Teeth whitening is a very popular treatment. In general, any adult (with the possible exception of pregnant and breastfeeding women) can undergo this type of procedure.
However, before whitening, other issues such as dental problems, caries lesions, wear and tear, tooth sensitivity, etc. must be resolved.
Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed Teeth Whitening
Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed is the most requested professional whitening brand in the world. It whitens teeth by up to eight shades and has superior efficacy and results compared to other professional whitening alternatives.
A highly concentrated whitening gel is used in the procedure, which allows it to achieve the fastest whitening results by up to 40%.
After this outpatient medical procedure, the patient also receives a whitening kit with personalized trays and syringes for maintenance at home, thus enhancing the final result.
There are people with yellowish teeth, just as there are people with dark teeth. Over the years, various aspects can change the color of teeth, such as:
- tobacco;
- coffee;
- certain foods;
- tartar;
- antibiotics;
- aging;
- devitalization.
Which bleaching technique should we use?
There are various tooth whitening techniques, the most suitable of which should be chosen by the dentist, depending on the patient’s clinical conditions. In addition, factors such as safety, efficacy and desired results must be considered.
How can dental aesthetics be improved?
All treatments aimed at improving a patient’s dental aesthetics must take into account various aspects related to the individual’s health and appearance. For this reason, aesthetic dental treatments should always be personalized, selecting the most appropriate procedures for each case.
To do this, the dentist must carry out a facial analysis, taking into account the characteristics and proportions of the patient’s face and mouth.
Only then can he or she draw up an adjusted treatment plan that reflects which procedures are best suited to achieving the desired goal. There are different possible approaches, which can even involve combining various techniques.
Teeth whitening is safe as long as the entire procedure is supervised and guided by a dentist who is duly qualified to do so.
Can teeth whitening weaken teeth?
No, because the purpose of teeth whitening is to respect the natural shade of the teeth, restoring their color by eliminating darkening.
After teeth whitening, do all people get white teeth?
Not necessarily, since the final coloration of the teeth always varies depending on the response of each individual’s tooth structure.
One of the advantages of cosmetic dentistry is that it corrects problems that affect self-esteem and self-image, such as fractured teeth damaged by cavities, stained teeth or teeth with diastemas.
Why do teeth become darkened or stained?
Natural color always varies from individual to individual. However, there are conditions that can alter the appearance of teeth and their color more drastically, such as:
- Age;
- Eating habits (such as the consumption of coffee, tea, soft drinks, red wine, etc.);
- Smoking habits;
- Insufficient or inadequate oral hygiene;
- Taking antibiotics (tetracyclines) during tooth formation;
- Fluoride ingestion;
- Systemic diseases that manifest themselves during the tooth formation phase;
- Devitalized teeth or teeth that have been traumatized for some time.
Does tooth whitening have side effects? Which ones?
As a rule, the side effects associated with tooth whitening are related to aspects such as the concentration of the products, how they are applied and the characteristics of each patient. These effects can include tooth sensitivity and gum discomfort, both of which are usually temporary.
If the chemicals are applied incorrectly, more serious and persistent lesions can result. It is also important to note that patients who have dental restorations and prostheses may need to replace or repair them after the teeth whitening treatment, in order to restore the color and integrity of the dental restorations.
What precautions should you take before having your teeth whitened?
To ensure safety, teeth whitening should be carried out by oral health professionals to avoid risks.
In addition, before tooth whitening is carried out, it is important to carry out a prior clinical examination in order to take all the preventive measures that will avoid oral complications and guarantee a more effective result.
What tooth whitening techniques exist and how are they characterized?
There are two main tooth whitening techniques and, in certain cases, combined whitening can be carried out, where both techniques are used (outpatient and in-office).
Outpatient tooth whitening
Dental whitening supervised by the dentist or outpatient treatments involve the patient applying the whitening material at home.
In this case, products with a lower concentration of substances such as carbamide peroxide are used. This treatment can last from 1 to 8 hours a day, for several days or weeks.
The first step in tooth whitening is the production of 2 drops, where the patient must place the tooth whitening gel, before applying the drops to the teeth. This treatment can last for two to three weeks.
The main disadvantage of this type of teeth whitening is the time it takes to achieve the desired results. However, despite being slow, it is an effective process with long-lasting effects.
What tooth whitening treatments are available?
Basically, there are two types of tooth whitening available, one that can be done at home and one that must be done at the doctor’s office.
At-home teeth whitening involves the use of a personalized tray, i.e. tailored to the patient, into which a whitening gel is placed.
This tray must be placed in the patient’s mouth the number of times indicated by the dentist.
In-office tooth whitening consists of applying a gel to the tooth surface for approximately one hour, which is then activated by a laser.
In-office teeth whitening?
On the other hand, if teeth whitening is carried out in a dental practice, carbamide peroxide of up to 16% and/or hydrogen peroxide of up to 6% can be used, since we are in a controlled environment and under medical supervision.
In the latter case, a gel is applied to the teeth and all soft tissues, including the lips, vestibules, cheeks and tongue, must be isolated beforehand. This procedure can take between 30 and 60 minutes.
This method has advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is the speed with which the desired results can be achieved. The disadvantage is that, in the long term, the results may not be as satisfactory when compared to outpatient whitening.
What gum treatments are available?
There are many treatments that can help improve a patient’s dental aesthetics. Some examples are: scaling (cleaning), gum plasty and gum depigmentation/lightening.
In this regard, it is important to explain that because the gums and bone support the teeth, their health has a major influence on the smile. In order to maintain the hygiene of the gum tissue, it is important to carry out regular scaling, as well as frequent checks on the condition of the gums.
At the same time, there are procedures that can be carried out to make the appearance of the gums more pleasing and thus create a more harmonious smile. For example, patients who show a lot of gum when they smile can change this situation with simple laser surgery.
Another situation that can be changed through aesthetic treatment is very dark gums, which is related to excess melanin. This can be done using a laser, which can lighten the gums in a simple and painless way, with satisfactory and long-lasting results.
Frequently Asked Questions
During tooth whitening, some foods should be avoided, such as:
- coffee;
- tea;
- red wine;
- strawberries;
- beet;
- blackberry;
- carrot.
Yes. This procedure is called internal whitening and is a solution when there is a single darkened tooth due to decay, devitalization or trauma.
In these cases, the dentist can infiltrate the whitening product into the tooth itself, activating the effect of the product through heat or light. This is a procedure that has to be carried out over several sessions until the desired results are achieved. Whitening lasts an average of one year.
The role of lights in teeth whitening is to accelerate the whitening effect caused by the chemicals applied to the teeth.
If you’re thinking of having your teeth whitened, there are a few questions you should ask your dentist:
- What tooth whitening treatments are available and what distinguishes them?
- What kind of results can you expect from whitening?
- How can you harmonize stained veneers, crowns or dentures with your other whitened teeth?
- What are the risks associated with teeth whitening?
- Can teeth whitening hurt?
- What qualifications does the whitener have?
- How long does bleaching last?
- What post-treatment follow-up is recommended?
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