Teeth Whitening Bleaching Process
Tooth whitening is the removal of yellowing, darkening of the teeth and stains on the teeth by means of tooth whitening agents applied to the surface of the teeth, without abrading the teeth or covering them with any other artificial material.
Why Do Unwanted Stains Occur on Teeth?
There may be many reasons for this. The most common ones are; aging, consumption of substances that stain teeth (coffee, tea, cola, cigarettes, etc.), traumas, old dentures, veneers, fillings. Antibiotics or excessive fluoride consumption used during the formation of teeth can also lead to discoloration of the teeth. This may be due to the structure of the tooth, as well as due to the staining of external factors, due to antibiotics or fluoride taken during the developmental period, or due to a blow to the tooth in old age.
Who Can Be Applied to Bleaching?
Almost everyone! However, there are some situations where treatment may not be effective. Your dentist will determine whether the teeth are suitable for this procedure with a complete intraoral control and diagnosis. If your teeth are healthy, it is an ideal solution for a whiter and natural smile.
How long is the implementation period?
Generally, whitening starts in the first application. However, to achieve the ideal image, the application should continue for 10 – 14 days. Will teeth go back to normal after whitening? Teeth will always be whiter than before. However, patients may need to have reinforcement therapy 1-2 times a year, depending on their habits and oral care.
How Long Do Whitened Teeth Stay White?
Teeth whitened with different bleaching methods stay white for a few years. But this time varies from person to person. Eating and drinking habits, smoking and brushing habits affect the whiteness of the teeth. It should be noted that bleaching may not always provide the whiteness you want. The whitening rate depends on the tone of your teeth before the whitening process and varies from person to person. Therefore, you should discuss your expectations with your dentist in advance. Teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is a very common procedure in general dentistry, but is actually the field of aesthetic/cosmetic dentistry. Many people find a smile made with white teeth very attractive. Generally, milk teeth are whiter than adult teeth. As a person ages, the color of their teeth also gets darker over time. This darkening is due to the change in the mineral structure of tooth enamel. Teeth can also be exposed to discoloration from bacterial pigments and tobacco use. Since white teeth are associated with youth, they are highly desired by people who want to be aesthetically pleasing. However, we should point out that an exaggerated whiteness may not be aesthetic in most cases. The natural tone that suits your face and mouth structure will always be more aesthetic.
Advantages
Teeth whitening is extremely effective and safe if done under the supervision of your dentist and if the rules of whitening are followed.
Contrary to popular belief, teeth and gums are not damaged much after teeth whitening.
By preserving the natural structure of the teeth, their color is lightened by 3-4 tones.
No abrasion is done on the teeth, the teeth are not covered with any substance.
It is not difficult to apply.
It is a much more economical method than aesthetic coatings.
disadvantages
It may not give the same successful result for everyone.
Whitening teeth show some return over time. It is not possible to maintain the same permanent whiteness of the teeth.
During the procedure, cold and hot sensitivities may occur in the teeth. Tooth decay may occur.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Take?
Home Bleaching: After a special plate is prepared for the person to be bleached, it varies between 5 days and 2 weeks.
In-Clinical Whitening: It can be completed by the dentist in 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. (Generally, the desired level is reached in a single session, but this process can be repeated at intervals of 1-5 days, provided that it does not exceed 4 sessions, depending on the observed whitening.)
Single Teeth Whitening: It takes between 1 and 4 sessions. It is applied to the teeth that are colored because of the root canal treatment in the person’s mouth and have a clear color difference compared to other teeth.
Home Type Teeth Whitening: It is a method that can be applied by the person at home in accordance with the directives of the dentist. In the clinic, a special plaque is produced in the mouth of the person and whitening tubes are given to be used. The person performs the whitening procedures at home in line with the physician’s instructions.
Teeth Whitening Performed in the Clinic: It is the application of the whitening process in one or more sessions by the physician in the clinic. If there is calculus formation, it is necessary to apply the cleaning process before the whitening process.
Combined Method: It is the use of home and clinical methods together. According to researches, with the effective application of the two systems, the rate of obtaining the desired whiteness tone and the whiteness period can be extended.
Laser Whitening: Contrary to popular belief,
There is no such thing as whitening teeth with a laser light source alone. Some teeth whitening chemicals are manufactured to activate when they receive that light from a light source of various wavelengths. Some of them are activated by the wavelength of the light from the ultraviolet (UV) light source, some of them are activated by the wavelength of the light sourced from the LED, and some of them are activated by the light of the appropriate wavelength from the laser light source.
Success Factors
Before teeth whitening, the person should have caries treatments and tartar cleaning should be completed.
There are a lot of things that a person should pay attention to during teeth whitening, and all of them should be explained to the patient in detail and clearly by the dentist.
The first few days after teeth whitening are very critical. During this period, the teeth are very prone to staining. Therefore, attention should be paid to the diets specified by the physician in eating and drinking. Food and beverages that leave color should be avoided as much as possible, mouth should be rinsed and teeth should be brushed after eating and drinking.
Foods and beverages to avoid for the first few days: Tea, coffee, cola and similar soft drinks, orange juice, red wine, beer, other colored spirits, sauces, carrots, peas, corn, broccoli, green beans, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, lettuce , beetroot, strawberry, blackberry, cigarette etc.
Scope of application
It is applied when the general form of the teeth is satisfied and the color tone is not satisfied. In very advanced colorations, for example; Results may not be obtained in advanced discoloration due to antibiotic use.
Application
HOME BLEACHING:
Before starting the teeth whitening process, tartar cleaning (detertrage) and mechanical stain cleaning by the dentist in the clinic.
Preparation of personalized whitening plates by taking oral measurements in the same session.
Applying the whitening gels to the specially prepared whitening plates, placing them in the mouth and applying them for 2-4 hours a day.
WHITENING MADE IN THE CLINIC:
Removal of stains on the tooth surface with a brush.
Before applying the whitening agent, the gum protector, which will protect the gums from this substance, is applied to the gums in a regular and smooth manner, starting from the end of the teeth.
Performing the procedure by applying a bleaching agent on the teeth to be whitened.
The result of the whitening process is observed at the end of the same session and to protect the teeth, a thin fluorine gel is applied to protect the tooth surfaces for a few hours.
Single Teeth Whitening:
Opening the old fillings of the discolored root canal treated tooth or teeth, placing the whitening agent in that tooth/teeth and covering it with a temporary filling.
After the application, re-appointing the patient 3-5 days later and observing the whitening status of the teeth.
If the whitening of the tooth does not seem sufficient after the first application, removing the whitening substance in the tooth and applying a new one.
When sufficient whiteness is achieved, permanent filling of the tooth and completion of the treatment.
Considerations After Teeth Whitening
Many patients experience varying degrees of sensitivity after teeth whitening. These sensitivities are temporary and disappear in the process.
It is recommended not to eat extremely cold and extremely hot foods and not to drink beverages for a few days after teeth whitening. If the physician prescribes any nutrition program (diet), it should be followed. The person should avoid the consumption of especially coloring foods for at least two or three days, ideally for a week.
Examples of foods that are objectionable due to color; cola, tea, coffee, red wine, colored fruits, mustard and ketchup, colored meat sauces, dishes made with red meat, cocoa and chocolate desserts, cigarettes, etc. In addition, eating acidic foods (eg orange, vinegar, tangerine) can increase sensitivity.
Examples of foods recommended due to color; milk, water, natural mineral water, soda, banana, peeled apple or pear, white bread, yoghurt, feta cheese, rice, pasta, potatoes, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy desserts.
