Teeth Whitening
The appearance of the teeth is very important for people who take care of their personal care. In addition, in today’s aesthetic perception, the idea that teeth should be white is common.
Why Does Teeth Lose Its Whiteness?
There are many reasons why teeth lose their whiteness. It may be caused by structural disorders that occur during tooth formation in childhood, or the foods and drinks consumed in social life may cause discoloration on the teeth. Especially cigarette, tea or coffee consumption are factors that accelerate the process.
The color change we mentioned above is divided into two. The first of these is internal coloration. Internal coloration; These are stains that cannot be removed by brushing and have reached the inside of the tooth. Structural disorders or the side effects of the drugs used are in this category. Another variation is the external coloration.External discoloration is the coloration caused by foods such as cigarettes, tea and coffee. Usually, these stains can be easily removed with dental scaling cleaning.
Teeth Whitening Methods
Tooth whitening, which gives teeth a white and aesthetic appearance, is one of the treatments frequently applied by dentists in recent years. The colored substances formed in the enamel structure on the surface of the teeth are cleaned with tooth whitening gels and the person is given a healthy and aesthetic appearance. This procedure can be applied to anyone over the age of 18 who has no dental or gum disease.
The age of the patient, the underlying diseases, if any, and the level of color change are determining factor in specified which technique will be applied to whom in the teeth cleaning process. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a specialist and apply a personalized treatment according to the results of the necessary examinations.
What are the teeth whitening methods?
These methods differ according to the technique and application areas. There are 4 different teeth whitening methods. These;
Home-Type Teeth Whitening: Personalized plastic mouthpieces are prepared with a simple measurement taken from the mouth and gels are placed inside. If the person uses the prepared plate between 4 and 6 hours during the day, the treatment will be concluded within 10 or 15 days. However, if the person uses it during sleep, it will finish the treatment in 8-10 days.
Office Type Teeth Whitening (Bleaching in a Clinical Environment): This method, also known as the laser teeth whitening method, is performed in a clinical setting. The whitening gel applied on the teeth is activated with the help of UV light or laser and the whitening process is performed. This process takes about 1 hour on average. The application time is shorter than other methods.
Combined Teeth Whitening (Home + Office Type Whitening): This method, which is applied at home and in the office environment, is supported by home bleaching for 2 or 3 days after it is applied in the clinic.
Single Teeth Whitening (Internal Whitening): The color of the teeth that undergo root canal treatment changes. This whitening method is also applied to these teeth. First, the filling in the tooth is removed. Then, a whitening gel is applied to the opened space, and then the tooth is closed with a temporary filling. The sessions are repeated at 3-day intervals until the desired color is achieved.
The effect of teeth whitening usually lasts between 6 months and 1 year. This period is shortened according to the use of active substances such as tea, coffee or cigarettes consumed by the person.
What are the Side Effects of Teeth Whitening?
In addition to all these, if we talk about the side effects of teeth whitening; The most common side effect is that the gel used in the treatment causes sensitivity in the teeth. However, this sensitivity should pass between 24 and 48 hours. There is a possibility of sensitivity in the gums as well. The products used during the treatment may cause irritation in the gums due to their intense contact with the gums. Apart from these, the white tones of procedures such as prostheses, implants or fillings and the white tone resulting from the bleaching process may not match with each other. People who have undergone such procedures before, together with their dentists, can have more than one session or change the currently applied treatment method to ensure equal and aesthetic whitening.