preventing the tooth whitening agent from reaching the gums. The difference of this application from home whitening is that the active ingredient of the chemical used is higher and it must be used under the supervision of a dentist. Office whitening, which gives faster results than home whitening, provides a much deeper whitening of the teeth when applied with light sources such as LEDs or lasers.

Situations where teeth whitening can be applied

• Physiological coloration that persists throughout life
• Coloring after amalgam filling
• Antibiotic use during infancy
• Color change from inside the tooth due to root canal treatment
• Discoloration of the surface of the tooth due to the use of coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine and mouthwashes for a long time

Discoloration that occurs due to bleeding inside the tooth due to the death of the living tissue inside the tooth as a result of trauma.

Home Teeth Whitening

Personalized whitening trays are prepared by taking measurements from inside the mouth. Certain amounts of whitening gel (10-15% carbamide peroxide) are applied into this prepared plate.

Home teeth whitening treatment duration

It is a treatment applied by the patient himself, using the plates for at least 2-6 hours during the day, preferably at night, over an average of 10-15 days.

How to apply whitening gel into the plaque?

The most important point to consider in home teeth whitening is not to apply too much gel. If too much is applied, the gel overflowing from the plaque will irritate the gums. In such a case, the gums should be washed immediately and a cream containing vitamin E should be applied to the irritated surface.

Disadvantages of home whitening

• Long treatment period lasting from one week to one month
• Avoid using beverages such as coffee and cola that cause tooth discoloration during the treatment.
• Stay away from cigarettes and similar bleaching substances until the application is completed.
• Damage to the gums as a result of careless behavior when placing the plaques on your teeth
• Although it is easy for the person to use, it is less preferred today due to reasons such as waste of time and not giving results in some deep colorings.

Combined Teeth Whitening

It is a teeth whitening method in which both office and home types are applied. After teeth whitening is performed in the clinic, gel is applied into the trays specially prepared for the patient and the process is supported with home whitening for 4-6 days.

Internal Whitening

It is applied to teeth that change color after root canal treatment. After the filling in the tooth is removed, whitening gel is applied to the opened cavity. The tooth is then tightly sealed with a temporary filling. Sessions are repeated until the desired color is achieved.

Does internal teeth whitening cause any harm to the teeth?

The channel filling must be insulated very well. There is no harm if it is well insulated.

What are the harm or side effects of teeth whitening?

Whitening methods other than lifeless teeth (with root canal treatment) may cause sensitivity in the teeth, albeit a little. This tooth sensitivity; may be against the weather, very hot or cold foods and drinks. This is a normal and expected side effect. Tooth sensitivity is usually expected to pass within 24-48 hours. When an unexpected situation is encountered, a doctor should be consulted.

How long is the teeth whitening treatment period?

Teeth whitening varies from person to person. Average whitening time is 2-3 weeks. The more yellowing the teeth are, the more effective the whitening can be. Graying caused by the use of antibiotics is more difficult to whiten and it may take a longer time to reach the result.

Is it necessary to clean the whitening plate?

Yes it should. After use, the plates are washed with liquid soap and rinsed thoroughly. After making sure that they are dry, you should keep them in the box we provide you.

How long is the effect and permanence of teeth whitening?

After bleaching, the color starts to disappear over time. This period varies depending on the patient's use of colored liquids (tea-coffee-wine-cola) and smoking. It takes between 6 months and 1 year. Teeth whitening becomes permanent if supported with 1 or 2 sessions every 4-6 months.

What should I pay attention to when whitening my teeth? During whitening, colored liquids such as tea-coffee-wine-cola and tobacco products should be strictly avoided. If used, the process will have an adverse reaction and the teeth will become discolored.