Bleaching is the process of removing the discoloration that penetrates the enamel and dentin layers of the teeth for various reasons and bleaching the teeth according to their previous tone. Over time, the darkening of the natural colors of the teeth can be removed by cleaning and polishing the calculus. However, with these applications, it is possible to remove the discoloration that cannot be eliminated or to lighten the natural color of the tooth a few more tones. In this case, the whitening method, which is known to be a more protective method, is applied instead of making porcelain on the teeth. After teeth whitening, in other words, after the bleaching process, up to 4-5 tons of lightening can be achieved depending on the condition of the teeth.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Although the result of teeth whitening varies depending on the tooth structure of the person, it is permanent between 6 months and 2 years on average. However, the teeth never return to their original color. Constant consumption of substances such as coffee, cigarettes, red wine and the person’s eating habits can cause the teeth to lose their whiteness. Because; It is checked 6 months after the teeth whitening process and if necessary, tartar cleaning, polishing and a second session of teeth whitening can be recommended.
What are Teeth Whitening Techniques?
Teeth whitening methods are divided into two different types according to the application technique:
Office Type Tooth Bleaching: This method is a technique applied by the dentist in the clinical setting and provides a fast and effective result. In the office-type teeth whitening process, which consists of 3 sessions of approximately 20 minutes, the number of sessions can be increased or decreased according to the desired result and the tooth sensitivity of the person. Before starting the process, tartar cleaning should be done in order to increase the permanence. Before the teeth whitening process, the color of the tooth is selected, and a protective agent is applied to prevent damage to the gums. Teeth whitening chemical gel, which is a whitening product with a high oxygen content, is applied by activating it with various light sources, including lasers. After the gel is kept on the teeth for a certain period of time, it is cleaned and the tooth color is checked. Sessions are continued if necessary. In-office teeth whitening only affects the front eight teeth. It is useful to wait 24 hours for the full effect of the teeth whitening process to be seen.
Home Bleaching: It is a method that is performed outside the clinical setting with the help of plates or ready-to-use apparatus specially prepared for the person at home or at work. A special tooth whitening plate is prepared according to the measurement taken from the lower and upper jaw of the person. The dose is adjusted by the dentist by selecting the appropriate tooth whitening gel for the patient. During the specified time, the person puts the molds in which the tooth whitening gel is placed on their teeth. Because this application is more practical, it is generally preferred to be done at night. Care should be taken not to apply too much of the whitening gel in home teeth whitening procedures. If it is applied too much, the whitening gel that overflows from the plaque can irritate the gums. When faced with such a situation, it is recommended to wash the gums immediately and apply a cream containing vitamin E to the irritated surface.
The hydrogen peroxide concentration of home bleaching products is much lower than the teeth whitening products used by physicians in clinical settings. As a natural result of this, it becomes possible to get very fast and effective results from office whitening procedures. In office bleaching procedures, the dentist provides full protection to the patient’s gums and soft tissues. In this way, the risk of irritating the gums by the whitening gel, which is at risk in home whitening processes, is not in question in office whitening processes. Optimum results can be achieved in office-type bleaching processes in terms of the patient’s health and the whitening effect achieved.
How Long Does the Teeth Whitening Process Take?
How many sessions of teeth whitening will take varies between 2-3 sessions depending on the discoloration of the teeth. Before the teeth whitening process, which is carried out three times in 20-minute periods, a protective agent is applied to prevent damage to the gums. Then, a whitening gel is applied to the teeth.
What are the Teeth Whitening Methods?
Although it is very important for people of all age groups to have white teeth and an aesthetic appearance, this is not always possible due to different factors. Some people’s natural tooth color is yellow, while some people have discoloration on their teeth due to their eating and drinking habits. In this case, it may not be possible to prevent yellowing of the teeth, even if the teeth are brushed regularly and the correct oral and dental care is applied.
Some people’s teeth may be congenital, and some people’s teeth may have internal discoloration as a result of reasons such as the use of certain antibiotics. In addition, frequently consumed foods and beverages such as tea, coffee, wine, fruit juice can cause external discoloration on the teeth. As a result of these factors, the natural whiteness of the teeth can be shaded and the desired white teeth can be avoided.
However, there are some methods that can be applied to achieve the desired whiteness of the teeth. By using the bleaching process, it is possible to remove the discoloration of the teeth and achieve whiter teeth. However, teeth whitening, that is, bleaching, should not be confused with the polishing process applied after tartar cleaning. Tooth whitening, in other words bleaching procedure, can be applied with different methods.
