Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening: the process of lightening the discolouration in a tooth's organic structure by oxidation, using chemical agents. Whitening makes it possible to lighten an individual's tooth colour by several shades. Done either in the clinic or at home, teeth whitening can lighten teeth by 2-10 shades, offering a beautiful, comfortable smile and higher self-confidence.

The effect of whitening varies according to;

• 1) The individual
• 2) Personal habits (smoking, tobacco, tea, coffee, etc.)
• 3) Consumption of acidic beverages, etc.

Although it varies with many such factors, the average duration of the effect is considered to be around 3 years. Some patients may experience mild sensitivity during or after whitening, but this sensitivity will disappear completely within 1-3 days. We do not recommend whitening for patients under 16 years of age, because the pulp tissue is much larger in those under 16, making sensitivity greater. Whitening toothpastes with a whitening property can also be used to support the treatment. Following your dentist's recommendations after teeth whitening is the most important factor in increasing the chance of success. Dentists advise that during and for one week after the whitening procedure (especially during the first 24 hours), patients should avoid tobacco, coffee, tea, cola, red wine, carbonated and dark-coloured drinks and foods, avoid coloured mouthwash and toothpaste, and keep such habits to a minimum. According to research and studies, whitening teeth under the supervision of your dentist is extremely effective and safe.

Types of discolouration:

1) Extrinsic (surface) discolouration

• -Caused by gum bleeding
• -Dietary habits
• -Medication use (such as iron-containing drugs, etc.)
• -Causes such as old fillings.

These are discolourations seen mostly near the gumline on the tooth surface, caused by pigmenting substances from certain foods, cigarettes, tea and coffee. They can mostly be removed with micro- or macro-abrasion methods (these stains are cleared through professional cleaning/polishing performed after tartar removal).

2) Intrinsic discolouration:

• -Genetic conditions
• -Trauma
• -Dietary habits
• -Infection of the pulp (the part of the tooth containing the nerve and blood vessels)
• -Medication use
• -Substances used in root canal treatment

These occur due to causes such as pulp bleeding and injury following trauma. They are discolourations that have penetrated the inner layers of the tooth and cannot be removed by brushing. Years of poor dietary habits are a major factor in the formation of these discolourations. Root-canal-treated teeth that have lost vitality, and structural defects occurring during tooth formation, also fall into this group. Whitening is very successful in this type of case.

Whitening (bleaching) methods:

• 1) In-office application:

In in-office whitening, a whitening agent typically containing 25-35% hydrogen peroxide (with some substances added to speed up oxidation) is applied by the dentist to the outer surfaces of the teeth. At the end of the session (typically 40-60 minutes), the desired shade is achieved. Especially for root-canal-treated teeth that have lost vitality and darkened over time, matching the shade of healthy teeth can only be achieved through in-office application. Treatment is carried out over 2-6 sessions, once a week.