What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a treatment whose objective is to lighten the color of the teeth, eliminating stains and discoloration. It is the most popular of aesthetic dental treatments.

Bleaching is more effective on extrinsic or superficial stains. However, to maintain the brightest color, the treatment must be repeated eventually since it is not a treatment that is carried out only once.

Some habits can cause the whitening to start to fade. For example, smoking, as well as eating food and drinks with dyes, can be factors that accelerate this process.

If these harmful habits are avoided, and maintenance recommended by specialists is followed, another whitening treatment may not be needed for the next 6 to 12 months.

What types of whitening are there?

There are many ways to group the different types of whitening. For instance, it could be based on the type of teeth, the place where the whitening is performed, or the technology used.

If the differentiation is made based on the type of teeth, it must be considered that the teeth can be vital or non-vital. What does this mean? The difference is based on where the stain on the teeth is coming from. If the stain is external, whitening will be performed on vital teeth, while if the whitening is done from the inside, it is considered whitening on non-vital teeth.

Whitening in vital teeth

It is the most common dental whitening procedure. It is done by applying a gel directly on the tooth's surface, and it is a treatment that can be done both in the office and at home.

The gel that is used contains hydrogen or carbamide peroxide and can be applied more effectively in the dental clinic since the percentage of the product is higher. In addition, specialized light allows the whitening to act faster.

In-office whitening treatment for vital teeth usually lasts 30 to 90 minutes and is performed in several sessions. Depending on the method, the number of appointments will vary, as the intensity of the stains and the level of whitening you want.

Whitening of non-vital teeth

This treatment consists of whitening the teeth from the inside. It is performed when vital whitening may not have an effect because the stains come from the inside of the tooth. 

In this case, the whitener will be placed inside the tooth, and a temporary filling will be used. The whitening will remain indoors for several days. After that, it must be changed occasionally until the tooth reaches the desired shade of white.

In the case of vital teeth whitening, a division can be made depending on the light technique used. The light activates the gel molecules used to whiten teeth, increasing the whitening effect. This light can be of two types: laser or LED.

LED whitening

It is a very effective procedure, which consists of activating the whitening gel molecules with the blue light emitted by the LED lamp. Three to four photoactivation sessions are needed, which can be scheduled in a single appointment if a faster effect is sought. The result of this whitening can be very long-lasting if good oral hygiene is maintained.

Laser whitening

It is the fastest and most effective whitening procedure. The laser light activates the whitening gel and penetrates the enamel of the teeth, increasing its whitening. However, its effects are usually short-lived. In addition, the light used does not usually filter infrared emissions, so it can cause damage to the nerves of the teeth.

Currently, laser technology has been replaced by that of LED. Both have the same advantages, but LED whitening prevents dental sensitivity as it is a light that does not give off heat. Also, the whitening effect can be longer lasting if the whitening is done with LEDs.

Advantages of whitening

Teeth whitening is the most common treatment. One reason for this is that it has many emotional and aesthetic benefits. Some of the most outstanding advantages are:

• Whiter smile. One of the most noticeable things about a person is their smile. Having a whiter smile can positively influence you, improving your mood and confidence, and other people may perceive you as more confident and trustworthy.
• Improve confidence. Having whiter teeth is a key factor in improving self-esteem. Socially, having a healthy mouth and smile is highly valued, so having white teeth can give you more confidence and self-assurance.
• It helps improve hygiene. The dental whitening treatment requires maintaining good oral hygiene once the treatment has been carried out. In addition, a person who wants to have whitening is generally a person who cares about their oral health.
• Fast results. Teeth whitening treatment requires three to four sessions but can be done in a single appointment. Unlike many dental treatments, the results of permanent teeth whitening are very fast.
• Painless process. Most dental treatments involve some discomfort for patients in the clinic and sometimes the days after. Whitening is a procedure that does not cause discomfort to the person who receives it.

Phases of whitening treatment

Whitening your teeth is a quick and easy process that can be done in a clinic or at home. The phases will depend on where the treatment is performed but are very similar.

Whitening of vital teeth in the clinic. When performed in the clinic, whitening will consist of two phases.

1.      The dentist in Arlington VA will put something on the gums around the teeth to cover and protect them. Afterward, he will place a whitening gel on them, which will later have to be activated with a light to be effective.

2.      If the bleach needs to be activated, an LED or laser lamp will be placed during the determined treatment time. The treatment may require several sessions but can be done in a single appointment.