Teeth Whitening, Bleaching Process
The key to an impressive smile is sparkling and snow-white teeth. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic solution applied to lighten the color of teeth that have changed discoloration and yellowed for various reasons.
The natural color of the teeth becomes darker over the years due to the effects of tea, coffee and cigarettes.
It can make your teeth whiter and more aesthetic.
Instead of having porcelain etc. placed on these teeth, the whitening method, also called bleaching, is performed and at the end of this process the teeth are lightened up to eight to ten shades depending on the condition.
There are two types of whitening procedures:
- Office Bleaching
(Method performed by the dentist in the clinic) - Home Bleaching
(The system that the patient will use at home)
Office Bleaching
This whitening method is performed by the dentist in the clinic, usually in a single session lasting 40-50 minutes.
A whitening substance is applied to the teeth with a light that stimulates whitening. The whitening gels used usually contain carboniteperoxide. There are two currently accepted systems.
Brite Smile
Among these systems called Zoom Systems, the Brite Smile system uses LED plasma light technology. In the Zoom method, a device that uses a different wavelength of light is used. In both, sensitivity is minimized after the procedure as a low-density gel is applied. The devices used activate the properties of the whitening gel and provide a fast result.
Home Bleaching
In this method, after a detailed examination of the person to be whitened, an impression is taken and a transparent mold suitable for the mouth and covering all teeth is prepared. The patient squeezes the gels given by the physician into this mold and applies them to his teeth at certain hours every day.
The procedure is completed between one week and 10 days. Due to the long application time, office whitening is preferred today.
Considerations in bleaching process:
- Protect the gums:
In home-type practices, if the gel overflows to the gums after placing the mold in the mouth, the overflowing gel should be removed with a wet cotton ball. In office-type practices, your dentist will use a special foam to isolate the gums. - Correct setting of the Usage Time:
In home whitening, regular application should be done in the period recommended by the physician, otherwise the desired result may not be obtained. - Hot-Cold Sensitivity:
Rarely, “hot-cold sensitivity” has been observed after whitening, but this condition disappears completely within 1-3 days. Whitening does not cause any changes on the tooth enamel. - Continuity:
Whitening is a permanent procedure. However, in those who consume excessive cigarettes, coffee and tea, the color may return 10-20% over time. Generally, the patient who has whitening is checked every 6 months, and the patient is guided about teeth cleaning, and the whitening is usually reinforced with a one-time procedure.