Teeth Whitening

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is the process of removing pigments that cause yellow discoloration from the teeth. Various factors can cause stains and discoloration on the teeth. Over time, the consumption of foods and beverages can lead to yellow and brown stains on the teeth. Additionally, color changes can occur due to the use of antibiotics during developmental stages and trauma. It has also been observed by doctors that teeth undergoing root canal treatment can develop a grayish color change over time due to water loss.

Who can undergo teeth whitening? What should be considered?

Teeth whitening is a procedure performed on the enamel layer of the teeth. Before the procedure, a dentist evaluates the patient’s suitability for teeth whitening. The whitening agent should not come into contact with any layer other than the enamel. If there are enamel cracks, cavities, or old fillings on the tooth surface, these should be treated before the whitening procedure, and the patient should be informed by the doctors. In some patients, the enamel layer may be very thin or even the dentin layer of the tooth may be exposed due to various reasons. Such patients are not suitable for teeth whitening. Apart from these, patients with widespread gum recession can undergo teeth whitening in a professional environment where their gums and root surfaces are protected.

How is teeth whitening done?

There are two types of teeth whitening procedures: in-office and at-home whitening. In-office whitening is performed by a dentist in the clinic. The concentration of the whitening agent used in in-office whitening is much higher compared to at-home whitening, allowing for effective whitening in a short period. First, a gum barrier is applied to protect the gums. Then, the whitening agent is applied to the teeth in the smile line and activated with a laser. This process continues in 20-minute sessions until the desired level of whiteness is achieved.

For at-home whitening, an impression of the teeth is taken and a custom tray is prepared for the patient. The whitening agent suitable for at-home use, provided by the dentist, is placed in the tray and the whitening process is applied to cleaned, brushed teeth for 6-8 hours. Due to the lower concentration of the whitening agent in at-home whitening, it needs to be used for 2-3 weeks to achieve the desired whiteness. At-home whitening can be done alone or to support in-office whitening.

Is it possible to treat discoloration in a single tooth with whitening?

Causes of discoloration in a single tooth can include trauma, previous root canal treatment, old amalgam fillings, leakage of canal filling materials into dentin tubules, and fluorosis. Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment or trauma can lose vitality over time and become non-vital. Single tooth whitening treatment is also known as devital bleaching. First, the dentist checks the root canal treatment of the tooth. If root canal treatment has not been done, it is performed before the whitening process. After completing the necessary radiographic examinations and treatments, an entry is made from the back surface of the tooth. Through this opening, old filling materials and all pulp tissues are cleaned and the tooth is rinsed with solutions. The whitening agent is placed inside the tooth and sealed with a temporary, leak-proof filling. The whitening agent is left in the tooth for 3-7 days. The same procedures are repeated for several sessions until the desired tooth color is achieved. After the tooth color has lightened, the permanent filling is placed, and the opening on the back surface is closed.