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The process of teeth whitening can be a very common aesthetic dental treatment most ideal for mending the brightness of the teeth and the elimination of stains that can accumulate over the years. It makes use of state-of-the-art bleaching procedures to achieve the best outcome of making individuals, who are conscious of their ‘you’ look, achieve exactly that.
In this article, we shall also discuss the several methods of Teeth Whitening, the types of Tooth Staining, and a detailed view of both Professional and at-home Teeth Whitening procedures.
What Is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is considered one of the cosmetic dentistry treatments with the aim of stain or teeth discoloration removal to achieve a shiny and healthy smile.
There are several types of teeth whitening treatments:
In-office or professional Teeth Whitening: Where you go to a professional dentist to get laser teeth whitening or chemical bleaching.
At-Home Teeth Whitening: This includes several Methods, such as bleaching toothpaste, teeth whitening strips, and many more.
All kinds of teeth whitening or bleaching using a peroxide-based Material with different concentrations in each type (ex. home kit contains up to 20 % peroxide). This agent works on melting the microparticles that stack between your teeth enamel leaving it clear and shiny. However, using too many whitening kits or having too much teeth whitening can cause damage to your teeth enamel leading to teeth sensitivity and exposing your tooth dentine to cavities thread. So, Teeth whitening should be done under the dentist’s instructions.
So, The Next Question should be what is teeth discoloration and how is it happening?
Tooth Discoloration
Tooth Discoloration or stains are divided into two main types:
1. Extrinsic Stains “Extrinsic discoloration”
This influences the outer enamel and is in most cases caused by food products, drinks, tobacco, genes, and lack of bad dental hygiene habits. It can be treated with dental teeth cleanings and whitening.
2. Intrinsic Stains “Intrinsic discoloration”
This involves the intrinsic content of the dentin and it may occur due to dental injuries, some drugs, high fluoride content, and heredity. It is hard to treat it with professional whitening and it may need further cosmetic dentistry treatment like Dental Crowns or, veneers.
Teeth whitening Procedure
There are two main types of Teeth whitening Procedure options:
In-Office Whitening (Professional Teeth Whitening)
Professional Teeth Whitening is the most effective and strong method to get the best results under the dentist’s guidance. In-office whitening usually takes 1 to 2 sessions, The dentist starts by applying a highly concentrated power bleaching gel to your teeth and then applying the laser to your teeth for 20 to 30 minutes. After one session you can a big difference in your teeth shade.
However, as mentioned above discoloration could be from the inside part of the tooth not outside. The explanation for this is that your teeth have different layers: the dentine which is the inner yellowish layer of your teeth and the enamel which is the outer translucent layer of your teeth.
So, if the tooth is discolored from the outside due to food stains and other reasons, Professional teeth whitening removes those stains leaving your enamel clean and that’s why you notice a difference in your teeth shades. However, if your teeth are discolored due to the yellowish dentine color other options like veneers could be better for you.
Benefits of In-Office professional Whitening:
- Quick, shiny Results: Provide a visibly enhanced whiteness, which may be done in a single visit.
- Controlled and Safe: Such treatment is supervised by a dentist to guarantee that your safety and the effectiveness of the results will be at their peak.
- Ideal for Deep Stains: Ideal for those who have tenacious stains or discoloration that other lightening procedures were unable to correct.
- Long-last results: professional teeth whitening lasts from 6 months to several years more than home whitening.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
Home Teeth Whitening has many types that are sold over the counter or online. And it’s Active ingredient is similar to professional whitening but less concentrated. On the opposite of in-office whitening, home whitening kits take so long to notice good effects and don’t last long. However, it could be a more affordable option compared to a professional one and give a good enough shiny smile. Still, you should be cautious that using them too much can cause tooth enamel erosion, so be careful and use them under a dentist’s care.
Types Of At-Home Teeth Whitening
- Whitening Kits: you start by filling the mouth guard trays with a professional bleaching gel and use it for several hours a day for several weeks. This option is effective but with its cost, you can have professional teeth whitening in Istanbul that costs from 150 to 250$ including deep cleaning that will help boost your gum health, and it lasts for more than a year.
- Whitening Strips: this option is one of the most common OTC products due to its affordable price. Whitening strips are used by applying it on your teeth for 30-minute sessions twice a day for two weeks. And it can give a result of 1 or 2 whiter tooth shades that last for several months. However, for safety, it should be ADA-approved and under the written guidelines.
- Whitening Pens: This product basically a shortcut for toothbrush and whitening toothpaste integrated into a pen that is used twice a day for the removal of everyday stains and to make your teeth shiny. Similar to other OTC products it contains low-concentrated peroxide agents that is safe to use for daily usage for for a duration of two weeks.
