WHAT IS TEETH WHITENING?
Teeth whitening, a cosmetic dentistry procedure, gives you a brighter, healthier appearing smile. It lightens the color of your teeth to counteract the yellowing effect of foods and drinks, aging and other factors that take effect over time. This dental specialty helps many people feel better about the way they look.
WHAT MAKES TEETH TURN YELLOW?
Teeth to become yellowed because of a variety of reasons. The most common are eating and drinking items such as coffee, berries, tea, etc. which stain teeth. Using tobacco products can yellow teeth quite a bit as well. The discoloration can be fixed by whitening treatment offered at the dentist’s office. Sometimes, though not as often, the staining is internal. This can be caused by a tooth trauma, taking certain medications for a prolonged time, and having a root canal performed. These situations will require deep internal bleaching or the application of a crown or veneer.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING PROFESSIONAL TEETH WHITENING?
First, we will thoroughly clean and prepare the teeth for the whitening treatment. Any traces of decay or damage will need to be treated before the whitening process. Once the patient’s teeth are ready, an innovative, light activated gel which is made from hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth. This gel reacts to a special light in order to whiten teeth. The patient’s lips will be held away from the teeth with a soft retainer to ensure that each tooth is covered evenly with gel and is fully exposed to the light. The light is then directed at the teeth for roughly 15 minutes. When enough time has gone by, the gel is wiped away, and the lip retainer is taken out. The whole process takes approximately 45-90 minutes depending on the degree of staining. Patients will notice brighter and whiter teeth immediately.
CAN I WHITEN MY TEETH AT HOME?
You can use over-the-counter products such as whitening toothpaste to take away some stains from your teeth or whiteners that bleach your teeth. But a visit to the dentist provides you with enhanced results in one visit. The over-the-counter products require a lot of use before the teeth lighten. You only need to visit the dentist once for professional whitening, which boosts results with a specialty light or chemical with a hydrogen peroxide solution.
DOES THE PROCEDURE DAMAGE THE TEETH OR GUMS?
The procedure does not damage the teeth or gums, and does not change the structure of the teeth. Performed correctly and safely the procedure will not cause any severe tooth sensitivity and causes no irritation to the soft tissue in the mouth (gums, lips).
ARE THERE ANY SİDE EFFECTS?
For many years, scientists have proven that there are no side effects; some people may experience a slight sensitivity for a couple of hours after the treatment.
IS TEETH WHITENING PERMANENT?
No matter if teeth whitening takes place at home or in the dentist’s office, it is not a permanent solution. Over time, teeth will become discolored from smoking or consuming foods and beverages such as tea, coffee or certain types of juice. Refraining from activities that are known to stain teeth can allow patients to stretch the time between whitening procedures. Many patients will eventually have their teeth whitened again in order to restore the wattage of their smile. This really depends on lifestyle, diet and good oral hygiene.
HOW OFTEN CAN TEETH BE WHITENED?
The dentist will determine how often a whitening system should be used. While it is generally safer than the abrasive toothpastes, whitening systems can be detrimental if they are overused. It is important to always follow the doctor’s orders when it comes to the frequency and length of time spent using whitening trays. With the right frequency, a whitening system can brighten a patient’s teeth from four to eight shades in just a few days. Along with proper dental care, teeth will stay looking white and bright for years to come.