Tooth whitening helps to remove surface stains

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening consists of removing surface stains on the teeth through hygiene, a tartrectomy with the hygienist and then perform a procedure using a chemical agent that produces an increase in the white color of the teeth. There are two types of whitening, the clinic that is done in about 2 sessions with a gel of high concentration and in which you have to protect the gums or the domestic in which molds are made, which are made inside the mouth, and is made positivado, on which then elastic splints are made in the shape of the dental arch and on which these splints is deposited or applied the gel, by means of syringes. Once this is done, the splint is positioned inside the mouth and the whitening agent is allowed to work for a number of minutes and for a number of days.

Does this procedure remove tooth enamel?

No. This procedure is considered completely harmless to the tooth enamel, producing no injury whatsoever. It simply increases the permeability of the enamel so that the whitening agent can work on the underlying layers of the dentin to produce that white enhancement effect.

How much color enhancement can be achieved?

Depending on the diagnosis and the reason for the tooth not having a desired color, the color can be increased more or less in a predictable way. In cases of very intrinsic or very dark stains, the final result will not be optimal but, in any case, it is always possible to increase an amount within the scale of color measurement that we have. For that we have a series of instruments to measure what is the starting color and what is the color of arrival after the treatment. But in general the result is very good especially in teeth that have lost their luster and color due to natural causes such as the loss of some enamel, which is a natural process, even by chronic staining due to coffee, snuff, tea and other elements.

Read Now 👉  How parents should monitor oral malocclusion in children

How long does teeth whitening last?

Teeth whitening, if the whole procedure has been carried out correctly, can last for many months. In principle it is considered that between one year and two years although, progressively the tone is lost a little and in those cases it would be advisable to make a small reinforcement especially with home whitening.

How many times can teeth whitening be performed?

Teeth whitening is usually done in the clinic once a year or once every 2 years and home whitening is usually done once a year, with the possibility of a periodic reinforcement especially when we have some kind of social engagement or a party, and we want to enhance or make a rehabilitation of the teeth again from the point of view of raising again the tone, the white color of the tooth.

Is the teeth whitening procedure painful?

The procedure is not painful, although it is necessary to take certain precautions from the point of view that it can cause a little sensitivity, especially to cold and heat after each session. In addition, in cases of in-clinic whitening, the gums will have to be protected with a material, this is done by the dentist, so that the material that we want to act on the tooth does not act on the soft tissues, mainly on the gums.

Is there sensitivity after teeth whitening?

Tooth sensitivity may appear in some cases during the whitening process. There is not always variability from one person to another, and the best thing to do is simply to leave the whitening procedure for a few days and in any case consult your dentist for advice on the best course of action.