Dental services

Tooth whitening (bleaching)

White, brilliant, healthy teeth...

...not only lend attractive appearance but they are also the symbols of health. Isn't perfect state of health and hygiene equally important today at the workplace and in private life?

At a young age most people's teeth are white but as the years go by (as a result of eating, drinking, certain medicine, smoking, etc.) they discolour. However, these discolorations can be removed applying modern, medically supported bleaching without damaging the tooth or the gums. Thus, the treatment causes no tissue damage; what is more, it can be repeated every few years, if necessary.

It is easy to understand the desire for white teeth; however, moderation is important just as in every aspect of life. Doctors generally make recommendations on the lightest possible colour based on the age, gender, colour of hair, eye and skin of the patient; this is why sometimes it is necessary to dissuade the patient from unnaturally white, tile-like teeth as the aim of the bleaching treatment cannot be to provide everybody with blinding white teeth. We have to accept that we are not the same and so our genetic features, including our natural tooth colour, are not identical. Therefore, the result of tooth bleaching may be different for every patient.

Discoloured teeth may have various different reasons.

AThe original colour of the tooth depends on the pigments in the tooth enamel. This is an hereditary factor. However, later discoloration can be attributed to plaque and tooth scale accumulating on the surface, the colouring matters in the consumed food and drinks (coffee, coke, tea, red wine and artificial colouring agents so common in today's food products), certain medicine and smoking. However, these substances do not only deposit in the surface but they may penetrate the enamel and be stored in the dentin as well. The colour of root treated teeth may also change with time. Besides, we also have to consider the effect of the passing years since tooth enamel naturally wears away as we age and the tooth surface becomes yellowish and darker.

So many causes, so many solutions.

Bleaching starts with complete examination of the teeth. As the first step of the bleaching process, tooth scale has to be removed from the tooth surface and the area under the gumline. The teeth then can be polished using polishing paste and polishing brush and/or rubber. Instead of "traditional" polishing, we can also choose air flow polishing using sandblast, where teeth are made smooth applying the mixture of extremely fine sand and water, so the surface discolorations are also eliminated. The material of air-flow polishing can infiltrate in the intervals between the teeth so chemical bleaching may not be necessary after polishing.

In case it is necessary due to discolorations of the deeper layers of the tooth tissues, the whitening gel can easier infiltrate the thus prepared tooth surface and dissolve the plaques that caused the discolorations. In such cases we apply beaching systems based on oxidation, the most important ingredient of which is carbamide-peroxide. Its effectiveness is influenced by the strength of the active agent and the effective period (i.e. how many times the 15-20 minute process is repeated in one sit) and temperature. The latter is ensured by the UV light directed on the treated area.

Clinic bleaching can result in a difference of up to 7-8 colour shades.

As bleaching treatments only affect the colour of natural teeth and not fillings or tooth replacements, it is advisable to replace the old, discoloured fillings after bleaching and have the teeth bleached before the denture is prepared.

What is the difference between home and clinic bleaching?

Home bleaching is the method when the patient performs bleaching alone at home, using the so-called custom-fitted bleaching trays made based on the imprints prepared by the dentist. The treatment is effective but takes longer (2 hours or even a night every day for 5-10 days).
Bleaching performed in the dental surgery, however, takes approximately ninety minutes. During this treatment the dentist applies a substance that is similar to the one used for home bleaching but is of much higher concentration; also, the dentist uses a special purpose-designed lamp as the catalyst of the process.

Temporary sensitivity...

...may occur. There are patients who feel their teeth more sensitive during the treatment and for one or two days afterwards. However, complaints have disappeared in every case. Immediately after the treatment the patient should avoid consuming food that may seriously discolour teeth, such as red wine, coffee and nicotine.
Bleaching itself causes no discomfort or pain and does not require the administration of injections.
The devices and substances of the bleaching treatment are safe with no known side-effects.

The durability of bleaching depends on the life-style.

The durability of bleaching generally depends on the patient's personal tooth-care and other life-style (eating, smoking, etc.) habits. In average circumstances, this effect lasts for about 2-3 years but even then the teeth will not be as dark as they used to be. Later, however, it is worth applying a maintaining treatment, which may mean the application of home bleaching systems, the use of good quality bleaching toothpastes or clinic beaching.

Root-treated teeth may badly discolour with time.

The discoloration of root-treated teeth is a result of certain decomposition products and the fact that they are no longer alive. These teeth need to be bleached externally and internally. In such cases the old cover filling is removed and a special whitening gel, activating when exposed to light, is placed inside the tooth. But there is another solution, where the bleaching agent is not activated by light but has to be left intact after insertion and removed or replaced after a week or two. In case of stubborn discolorations sometimes it is necessary to repeat this several times.

Contraindication

Naturally, bleaching cannot be applied in case of dentures, nor is it recommended for patients who suffer from gingival atrophy. The chemical bleaching of teeth should also be avoided in case of pregnancy.