What is dental bleaching (teeth whitening) and how teeth whitening is done, are among the questions that people have been looking for the answer to most in recent years. Teeth whitening is a type of dental treatment aimed at removing discoloration on the tooth surface.
Teeth may lose their natural bright color for different reasons. This is caused by substances that fill in the tooth enamel. With teeth whitening methods, the teeth gain a healthier, whiter, and more natural appearance.
Factors Causing Discoloration in Teeth
A person's teeth may fade over time, lose their natural color, and discolor. Many factors can cause teeth to lose their natural color. Old age, excessive consumption of beverages such as tea and coffee, smoking, genetic factors, not brushing the teeth regularly, and some orthodontic treatments can be counted as the main factors.
Dental Bleaching Methods
Teeth whitening can be achieved naturally, as well as professionally. The method chosen for teeth whitening is decisive on the whitening time and quality. In natural teeth whitening, a person's attention to oral care plays a leading role. Thus, a certain amount of tooth discoloration can be prevented, and the possibility of needing treatment is reduced. Professional teeth whitening is proper for people whose teeth are not naturally white enough.
Professional teeth whitening, also known as bleaching, technological dental materials and equipment are used. There are 2 types of professional teeth whitening methods in common. The first method is called "home bleaching". Its application is made with the help of a dental plate and a special gel. Dental plates are specially prepared for each patient. Home bleaching has a longer-lasting effect than office whitening.
The other method is "In office bleaching". Its application is made by a dental specialist in a clinic. More than one session may be required to get good results. The result of the application and the duration of the session varies from person to person. However, in some cases, a single session may be enough for the teeth to get the desired whiteness. Generally, 2 or more sessions can be applied in people with advanced tooth discoloration.
It is wondered whether the teeth whitening application harms the teeth. Teeth whitening treatments are safe. Temporary sensitivity may be experienced in the teeth.
There is no fixed fee for teeth whitening. The fee varies according to the competence of the dentist, the country, the material used, and the number of teeth whitening sessions.
Since teeth whitening applications can be performed in different ways, the duration of effect also differs. However, according to the feedback of people using the treatment, it can be said that an effective professional teeth whitening process can last up to 3 years on average.