Today, dental aesthetics has become a very important issue for many patients. Teeth whitening has become one of the foremost applications in the field of aesthetic dentistry. White teeth are also at the beginning of creating an impressive smile. Compared to the restorative procedures performed in the treatment of discolored teeth, the whitening process is a much more conservative (protective) procedure. A successful whitening treatment is primarily a correct diagnosis, and then the determination of the appropriate bleaching method and duration.
Teeth whitening is not a new technique in dentistry. The first bleaching procedures were reported more than a century ago. ( Fitch CP. Etiology of the discoloration of teeth. Dent Cosmos 1861;3(3):133-6)(White JD. Bleaching. Dent Register West 1861;15:576-7). Until today, different materials and concentrations have been applied for the bleaching process. Hydrogen peroxide and heat in whitening treatment use has been accepted since the 1930s. (Li Y. Biological properties of peroxide-containing tooth whiteners. Food Chem Toxicol 1996;34:887-904)
It is the process of whitening the discoloration that occurs in the tooth structure with age or other factors by using a whitening agent.
The whitening agents used in the teeth whitening process form free radicals by penetrating the tooth after application. These unstable free radicals react with organic molecules that cause tooth discoloration, creating smaller molecules that provide the whitening effect.
Studies conducted today show that whitening agents are highly safe and do not cause any harm.
"Tooth sensitivity and gingival irritation after whitening are possible conditions. However, these effects are short-lived and temporary."
There are two types of application, office type and home type.
Office type whitening: It is applied in the dentist's office under the control of a dentst. The mouth is prepared, the gingival barrier is applied. The agent is applied for the required time in accordance with the instructions of the bleaching agent used. Generally used concentrations are 15%, 30% and 35% hydrogen peroxide.
At-home bleaching: A model of the patient's mouth is created by measuring the lower and upper jaws. Personalized whitening plates are prepared on the model. How to use the home bleaching agent is explained to the patient by the dentist. The patient makes the application with the plaque at home. Home bleaching products on the market contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Application The duration and concentration are determined by the dentist.
Office-type application and home-type application can be done separately, or a combined treatment (office type first, then continuing with home type) can also be recommended to patients.
