Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is a treatment whose objective is to lighten the color of teeth, removing stains and discoloration. It is one of the most popular aesthetic dental treatments.

Whitening is most effective on extrinsic or superficial stains. To maintain the brightest color, the treatment may need to be repeated occasionally, as it is not a permanent treatment.

Some habits can cause the whitening effect to fade sooner. Smoking, as well as consuming foods and drinks with colorants, can accelerate this process.

If you avoid these habits and follow the maintenance recommendations provided by specialists, you may not need another whitening treatment for 6 to 12 months.

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 teeth can be vital or non-vital. What does this mean? The difference is based on where the stain on the teeth comes from. If the stain is external, whitening will be performed on vital teeth, while if the whitening is done from the inside, it is considered whitening on non-vital teeth.

This is the most common teeth whitening procedure. It is performed by applying a gel directly to the surface of the tooth and is a treatment that can be performed either in the dental office or at home.

The gel used contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide 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 the whitening to act more quickly.

In-office whitening treatment for vital teeth usually lasts 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.

This treatment consists of whitening 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 whitener will remain inside for several days. It will be necessary to change it occasionally until the tooth reaches the desired shade of white.

In the case of whitening of vital teeth, 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.

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. Between three and 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.

This is the fastest and most effective whitening procedure. The laser light activates the whitening gel and penetrates the tooth enamel, increasing its whitening. However, its effects are usually short-lived. In addition, the light used does not usually filter infrared emissions, which can cause damage to the nerves of the teeth.

Laser has now been replaced by LED. Both have the same advantages, but LED whitening prevents tooth sensitivity as it is a type of light that does not give off heat. In addition, the whitening effect can last longer if the whitening is done with LED.

Teeth whitening is a quick and easy treatment, and can be performed in a clinic or at home. The stages of the treatment will depend on where the treatment is performed, but they are very similar.

Whitening of vital teeth in clinic. When performed in a clinic, whitening will consist of two phases.

1. First, the dental professional will apply a substance that covers and protects the gums around the teeth. Afterwards, a whitening gel will be placed on them, which will then have to be activated with a light for it to be effective.

2. If the bleach needs to be activated, an LED or laser lamp will be placed during the specified treatment time. The treatment may require several sessions, but they can be carried out in a single appointment.

Whitening at home If you want to whiten your teeth at home, this can be done using splints that fit your teeth and in which the whitening gel is placed. This treatment must be prescribed by a dentist. The phases of this type of treatment are:

1. First, 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.

2. Once the splints are available, the whitening gel will be placed inside the splints and they will have 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.