The tooth whitening it is a technique that, without damaging the tooth or wear makes it more clear, all this due to oxidation of the pigments of the teeth, whereby the agent / bleaching gel enters the tooth surface and release molecules which cause discoloration.
Because we have the darkened / stained teeth?
Teeth can become discolored due to several factors:
- Regular intake of foods such as coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, red wine or other high in dyes.
- With age
- smoking
- By tetracycline stains or some other antibiotics given during tooth formation in children
- Spots for fluoride intake (high intake of fluoride leads to patches of various types)
- Other systemic diseases during the formation of teeth
- Devitalized teeth or some time been traumatized
What types of bleaching there?
We can whiten your teeth externally in two ways:
- In house, through the use of a tray / confecionada the dental splint will measure the patient's mouth. This serves to place the whitening gel and then put in the mouth. The gel has a duration of approximately 4 hours. Must be used every day or every other day for 7-15 days.
- In the office: where the gel is placed directly on the tooth surface, this is activated with a light and each session lasts 15 minutes. The amount of sessions needed varies from person to person.
Both techniques can be complementary, depending on each case. When used together, the effect is maintained for longer. Note that either one or another technique requires consultation by your Dentist, they may lead to irreversible damage such as burns on the gums, adjacent mucosa and extreme hypersensitivity. There is also the internal bleaching which is only possible effect on devitalized teeth. Typically these teeth darken over time or teeth that have undergone trauma necrosam / die which leads to a sudden blackout, these teeth respond very well to the internal bleaching.
What are the contraindications? Before making a dental bleaching should always have a consultation with the Medical Dental, for this to make a careful assessment of the state of oral health: evaluating the gums and the presence of cavities. Before we proceed to the treatment should always make an ultrasonic scaling and tooth polishing, as well as an application of fluoride gel.
Contraindications may be:
- Teeth with sensitivity
- retracted gums
- Presence of cavities
- Active periodontal disease
- Teeth with large fillings
- Teeth very dark / gray
- Pregnant women and children
In the background there are no real contraindications for a whiter smile, because with the treatments currently available, all of them can be circumvented.
How long does the effect of a bleaching?
It depends on your diet, oral hygiene and whether or not you smoke. Usually lasts for two years, but doing a combination of in-office bleaching with trays at home, we always need to use the tray at home, thus keeping the white color of your teeth.