Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is an aesthetic correction of tooth color performed under professional supervision in dental offices. Various whitening products are available on the market today, such as whitening toothpastes, which can also be purchased for home use. Despite advertising claims, these over-the-counter products cannot ensure permanent tooth whitening.
Teeth can only be permanently whitened using hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Their use does not have to be harmful to tooth enamel; it is crucial that all contraindications are ruled out when selecting the whitening procedure, and that the whitening is performed gently with appropriate concentrations under the supervision of a specialist.
Types of Teeth Whitening
Whitening under professional supervision is divided into:
Home Teeth Whitening
This type of whitening involves custom-made trays for the patient, based on dental impressions. Over several days, the patient applies a special whitening gel containing low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide into these trays. The trays are worn either overnight or for a specific period during the day. While home whitening is more time-consuming, its effect is longer-lasting.
In-office Teeth Whitening
In the past, this type of whitening was primarily performed using higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, with teeth whitened during a single 1.5-hour session. Today, EU legislation only permits the use of lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (up to 6%), which are more effective and yield better results in home whitening.
Combined Whitening
This is a combination of the first two types. This method of whitening yields the best results and is used, for example, in the Pure Whitening system, which we also offer at Smart Dental Clinic.
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What happens during teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is an oxidation process in which the substance from the whitening gel penetrates the enamel, causing the degradation of organic molecules responsible for discolorations into smaller molecules that appear lighter in color. Whitening with low concentrations of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide is safe, but, of course, too much of anything can be harmful.
If a patient repeatedly undergoes whitening, they may reach a so-called saturation point. This is the point where maximum whitening is achieved, and the whitening agent may begin to affect other tooth structures. Therefore, whitening should always be performed under professional supervision, and the prescribed whitening period should be adhered to.
Teeth Whitening We Offer at Smart Dental
Combined Whitening: Pure Whitening
At our clinic, we use the Pure Whitening system, which combines home and in-office whitening. Pure Whitening is considered a very gentle method today, achieving excellent and guaranteed results.
If a patient chooses this type of whitening, they first have an appointment with our dental hygienist to take impressions. These impressions are then sent to a laboratory where custom whitening trays are made. The patient then receives a special activated gel along with the trays, which they apply to the trays and then to their teeth for 14 nights. This gel is kept at a low temperature from production through transport, making it the only one on the market that is as effective as on the day of manufacture. Thanks to this, the system can whiten even teeth that could not be whitened with other techniques. After 14 days of home whitening, in-office whitening follows; this phase is crucial for achieving a long-lasting result.
Pure Whitening gels use the lowest peroxide concentrations on the market and comply with EU legislation. While some patients may experience increased tooth sensitivity during whitening with other brands, the Pure Whitening system minimizes this by not containing stabilizers, preservatives, glycerol, or other substances that could heighten sensitivity.
Unlike many other whitening treatments, Pure Whitening does not require adherence to a white diet, meaning there's no need to avoid coffee, tea, and other pigmented beverages and foods.
Teeth whitening is, of course, not suitable for everyone. It is contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and also not recommended for individuals with poor oral hygiene or gum inflammation. Furthermore, it is not advised for people with numerous dental fillings on their front teeth, as color differences could arise.
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