Teeth Whitening
1. What is teeth whitening?
Whitening makes your teeth lighter without changing the natural tooth structure. Unlike crowns, the teeth do not need to be ground down.
Whitening is suitable if:
- you are unhappy with the natural colour of your teeth;
- your teeth have yellowed with age as the dentin thickens and the enamel reflects less light.
Whitening is not suitable for:
- children under 14;
- ceramic crowns;
- teeth with decay;
- gum disease — swelling, inflammation or gum recession;
- worn areas at the neck of the teeth;
- severe enamel loss;
- allergy to ingredients in the whitening gel.
2. Does whitening damage enamel?
Newly erupted permanent teeth are usually light, but over time the dentin darkens from pigments in food and drinks. Whitening is an oxidation process that breaks down these pigments and restores a lighter shade. When done appropriately, whitening does not damage the enamel.
3. Will my teeth turn yellow again?
Pigments from food continue to settle on the teeth, so the colour gradually darkens over time. To maintain the result, professional whitening can be repeated about every 2 years.
Limit strongly coloured foods and drinks such as tea, coffee, curry and red wine. If you do have them, rinse your mouth with water straight away.
4. Does whitening hurt?
Many people worry about sensitivity during treatment, especially those with thin enamel. It varies from person to person: some feel sensitivity, others do not.
5. The whitening procedure
An in-clinic whitening session usually takes 60 minutes to 2 hours depending on the method, and includes these steps:
Step 1: examination and consultation. The dentist assesses your teeth and current shade and shows you the expected result. About 5 minutes.
Step 2: scaling — the gel works better on clean teeth. About 30 minutes.
Step 3: gum protection. About 5 minutes.
Step 4: applying the whitening gel and activating it with a light. Each cycle lasts 5–30 minutes depending on the technology; 2–3 cycles in total.