Teeth Whitening is a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment. It offers a great solution to whiten the teeth and its results last for several months. For teeth whitening, many people prefer to take professional treatment, and 57.9 percent of dentists in Turkey recommend professional whitening. The process of whitening helps to lighten the teeth’s colour and also remove tough stains which may occur due to several reasons.
So, consider getting a whitening treatment especially if your dental insurance covers the method and offers you ultimate whiteness. Get to know whether the home treatment for whitening teeth is worth a try or not.
Teeth discoloration and whitening
Teeth change their colour when they are stained, darkened, or have deposits in the form of plaque on teeth. It affects the whole personality of a human being due to which people switch to whitening treatment.
Discoloration may occur because of ageing, serious health conditions, medications, or even tooth injuries. Further, foods, tobacco, and beverages make teeth conditions worse over time. People who decide to whiten teeth must understand that these procedures do not work on all sorts of teeth. A good periodontist explains the condition and the right procedure to follow for teeth whitening. If you are using any crowns, fillings, or veneers the whitening of teeth treatment does not work with it.
How does teeth whitening work?
The process for teeth whitening follows some regular simple steps. The procedure depends on the type of the product and steps vary if the procedure is followed at home or professionally. However, the most common product during the whitening process is a peroxide bleaching agent. The product used at home uses 3 percent to 20 percent peroxide while professional dentists use 15 percent to 30 percent peroxide for long-term results. 57.9% dentists in turkey do not recommend whitening products to their patients.
This shows that the stronger solution has a long–lasting effect and makes the teeth brighter. However, using inappropriate amounts of peroxide may also dehydrate the teeth and increase the sensitivity of teeth.
Professional teeth whitening
Professional whitening treatment takes place in a dental office. You may also need a dental insurance before going for professional teeth whitening. The professional whitening procedure takes an hour. A dentist covers your gum tissues completely with a protective gel especially when a laser is used along with peroxide. The popular in-office whitening tools are Zoom, Opalescence, Britesmile, and Lumibrite Whitening. Its cost differs and depends on the condition of the teeth. A good periodontist takes before and after images to observe the changes. Following are the advantages of considering professional whitening:
Advantages
- Long-lasting results
Professional kits and whitening treatments have long-term whitening results because different laser and light technologies are used to break the hard plaque on teeth. It produces safe and better results.
- Better and faster results
It gives better and immediate results right after the whitening treatment. It reduces the irritation in gums and tooth sensitivity. However, it proves to be a safe treatment as it is administered by professionals.
- Customized treatment
The professional treatment is conducted by experts who have years of experience. The dentist closely monitors the condition of the teeth and provides procedures accordingly. This eliminates the chances of having irritated gums especially when the patient has sensitive teeth.
Disadvantage
- Costly
There is no doubt that whitening treatment is costly and gets closer to $300 to $1000 even if your dental insurance covers the whitening procedure.
- Commitment
The professional teeth whitening treatments take 1 to 2 hours to complete. The professional whitening treatment demands proper aftercare to maintain long-term results.
At-home teeth whitening
At-home whitening procedure offers the convenience of whitening teeth at the ease of home. These products have less concentration of peroxide which gives adequate results even after multiple whitening applications at home. There is no doubt that at-home kits for whitening are easy to use and prevent the formation of new stains.
Common methods:
Following are the options for teeth whitening procedures used at home.
- Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste removes stains or plaque from the teeth’ surface. It is best for sensitive teeth and behaves as a polishing agent with no side effects.
- Whitening chewing gums
The whitening chewing gum contains a certain amount of peroxide which lightens the colour of the tooth enamel over the weeks after its regular use. It squeezes out the whitening gel and helps polish the teeth without irritating the gums.
- Rinses
The rinses are composed of active ingredients which bleach teeth because of the presence of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide. Rinses are a common yet affordable treatment that costs $30 to $60.
- Tray bleaching
The dentist provides a custom whitening kit that can be used at home. This kit contains trays that fit perfectly on your teeth and have a bleaching solution to whiten the teeth at home by following the instructions. These trays evenly whiten the teeth and limit the exposure of the solution to the gums.
Advantages
- Cost-effective
There is no doubt that DIYwhitening kits are inexpensive. Even home remedies seem appealing because of providing quick results. The whitening trays are customized according to the size of teeth and can be used anytime at home.
- Flexible timing
The home-based whitening trays and gel solution can be used anytime at home for a few hours. Its consistent use provides great results at the comfort of home. It is ideal for people who want gradual whitening.
Disadvantages
- Slow and inconsistent
The DIY whitening kits used at homes provide less whitening results. The procedure is repeated multiple times to produce the desired result. Excessive and repeated use may weaken the enamel.
- Tooth Sensitivity
Doing whitening at home may increase tooth sensitivity by affecting the gums especially if the instructions are not followed. However, the whitening solution may cause gum irritation or uneven whitening.
Conclusion
The teeth whitening procedure is considered a cosmetic procedure instead of a medical process. It is not covered by dental insurance mostly, while a good periodontist will offer certain assistance to reverse the effects. However, the in-office whitening lasts for months with proper oral hygiene. So to get pleased results, reach out to the Lycian Dental Clinic.
Lycian Dental Clinic helps to get your teeth whitened in minimum sessions professionally. The Professionals will improve the smile with the best whitening procedure. Book your appointment now to get long-lasting and faster results.