Teeth Whitening (Office Bleaching)

If you are content with the shape of your teeth but not satisfied with their color due to discoloration issues, teeth whitening is the most suitable dental treatment. There are two main teeth whitening methods: at-home and in-office (office bleaching).

Both the at-home and in-office teeth whitening methods involve the application of oxygen-based teeth whitening agents in gel form to the enamel and dentin layers of the teeth. These gels are activated with catalysts, resulting in the lightening of tooth color.

Teeth whitening has been practiced for approximately fifty years, making it a safe and reliable method. It ensures no damage to the physical structure of the teeth.

Reasons for Changes in Tooth Color

Various factors such as food and beverages containing coloring agents, smoking, aging-related yellowing, graying caused by antibiotics like tetracycline, grayish-white discoloration due to excessive fluoride intake (fluorosis), and brownish-gray discoloration after root canal treatment can cause changes in tooth color. Simple cleaning procedures cannot eliminate such discolorations, necessitating teeth whitening procedures.

Who Can Benefit from Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening can be applied to anyone with healthy teeth and completed dental development. However, it is not recommended for pregnant women. While there is no upper age limit, teeth whitening can be performed on children once their permanent teeth have fully erupted, typically after the age of 12.

Teeth Whitening Methods

There are two primary teeth whitening methods:

1. Office Bleaching:
   • Quick, convenient, and provides precise results.
   • Eliminates the need for dealing with trays at night; it is applied under dental supervision and is painless.
   • Philips Zoom Whitespeed, recognized as the best whitening system in the United States, achieves up to 8 shades of teeth whitening in 60 minutes.
2. Home Bleaching:
   • Conducted under the supervision of a dentist.
   • Involves taking an impression from the patient and preparing a customized tray.
   • The tray should not interfere with daily life and should prevent the gel from overflowing.
   • The treatment duration can range from 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the desired level of whiteness and potential tooth sensitivity.

Tips for Post-Teeth Whitening:

• Some degree of sensitivity is generally observed in every patient, lasting for 1-3 days and rarely not occurring at all.
• It is recommended for the patient to use an anti-inflammatory analgesic (pain reliever) on the first day.
• Avoiding extreme cold or hot temperatures is advised in the initial days.
• Following teeth whitening, it is crucial to adhere to a diet that excludes color-rich foods and beverages.