Office Type Teeth Whitening
Office bleaching is a teeth whitening procedure applied by a dentist in a clinical setting. This procedure, which provides fast and effective results, is usually performed in 2-3 sessions of 20 minutes. The number of sessions to be applied varies according to the current situation in the teeth of the person, the tooth sensitivity of the person and the desired result. Before the in-office teeth whitening procedure is applied, the patient is cleaned with calculus in order to obtain a longer-lasting effect. After the desired tooth color is determined, preservatives are applied to prevent any damage to the gums during the procedure . In the office type teeth whitening procedure, tooth whitening chemical gels, which are whitening products containing high oxygen, are activated by using different light sources such as laser. After the applied gel is kept on the teeth for a certain period of time, it is cleaned and the resulting tooth color is checked. Sessions are continued if necessary. The office-type teeth whitening method, which provides an effective whitening in a short time, is a time-saving procedure for both the patient and the dentist. In order to ensure the permanence of the obtained result, it is very important to pay attention to certain points after the application. Temporary sensitivity may occur in the teeth after teeth whitening. This condition, which is considered natural, resolves spontaneously within a few days.
Laser Whitening
Laser whitening, a power-assisted whitening process that lightens enamel and dentin; This is accomplished using a full-arc bleach lamp and a light-activated 35% peroxide gel. This method, which is safe, effective and extremely fast, is ideal for people who want to have whiter teeth in a short time.
Laser whitening light-activated whitening gel can be described as a scientifically formulated, pH-balanced hydrogen peroxide that gently penetrates teeth to remove deep stains and discoloration. As a result of the breakdown of the hydrogen peroxide gel, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin. Thus, it provides whitening of colored substances without causing any change in the structure of the tooth.
Before the procedure, the lips and gums are isolated to avoid any damage. A light-activated whitening gel specially designed for 20-minute sessions is applied. After each 20-minute session, the whitening gel is rinsed and cleaned, and up to three sessions are repeated when necessary. Laser teeth whitening procedure is completed with a fluoride treatment that lasts for about 5 minutes.
Home Type Teeth Whitening
Home bleaching is a teeth whitening procedure that is performed under the control of the dentist, but with the materials prepared by the dentist, at the person’s home. The teeth whitening processes of the patients who will undergo home teeth whitening application are planned individually by the dentist. In this context, personalized measurements and analyzes are made. As a result, individual plaques are prepared. On the plaques given by the dentist, the person applies the tooth whitening gel given by the dentist to the specified extent. In order for the home teeth whitening procedure to be successful, the plates must be used regularly for the period specified by the dentist. It is preferable to wear dental plaques at night, as it is generally more practical. One of the most important issues in home teeth whitening method is to adjust the amount of tooth whitening gel given by the dentist. If the whitening gel is applied more than normal, there is a risk that the plaques will overflow and irritate the gums. In such a situation, the gums should be cleaned by washing with plenty of water immediately and a cream containing vitamin E should be applied to the irritated surface.
Single Teeth Whitening
In addition to the use of foods and beverages with coloring properties such as tea, coffee, cigarettes, and red wine, as a result of root canal treatment or trauma, the living tissue inside the tooth may die and discoloration may occur in the teeth. Discoloration can occur in all teeth, or in some cases, it can occur in a single tooth. In such cases, a single teeth whitening procedure is applied.
Single teeth whitening procedure is usually applied to teeth that have discoloration due to root canal treatment. The fillings in the teeth are removed. Teeth whitening gel is applied to the opened space. Teeth whitening with laser can be continued until the desired tone is achieved in the teeth that are tightly closed with a temporary filling . In this procedure, teeth whitening chemicals are activated by laser to achieve the desired whiteness.
The permanence of a single teeth whitening procedure may vary depending on the patient’s liquids that may cause discoloration and smoking status. If necessary, the result obtained from a single tooth whitening procedure can be made permanent by supporting it with 1-2 sessions every 4-6 months. Achieving the desired whitening in the teeth is a process that may vary according to the oral and dental health of the person.
Combined Teeth Whitening (Home+Office Type Whitening)
Combined teeth whitening is an effective teeth whitening procedure that can be applied to people who are not satisfied with the color of all their teeth. It can be preferred for changing the colors of the teeth that have discolored due to different reasons or to lighten the color of the individual teeth a few tones. In this procedure, in which home-type teeth whitening and office-type teeth whitening methods are applied together, the whiteness obtained after the office-type teeth whitening process is applied to the patient is supported by the home-type teeth whitening application. The application of this method is generally preferred in people with advanced coloration.
