Teeth Whitening

- to which we refer those wishing to deepen the subject - we have seen how this characteristic, absolutely individual, is often far from tracing the much desired candor. The fault, in many cases, is attributable to unfavorable genetic characteristics, to smoking, to passing of time and the intake of particular foods or drinks, such as coffee, licorice, tea and artificial colors.

To restore the color of the teeth to the white and brightness of the past, it is possible to choose between different types of fast and non-invasive whitening treatments. Beyond the effectiveness inherent in the various methods, it is first of all necessary to become aware of their limitations. Undergoing these treatments, in fact, means at best to restore the color of the teeth to their ancient splendor, up to slightly lightening the shades given to it by mother nature.

(chemical whitening).
In any case - regardless of whether it is mechanical or chemical - teeth whitening can basically be of two types: professional or home.
The professional treatment, of course, must be carried out by the dentist in specialized beauty centers or studios, while the home treatment can be carried out at home through the use of certain products. Alternatively, it is possible to whiten your teeth by carrying out combined treatments (dental office, specialized center - home).

Before proceeding with any whitening method, it is necessary to perform a thorough dental cleaning (or scaling, if you prefer), in order to remove tartar, plaque and any external pigmentations.
One of the most used techniques in this field is represented by air polishing which involves the use of a jet of air, water and sodium bicarbonate, delivered by a specific instrument directly on the dental surface.
Only after having performed the scaling, it is possible to proceed with the actual whitening.

Bleaching

Without prejudice to the importance of a periodic scaling that should be performed every time you undergo a professional whitening treatment, every 6-12 months - depending on your needs - you can contact your dentist to carry out a whitening treatment of professional cosmetic dentistry (bleaching).
Bleaching is the most widely used professional technique and is performed directly in the dental office. For this reason, it is also referred to as "chairside teeth whitening". This procedure exploits the action of highly concentrated chemical bleaching agents which may or may not be enhanced by specific lamps which favor their action in depth.
The most common whitening agents in the professional field are represented by the gel based on hydrogen peroxide at 38% and by the gel based on carbamide peroxide at 45%.
Hydrogen peroxide is applied directly to the tooth surface and requires 2-4 applications of 15 minutes each which can be carried out in one or more sessions.
The carbamide peroxide, on the other hand, is placed in contact with the teeth with the help of special customized masks which must be left on for 30 minutes.
In some cases, the action of whitening agents can be enhanced through the use of light sources: this is the example of teeth whitening with a laser. This particular type of treatment involves the use of hydrogen peroxide at high concentrations which - once applied to the tooth surface - is irradiated with a laser at a very precise wavelength. The hydrogen peroxide gel is thus activated by the heat generated by the irradiation and releases free radicals which are able to penetrate the tooth structure. In this way, redox reactions are triggered inside the tooth which break down the molecules of the stains into smaller, colorless and easily eliminated compounds (for more information: Laser Teeth Whitening).
After the session, it is important to avoid smoking and eating colored foods and drinks for at least 24 hours.

Results and side effects

The intensity of the whitening depends on the concentration of the active ingredient and its exposure time on the teeth. In any case, compatibly with the dentist's experience, a professional intervention guarantees the best possible result, minimizing unwanted effects such as excessive thermal sensitivity and irritation. gingival. These disorders are prevented at the root by protecting the gums, tongue and lips with aids also useful for increasing the comfort of the session (generally products containing potassium nitrate and fluoride are used). However, slight gingivitis tends to appear at the end of the treatment, only to regress spontaneously in the following 24-48 hours.

Contraindications and costs

The presence of caries, tartar or gingivitis requires a preventive resolution of the problem. Furthermore, the operation is not recommended for children under the age of 14 and for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
The bleaching session with bleaching agents enhanced by light sources can vary from 40 to 60 minutes and the cost, approximately, from 300 to 600 €.

Bleaching of non-vital teeth

As for the whitening of non-vital teeth, the procedure is totally different from what has been described so far. In these cases, in fact, 35% hydrogen peroxide is used which is inserted directly inside the tooth to be whitened. After that, a temporary filling is made and the patient can be sent home. After two or three days, the patient must go back to the clinic, where the dentist will check the degree of whitening obtained and assess whether or not a "further application.

, whose whitening action is carried out by brushing the teeth with toothpaste with different granulometry. Excessive or improper use of these products can wear down the dental enamel, resulting in yellowing of the teeth; their effectiveness, moreover, is limited to the removal of the most superficial stains.

Personalized Masks

For home whitening, the dentist can create customized soft silicone masks in his office, reproducing the exact shape of the patient's dental arches. In other words, he can provide the patient with the same type of masks used in the clinic for bleaching with peroxide. of high concentration carbamide.
Inside these masks the right amount of whitening gel substances is inserted - such as carbamide peroxide at low concentrations (usually, ranging from 10 to 20%) - and we proceed with the application on the teeth. By keeping them in place for a time ranging from 30 minutes to 4-8 hours (according to the dentist's instructions) and repeating the operation for about a week, an excellent whitening effect is obtained (comparable to chairside bleaching).
Generally, the duration of the effect is about 5-6 years, provided that short-term recall is made during this period.

Whitening Strips

Another widely practiced home intervention uses the so-called "whitestrips", adhesive strips based on whitening agents that must be adhered to the teeth for 30 minutes, twice a day, for 14 days. Economical, practical and with a low risk of dentinal hypersensitivity, this treatment, however, is not very effective, requires quite a long time and the results are guaranteed only for a few months.

Do It Yourself Remedies

Finally, there are also those who - to whiten their teeth - resort to "grandmother's remedies"; the simplest ones are based on the rubbing of fresh sage leaves, strawberry pulp, or lemon peels. many considered harmless because they are natural, they present pitfalls linked to their acidity or abrasive power; for this reason it is good to use them only rarely.
More generally, before undertaking any whitening treatment, it is advisable to undergo a dental examination to ensure that there are no contraindications, such as caries, hypersensitivity or diseases of the oral cavity.

To learn more, consult the articles: