Teeth Whitening

Dentistry Without Limits: Teeth Whitening

My patients ask the question many times, whether they can have white teeth like Hollywood stars. I usually answer them: Yes, of course, it is possible.

But this issue is actually a bit more complicated than that: movie stars have special replacements in many cases; crowns or shell ceramics, which be a pretty drastic way to whiten teeth... Fortunately, nowadays there are plenty of effective and gentler solutions in the field of teeth whitening, so the dentist can comply with this request by keeping your own teeth.

Teeth whitening is not just a simple cosmetic procedure for our specialists. Our patients are usually proud of their white, healthy-looking teeth, they are happy to take care of them and gladly show them to everyone with a bright smile.

All teeth whitening procedures are preceded by careful dental treatments, tartar removal and detailed examination. This minimizes the risk of teeth whitening and guarantees the best possible result.

What causes the discolouration of teeth?

The discolouration of teeth can occur on the surface (external) and under the enamel (internal). The process may be caused by the colouring effect of the food and drinks consumed, as well as an inadequate oral hygiene, but also by the tartar on the outer surface of the teeth.

Several factors can be responsible for the development of discolouration in the deeper layers of the tooth:

• natural and artificial colours in food and drinks (especially coffee, tea, cola, red wine),
• smoking,
• medicines taken by the mother during pregnancy,
• certain medicines taken during the childhood (tetracyclines),
• metabolic products of certain bacteria.

We must also accept the unfortunate fact that as we come of age, our teeth increasingly lose their snow-white colour from our childhood.

Are all teeth suitable for teeth whitening?

You can either choose a teeth whitening procedure at home or at the office depending on the extent of discolouration you are struggling with and on how rapidly you wish to achieve results. The essence of both methods is the same: we apply teeth whitening gel on your teeth, which removes the colourants deposited in the micro-cracks in the enamel.

Types of Teeth Whitening Procedures

Home whitening with a rail:

In case of teeth whitening at home a whitening gel is applied to a rail you should wear for several hours every day, typically at night. The rail, made based on an individual tooth impression, is made of a soft material, called vivil, it is approx. half a mm thick and it should be used for 3-8 nights depending on the desired effect.

In-office whitening with a plasma arc lamp::

In case of in-office whitening we apply a whitening gel on the surface of your teeth and then we use some kind of a plasma arc light in order to activate the active substance. You can achieve the desired effect within only 1-2 hours and you get an immediate and spectacular result. Its advantage compared to the procedure used at home is that it is can whiten even heavily discoloured teeth.

What are the steps of teeth whitening?

The condition of the teeth is critical, so a health check is definitely advisable before teeth whitening. We check, the treatment of which decayed of filled teeth is essential before teeth whitening. This is followed by a thorough cleaning of the teeth and tartar removal, so as to remove the discolouration deposited on the outer surface of the teeth and to ensure direct contact between the surface of the teeth and the teeth whitening gel. Finally the actual teeth whitening procedure can be starter either at home or in the office. The proper method is always selected individually on a case-by-case basis. The new colour of the teeth will be stabilized within a waiting time of about two or three weeks following the treatment.

Is teeth whitening harmful?

This question often arises, and the answer is a resounding NO. The assumption is based on the common misconception that teeth whitening is achieved by the chemical etching of the tooth enamel, whereas tooth whitening occurs via oxidation. The pH value of teeth whitening materials is neutral or nearly neutral, but it is by no means harmful. It is proven that they do not cause any change in the structure of either the layer of the enamel or the dentin.

What happens after teeth whitening?

After the treatment a cold-hot sensitivity may occur and the gingiva as well as the mucous membrane may also turn white, but these symptoms disappear within a couple of days. For a few weeks after teeth whitening it is advisable to avoid the above-mentioned colouring food and drinks, as well as fruits and soft drinks with a high citric acid content. It is recommended to use a toothpaste for brushing your teeth, which reduces sensitivity. We must emphasise that, unfortunately, the effect of teeth whiteners is not permanent either. But the good news is that the colour of the teeth that has already been bleached once can be refreshed more easily and quickly after 2-3 years.

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