Teeth whitening is a method performed by dentists and under the control of a physician. The purpose of these procedures is to give the teeth a white and aesthetic appearance.
For many people, having a healthy, white smile is important. In the aesthetic perception of people, the perception that healthy appearance of teeth should be white is common. For this reason, teeth whitening applications are in high demand. However, certain issues need to be taken into account in order for teeth whitening to be done correctly and effectively. In some cases, teeth whitening is not recommended for every individual, as teeth whitening processes can adversely affect dental health.
What is Teeth Whitening?
In the event that the teeth acquire an undesirable appearance as a result of yellowing or darkening due to various reasons in daily life, the application of teeth whitening comes to mind. Applications made to bring the teeth to an aesthetically beautiful and healthy appearance and to bring the tooth color closer to white are considered as part of teeth whitening. For this purpose, there are techniques that can be applied professionally in dentistry clinics, as well as methods that can be applied at home, such as whitening toothpastes and various chemical products available from the markets. The method recommended for each patient may differ, as the method of application, effectiveness and effects of each method in terms of dental health are different.
Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?
Teeth tend to lose their natural color in two ways. These processes can be summarized as follows:
External Discoloration: Due to chemicals that affect the tooth surface from the outside, such as coffee, tea, food dyes, smoking, yellowing or darkening of the tooth color may occur over time. For this reason, techniques targeting the tooth surface are more effective in teeth with external discoloration.
Intrinsic Color Change: Color changes due to health problems that cause damage or loss of function in the tissues inside the tooth. They are usually seen in childhood, including the growth and development period of the tooth, with febrile illness, drug use, trauma to the tooth, infections, caries or aging. This type of color changes requires professionally applied techniques.
What are the Options in the Teeth Whitening Process?
It is very useful for patients to determine the most ideal and effective method for their own teeth by exchanging opinions with their dentists in teeth whitening. Those who want to whiten their teeth can turn to one of the options in a wide range of teeth whitening, from simple methods that can be applied at home or to professional techniques applied by the dentist.
In determining which techniques will be applied to whom; Conditions affecting applicability to the patient, such as the type, severity, prevalence, cost of the treatment, age of the patient, underlying diseases, previous treatments applied to the teeth, are important. It should be noted that the teeth whitening process may take a long time for some people and the desired whiteness can be achieved gradually by applying more than one technique in coordination. It is very important to use professional techniques, especially in patients with recession in the gums, deterioration of the tooth structure or damage to the oral structures.
Professional Teeth Whitening Techniques
Bleaching: Carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide is used in this process performed by the dentist. Thanks to this process, teeth that undergo color change due to intrinsic (intrinsic) reasons are whitened. In clinical conditions, very fast and effective results can be obtained.
Apparatus (tray) Application: Teeth can be whitened by attaching and applying a specially prepared dental apparatus, which is covered with a gel containing the substances used in teeth whitening, at home between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
Teeth Whitening Techniques That Can Be Applied At Home
Tooth Whitening Pastes: The use of pastes containing abrasive particles on the tooth surface can give fast and effective results, especially against external color changes. However, in long-term use, different dental problems may occur due to wear of the tooth enamel.
Whitening Tapes: These are bands that can whiten teeth by applying them to the tooth surface once or twice a day for a certain period of time. These tapes contain a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide and work similarly to professional techniques.
What are the Side Effects of Teeth Whitening?
Depending on the technique used in teeth whitening, different levels of damage may develop in the tooth structure and as a result, various dental health problems may occur. Some of the complications that can be seen in patients during the teeth whitening treatment are as follows:
Tooth Sensitivity: Especially teeth whitening