Tooth Whitening (Bleaching)

Do you want to have an aesthetic smile?
Teeth Whitening Bleaching Process

Teeth whitening is the removal of yellowing, tooth darkening and staining of the teeth that occur in the structure of the teeth by means of teeth whitening agents applied to the surface of the teeth without abrading the teeth or coating them with another artificial substance.

Why Do Unwanted Stains Occur on Teeth?

There may be many reasons for this. The most common ones are old age, consumption of substances that stain teeth (coffee, tea, cola, cigarettes, etc.), traumas, old prostheses, veneers, fillings. Antibiotics used during the formation of teeth or excessive fluoride consumption can also lead to tooth discoloration. This may be due to the structure of the tooth or due to staining by external factors, due to antibiotics or fluoride taken during the developmental age, or due to a blow to the tooth in old age.

Who Can Bleaching Be Applied to?

Almost everyone! However, there are some cases where the treatment may not be effective. Your dentist will determine whether your teeth are suitable for this procedure with a full oral check-up and diagnosis. If your teeth are healthy, it is an ideal solution for a whiter and natural smile.

How long is the application time?

Generally, whitening starts in the first application. However, to achieve the ideal appearance, the application should continue for 10 – 14 days. Do the teeth return to their original state after whitening? Teeth will always be whiter than before. However, patients may need to have reinforcement treatment 1 to 2 times a year depending on their habits and oral care.

How Long Do Whitened Teeth Stay White?

Teeth whitened with different bleaching methods remain white for a few years. However, this period varies from person to person. Eating and drinking habits, smoking and brushing habits affect the duration of teeth whitening. It should not be forgotten that bleaching may not always provide the whiteness you want. The whitening rate depends on the shade of your teeth before bleaching and varies from person to person. Therefore, you should discuss your expectations with your dentist beforehand. Teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is a common procedure in general dentistry, but it is actually the field of aesthetic/cosmetic dentistry. Many people find a smile with white teeth very attractive. In general, baby teeth are whiter than adult teeth. As a person ages, the color of their teeth gets darker over time. This darkening is due to changes in the mineral structure of the enamel. Teeth can also be subject to discoloration from bacterial pigments and tobacco use. Since white teeth are associated with youth, they are highly desired by people who want to have an aesthetic appearance. However, it should be noted 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 highly effective and safe if it is 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.

The natural structure of the teeth is preserved and the color is lightened by 3-4 tones.

No abrasion is performed on the teeth, the teeth are not coated with any substance.

It is not difficult to apply.

It is a much more economical method than aesthetic veneers.

Disadvantages

It may not give the same successful result for everyone.

The whitened teeth will return to some extent over time. It is not possible to maintain the same degree of permanent whiteness of the teeth.

Cold and hot sensitivity may occur in the teeth during the procedure. Tooth glare may occur.

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Take?

Home Whitening: It varies between 5 days and 2 weeks after a special plaque is prepared for the person to be whitened.

Whitening in the Clinic: It can be completed by the dentist in 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. (Although the desired level is usually achieved in a single session, this process can be repeated at intervals of 1-5 days, provided that it does not exceed 4 sessions, depending on the observed whitening condition).

Single Tooth Whitening: It takes between 1 and 4 sessions. It is applied to teeth that are discolored due to root canal treatment in the person’s mouth and have obvious color difference compared to other teeth.

Home Teeth Whitening: It is a method that the person can apply on his/her own at home in line with the dentist’s directives. In the clinic, a special plaque is produced for the person’s mouth and whitening tubes to be used are given. The person performs the whitening procedures at home in line with the dentist’s instructions.

Teeth Whitening in the Clinic: It is the application of the whitening process in the clinic by the physician in one or more sessions. If there is tartar formation, the detertraj procedure should be performed before the whitening process.

Combined Method: It is the use of home and clinic methods together. According to researches, the rate of achieving the desired whiteness tone and the duration of whiteness can be extended with the effective application of the two systems together.

Laser Whitening: Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as teeth whitening with a laser light source alone. Some teeth whitening chemicals are manufactured to be activated when they receive that light from a light source of various wavelengths. Some of these are activated by the wavelength of light from an ultraviolet (UV) light source, some are activated by the wavelength of light from an LED source, and some are activated by the appropriate wavelength of light from a laser light source.

Success Factors

Before teeth whitening, the person should have caries treatments and tartar cleaning should be completed.

There are many things that the 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. Teeth are very prone to staining during this period. Therefore, attention should be paid to the diets specified by the dentist in eating and drinking. Foods and drinks 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 drinks to be avoided for the first few days: Tea, coffee, cola and similar soft drinks, orange juice, red wine, beer, other colored alcoholic beverages, sauces, carrots, peas, corn, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, lettuce, red beets, strawberries, blackberries, cigarettes, etc.

Application Areas

It is applied in cases where the general form of the teeth is satisfied but the color tone is not. In very advanced discoloration, for example; results may not be obtained in advanced discoloration due to antibiotic use.

Application
HOME BLEACHING:

Tartar cleaning (detertraj) and mechanical stain cleaning by the dentist in the clinic before starting the teeth whitening process.

In the same session, impressions are taken from the mouth and personalized whitening trays are prepared.

Whitening gels are applied into the personalized whitening trays and placed in the mouth and applied for 2-4 hours a day.

WHITENING IN THE CLINIC:

Removal of stains on the tooth surface with a brush.

Before applying the bleaching agent, the gum protector, which will protect the gums from this substance, is applied to the gums in a uniform and smooth manner, starting from the ends of the teeth.

Performing the procedure by applying the bleaching agent on the teeth to be whitened.

The result of the whitening process is observed immediately 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 Tooth Whitening:

Opening the old fillings of the discolored root canal treated tooth or teeth, placing the bleaching agent into that tooth / teeth and covering it with a temporary filling.

After the application, the patient is given an appointment 3-5 days later and the whitening status of the tooth is observed.

If the whitening in the tooth does not seem sufficient after the first application, the whitening agent inside the tooth is removed and a new one is applied.

When sufficient whiteness is achieved, the permanent filling of the tooth is made and the treatment is completed.

Things to Consider After Teeth Whitening

Many patients experience different levels of sensitivity after teeth whitening. These sensitivities are temporary and gradually disappear in the process.

It is recommended not to eat extremely cold and extremely hot foods or drink beverages for a few days after the teeth whitening procedure. If the physician prescribes a nutrition program (diet), it should be followed. The person should especially avoid the consumption of coloring foods for at least two to three days, ideally for a week.