Returns luminosity to your teeth and recovers its natural colour.
THIS TREATMENT IS FOR YOU IF…
You want to recover the white of your teeth.
What is whitening?
Tooth whitening is a treatment whose objective is to lighten the colour of the teeth, eliminating stains and discoloration. It is the most popular of aesthetic dental treatments.
Bleaching is more effective on extrinsic or superficial stains. To keep the colour brighter, the treatment should be repeated eventually, as it is not a one-time treatment.
Some habits can cause the whitening to start to fade. Smoking, in addition to drinking foods and drinks with dyes, can be factors that accelerate this process.
If these harmful habits are avoided and the maintenance recommended by the specialists is followed, it is possible that another whitening treatment is not needed in the following 6 or 12 months.
What types of whitening exist?
There are different ways to classify the types of whitening. It can be done according to the type of teeth, according to the place where the whitening is performed or according to the technology used.
If the differentiation is made based on the type of teeth, it must be taken into account that the teeth can be vital or non-vital. What does this mean? The difference is based on where the tooth stain is coming from. If the stain is external, vital teeth will be whitened, while if the whitening is done from the inside, non-vital teeth will be considered whitening.
Vital teeth whitening
It is the most common tooth whitening procedure. It is performed by applying a gel directly on the surface of the tooth and it is a treatment that can be performed both in the office and at home.
The gel that is used contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide, and can be applied more effectively in the dental clinic, since the percentage of product is higher and a specialized light is used that allows whitening to act faster.
The whitening treatment on vital teeth in consultation usually lasts from 30 to 90 minutes and is carried out in several sessions. The number of appointments will depend on the method used, the intensity of the stains and the level of whitening desired.
Non-vital teeth whitening
This treatment consists of whitening the teeth from the inside. It is performed when vital whitening may not have an effect, because the stains come from inside the tooth.
In this case, the whitener will be placed inside the tooth and a temporary filling will be used. The whitening will remain inside for several days. It will need to be changed occasionally until the tooth reaches the desired shade of white.
In the case of vital teeth whitening, a division can be made based on the light technique used. The light activates the molecules of the gel used to whiten teeth, increasing the whitening effect. This light can be of two types: laser or LED.
LED whitening
It is a very effective procedure, which consists of activating the molecules of the whitening gel with the blue light emitted by the LED lamp. Three to four photoactivation sessions are needed, which can be scheduled in a single appointment if a faster effect is sought. The result of this whitening can be very long lasting if good oral hygiene is maintained.
Advantages of whitening
Tooth whitening is the most common treatment. One of the reasons for this is that it has numerous aesthetic and mental advantages. Some of the most outstanding advantages are:
- Whiter smile. The smile is one of the most outstanding features in the appearance of a person. Having a whiter smile can positively influence yourself, improving mood and confidence, and also other people, who may perceive you as a more confident and trustworthy person.
- Improves confidence. Having whiter teeth is a key factor in improving self-esteem. Socially, having a healthy mouth and smile is a highly valued factor, so having white teeth can give more confidence and self-assurance.
- Helps improve hygiene. Tooth whitening treatment requires maintaining good oral hygiene once the treatment is done. In addition, a person who wants to whiten is, in general, a person who cares about their oral health.
- Fast results. Teeth whitening treatment requires three to four sessions, but can be done in a single appointment. Unlike many dental treatments, the results of teeth whitening are very fast.
- painless process. Most dental treatments involve some discomfort for patients, both in the clinic and, sometimes, in the days after. Whitening is a procedure that does not cause discomfort to the recipient.
Phases of the whitening treatment
Teeth whitening is a quick and easy treatment, and can be done in the clinic or at home. The phases of the same will depend on where the treatment is carried out, but they are very similar.
Bleaching on vital teeth in clinic: When performed in the clinic, whitening will consist of two phases.
- First, the dental professional will apply a substancethat covers and protects the gums around the teeth. Later, he will place a whitening gel on them, which will later have to be activated with a light to be effective.
- If the bleach needs to be activated, an LED or laser lamp will be placedduring the determined treatment time. The treatment may require several sessions, but can be carried out in a single appointment.
Whitening at home: In the case of wanting to whiten at home, it will be possible using splints that fit the teeth and in which the whitening gel will be placed. This treatment must be prescribed by a dentist. The phases of this type of treatment are:
- First of all, the professional will take impressions of the upper and lower arches and will make custom-made splints that will adapt perfectly to the teeth, so that the whitening agent is in contact with them.
- Once the splints are available,the whitening gel will be placed inside the splints and the splints will need to be worn for several hours every day.
Combined whitening: This treatment combines two procedures: the first, in the clinic and under the supervision of a specialist, and the second in the patient’s own home.
