Teeth whitening

The dream of many people is to have even, snow-white teeth. To achieve this, few regret spending time or money because well-maintained teeth are a passport to a world of fulfilled, attractive, successful individuals. Often, permanent brownish discolorations appear on white teeth due to excessive consumption of coffee or smoking, which unfortunately cannot be removed by home remedies. The only solution in this case is a visit to the dentist, who, using chemical agents, can improve the color of the teeth.

A tooth consists of a crown, neck, and one or more roots. Depending on the adopted division, the crown and root are differently defined. According to the anatomical division, the crown is the part of the tooth covered with enamel; according to the clinical division, it is the part of the crown above the gum line. Inside the crown, there is the pulp chamber. The anatomical root is the part of the tooth covered with cement, while the clinical root is the part of the tooth below the gum line. In the case of periodontal diseases, the clinical root may be significantly shortened due to gum recession. Usually, inside the roots, there are channels leading to the crown, containing blood vessels and nerves. Typically, each root has one channel.

The neck is the part of the tooth that connects the anatomical crown and anatomical root. This is where the characteristic constriction of the tooth occurs. Teeth whitening is intended for people with strongly discolored teeth due to aging enamel, the action of chemicals, when professional cleaning cannot effectively eliminate the yellow hue. Interestingly, there are no contraindications to this method.

Professional whitening takes 21 days. The first stage takes place in the dental office, using a special tray on the teeth. After examining the condition of the teeth and gums, the dentist simultaneously protects the crowns and fillings because they are not subject to the whitening process. The next stage is at-home whitening. For two weeks, a special tray with gel is applied to the teeth for two hours during the day or overnight. The progress of the entire process should be monitored by the dentist after four days and two weeks. After normalizing the color, the dentist fills the teeth according to the current brighter shade.

Advanced teeth whitening technology using a special lamp is gaining increasing recognition among patients. Within half an hour, this lamp allows the safe cleaning of both the surface and the internal structure of the tooth. It emits cold, blue light at a high frequency, and its design completely eliminates harmful rays. In one session using such a lamp, a dentist can whiten up to twenty teeth.

In cases where a patient does not give up their previous lifestyle, meaning they continue to consume a large amount of coffee, wine, and smoke at least a few cigarettes a day, their whitened teeth may darken over time. To maintain white teeth, the dentist may recommend tray whitening for only two nights every few years. If a tooth changes color due to an injury, a white crown or veneer can be applied to the area where it was chipped. It all depends on how large the loss of tooth crown is. This is often the only alternative to tooth extraction.

Teeth whitening performed by an experienced dentist does not cause any complications and is 100% safe. This procedure has purely cosmetic benefits, but due to the patient's good feeling supported by healthy, snow-white teeth, there is often talk of a therapeutic aspect as well.

There are several teeth whitening methods, including whitening toothpaste, the Brite Smile procedure, whitening with whitening trays, or whitening strips.

Whitening toothpaste only removes external deposits and cannot deal with permanent discolorations. Whitening toothpaste removes discolorations that occur on teeth due to the consumption of certain products, e.g., coffee, tea, medications containing iron. Pigments found in cigarette smoke can also create yellowish spots on teeth. These toothpaste products contain silica, pyrophosphates, or a combination of pyrophosphate with polymers. They are very popular because there is an increasing emphasis on having dazzling white teeth. With the doctor's consent, dental gels can also be used. Individuals who are particularly concerned about the full brightness of their teeth can undergo a whitening procedure in special cosmetic clinics.

Brite Smile is a procedure that has been performed in Polish offices only recently. The success of this method is due to two components: the gel and the blue light beam. The gel is a 15% hydrogen peroxide solution with a balanced pH responsible for the whitening process. The blue light wavelength activates the gel, making it more effective and faster than anything before. The blue light brings out the natural white components of the tooth color and activates photochemical processes in the gel. The effectiveness of the procedure is confirmed by numerous clinical tests and patients themselves, during which tooth whitening can be achieved by up to eight shades measured using a standard color chart. Additionally, based on clinical studies, it has been unequivocally determined that the Brite Smile whitening process is safe.

Whitening trays are used for whitening after all teeth have been treated and cavities filled by a dentist. Whitening is done using 10-15% carbamide peroxide. This method can only be applied to adults. Prepare for the fact that during the first visit to the dentist, they will conduct a brief interview and professionally clean your teeth of calculus and plaque (perform sandblasting or scaling). Later, they will make a plaster model of your teeth and create a soft, vinyl, transparent tray. You will take it home for a longer fitting. If everything fits well, during the next visit, the doctor will give you a special whitening gel to fill the tray, preferably overnight. This treatment is safe and does not damage teeth because it works slowly. It does not affect the structure or change the chemical composition of teeth. After the first and second whitening sessions, teeth may be sensitive to temperature changes. There is a solution: during the next session, instead of the whitening gel, the dentist will give you a fluoride gel that will strengthen the enamel.

Whitening strips contain the same substance (hydrogen peroxide) as products used by dentists but in lower concentrations. Thin strips coated with a special whitening gel are applied to the teeth for a specified time several times a day. Usually, the strips are applied for about a week because single use does not produce the expected effects. The whiteness of teeth, with proper oral hygiene, lasts for at least six months.