Tooth whitening and bleaching

Only a few people have naturally white teeth, and so many years have passed in the search for ways to whiten them. Tooth colour depends on various factors: genetic heritage, smoking, coffee or other foods that stain teeth, medicines, previous treatments, age and other reasons. The reasons for changes in tooth colour have to be known before performing tooth whitening because this is what the result depends on.

LASER BLEACHING

Laser bleaching, an advanced and safe solution was finally found.

The laser bleaching procedure takes up to one hour; it is safe, painless and effective. Laser bleaching is superior compared to any other way of whitening or bleaching because it does not cause tooth sensitivity, its results are visible at once and remain for a long time, the effect is more efficient, and the bleaching materials do not enter the human body. The procedure is performed by a skilled specialist.

Before bleaching, a professional oral hygiene procedure is performed and the patient is told about all the advantages and disadvantages of tooth whitening, as well as the required regimen after the bleaching procedure.

The dental bleaching procedure starts with covering the gums and sensitive areas of the teeth with a special gel that hardens to screen out laser beams and thus protects these areas from unnecessary effects. Then the teeth to be bleached are covered with another gel that emits active particles of oxygen under the effect of the laser. The particles cause the change in colour by destroying the molecules that darken the teeth. The gel is irradiated with laser beams for a short time and thus activated; the agent begins its activity and then a period of a few minutes is allowed to pass while the oxygen particles from the gel do their job. The above procedure is repeated several times. Then the bleaching gel and the protective gel are removed and the teeth are covered with a material rich in minerals to strengthen the tooth enamel. The teeth do not become sensitive after laser bleaching, and the very procedure is painless as well.

The initial result is visible at once and the final result becomes apparent after 24 hours because the bleaching agents continue to act for some time after the procedure. The consumption of stain-causing foods (coffee, tea, red wine, beetroot, etc.) is not advisable for a week or longer, because right after the bleaching, the dental surfaces are more susceptible to various staining or colouring agents.

KAPPA BLEACHING

This is a whitening method meant to be used by patients at home. Tooth prints are taken and a plastic Kappa is made in the laboratory. The Kappa has to be filled with bleaching gel, put on your teeth and left on for the night. The procedure must continue for 10–14 days.

Don’t forget:

• Fillings, crowns and veneers do not bleach. Therefore, old fillings and crowns of the front teeth might require replacement after tooth whitening.

• Dead teeth do not bleach. They are bleached by the so-called ‘inside bleaching method’ by whitening them from the inside.

• In cases where there are extensive caries, very sensitive teeth, brackets or periodontitis, dental bleaching is not advisable.

The dental hygienists of the DentalPRO clinic will explain the possibilities, necessity, course and safety of any of the above procedures and answer all your questions during your consultation.