- Whitening Powders: This product is like a toothpaste But not as a paste, but rather small granules containing peroxide to help polish the teeth, in addition to chemicals that interact with the teeth to clean them. Although it has similar results to other OTC products, the small granules could harm your gum.
- Whitening Rinses: This product is a daily product that contains diluted hydrogen peroxide in addition to other useful ingredients that clean the stains and remove the cavity dangerously. However the whitening mouthwash or rising is not strong enough alone to whiten your teeth. Usually, it’s used along with other OTC products like toothpaste to give the best results.
- Whitening Toothpaste: Similar to whitening powder, whitening toothpaste works perfectly as an inexpensive option for everyday stains caused by food and signature. However, although whitening toothpaste contains active ingredients to help whiten your teeth, it didn’t prove to have Satisfactory teeth-whitening results. Additionally, according to the NIH, the usage of whitening toothpaste for a long time increased enamel roughness and decreased enamel microhardness. However, the effect may change from one toothpaste brand to another. You can read the Effect of whitening toothpaste on surface roughness and microhardness of human teeth
- Whitening Chewing Gum: according to NIH, It supports daily brushing by preventing stains from forming on the teeth’ interior compared to brushing alone.
Selecting The Right Whitening Procedure Options
To achieve your desired results, it’s crucial to select a teeth whitening approach that aligns with your specific needs:
As mentioned before, in-office whitening is better if you want a controlled, safe, and fast treatment that works best for deep stains and won’t damage your teeth. However, it’s considered an expensive treatment compared to other OTC in the USA, UK, or any other expensive country. But you can have it for a similar price to the home whitening kit in Turkey or Mexico. On the other hand, home whitening products are recommended by dentists to be used for a limited time as a cheap and slow solution for the steady maintenance of your teeth whitening and general oral hygiene.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
In-office whitening can last from half a year to 3 years depending on your dental hygiene habits and your teeth whitening aftercare. For example, brushing your teeth after eating junk food, drinking coffee, or smoking helps prevent tooth discoloration.
For the home whitening options, the result period varies depending on the product, however, most of the home whitening options won’t last even a year. Yet, some of those products can be used to prolong the effect of in-office whitening. But only use them under the dentist’s recommendation.
What Are Teeth Whitening Side Effects?
Teeth whitening can cause temporary sensitivity, gum irritation, and enamel damage if not used properly. So whether it’s professional or home whitening, you should use it with caution, with a short limited time, and under the dentist’s instructions. As they always say: “Better Safe Than Sorry“
How Much Is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional Teeth Whitening Prices Vary based on the location and the type. For instance, according to Healthline, the cost of laser teeth whitening for many sessions starts from 400$ to 1800$ in the USA, also you will find similar prices in the UK and Europe. Yet, this could be too much for some people to offer for that treatment, not to mention that it is not covered by insurance since it’s a cosmetic treatment. The Good News Is that some Country can give you the same quality with the same amount of sessions with lower price. One of the most well-known countries for that procedure is Turkey. So, the question is
How much is teeth whitening in Turkey?
Laser Teeth Whitening prices in Turkey start from 200$ for many sessions including Teeth cleaning and polishing, and clinic assistance.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
For sure, as mentioned above, the dentist’s office whitening will help you to have your teeth whitened as you want since this treatment has been done under the control of a dentist.
- In-office whitening is the least damaging option, as it’s managed by professionals.
- At-home products like toothpaste and strips can be effective and safe but may carry more risk because people overuse them.
Generally speaking, teeth whitening is safe; however, you shouldn’t practice it at home so that there are no accidents like cases of burns or harm that may happen while administering yellowing creams.
During the procedure, you won’t feel any pain. However, after the procedure, you may notice some side effects like tooth sensitivity.
If you have healthy teeth, teeth whitening could be the best option to accrue confident teeth since it’s affordable and does not replace your original teeth permanently.
Usually, Teeth whitening can’t make your teeth whiter than your original teeth color. So, if your teeth are originally very white you can acquire them again if not people prefer to get veneers or dental crowns for a very white teeth color or Hollywood smile Makeover.
Zoom-in-office whitening is very effective indeed: on average, the desired results can be achieved in forty-five minutes to an hour. It can whiten the teeth by as many as four shades; however, some individuals may notice that their teeth are sensitive for a short period after the treatment.
This depends on the reasons for the discoloration. If it’s caused by food or any exterior factors it can be fixed with teeth whitening. But if there is any other reason like heredity or trauma other options like crowns or veneers are preferred.
Home treatments can be safe and efficient, still, if you want to make this procedure as quick and long-lasting as possible, it is better to address the dental clinic.