Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)

What are the Types of Teeth Whitening?

In general, teeth whitening can be examined in 4 different types.

Office Type Whitening: This is the type of whitening agent applied in the clinic for a short time (approximately 30-40 minutes) in high concentrations under the supervision of a physician.

Home Whitening: This is the type of whitening agent applied outside the clinic in low concentrations with specially prepared oral appliances for a long time (approximately 5-7 days with a minimum of 8 hours of application per day).

Combined Whitening: In-office whitening followed by at-home whitening. This is the most effective whitening method.

Single Tooth Whitening: Teeth with root canal treatment can become discolored depending on the agents used. In these cases, a special whitening agent is placed inside the tooth, achieving effective whitening on a single tooth.

Period:

Although the application method varies depending on the type of bleaching (single session, 30-40 minutes in the office) / (approximately 5-7 days with a minimum of 8 hours of application per day in the home type), the whitening process is similar.

Teeth whitening occurs when pigments within the tooth structure react with oxygen products, causing them to lose their effectiveness. After the application of the whitening agent, the tooth's color will lighten by 1-1.5 shades, and this color will take 1-2 weeks to fully settle. Re-exposure to coloring foods may cause a half-tone decrease in color, but the teeth will remain whiter than before the treatment.

Depending on the patient's aesthetic expectations, the whitening process can be repeated once a year.

Is Teeth Whitening (Bleaching) Harmful?

Teeth whitening occurs when pigments within the tooth structure lose their effectiveness due to the reaction with oxygen products. Whitening agents applied in appropriate amounts and under the supervision of a dentist are generally harmless, other than mild sensitivity for the first 24 hours.

Prohibitions

The first 72 hours for all types of whitening applied:

• All coloring foods such as ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, and sour cherry should be avoided.

• All colouring drinks such as tea and coffee should be avoided.

• Sugary and/or acidic drinks such as cola and artificial fruit juices should be avoided.

• All tobacco and tobacco products should be avoided.

If the prohibitions are not followed, a significant decrease in the initial whiteness level is observed.