Although masks are still mandatory in some public spaces, it's still important that we look after ourselves and achieve a perfect smile. With the use of masks becoming a little more flexible and the holiday season approaching, now is the perfect time to have a tooth whitening session. In fact, clinics are getting more and more requests for information about this procedure. But be careful, it must always be done under medical supervision and keeping a series of issues in mind that we will explain below.
As professionals, we must always offer our patients the option that suits them best. There are different types of tooth whitening depending on the needs of the patient, their comfort and the materials we use for the procedure. Below, we're going to show you all the keys to making your next whitening treatment a success.
Why do teeth stain?
Sometimes, teeth can become dark or stained for a variety of reasons. The causes may just be the passage of time but others can be due to unhealthy habits for our teeth such as smoking, consuming sugary drinks and the consumption of dark-coloured foods such as coffee, tea or red wine. Whitening can be carried out on any patient who is over the age of 18 and does not suffer from any incompatible pathology with the materials used in the procedure.
Preliminary considerations
Before beginning our whitening, it is important to take into account some preliminary considerations to determine the type of procedure our patient needs:
- Explaining what the treatment consists of: Communication is key to create a safe context for the patient and to familiarise him/her with the whole process.
- Cleaning: Before beginning whitening, it is very important to carry out a deep cleaning. Prophylaxis and check that the oral cavity is healthy is always vital.
- Determine the colour of the tooth: This is important for choosing the type of gel to use and its concentration. To simplify this task, we have the Spectrophotometer with VITA LED light available on our website, which gives you a precise and reproducible determination of the tooth colour in seconds.
- Choose the materials with which you are going to treat our patient: Do I use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide? In this post you can find the main differences between the two and find out what each one is used for.
Types of teeth whitening:
Now, we're going to classify the most common types of tooth whitening
IN CLINIC
This is the most common procedure for tooth whitening. High concentration gels are used and their activation can be accelerated with a light curing light to enhance results. It is very important to protect the soft tissue zone and use desensitiser to avoid injury and damage.
The most commonly used compound for in-clinic whitening is hydrogen peroxide and the total procedure takes approximately one hour. It offers great results due to the high concentration of the component.
Pola Office +: Kit with 37.5% Hydrogen Peroxide from SDI
Pola Office + has unique desensitising properties and potassium nitrate provides a soothing effect. In addition:
- Quick treatment, taking less than 30 minutes.
- Simple application.
- Integrated desensitiser.
- No mixing required.
- Can be used with or without lamp.
- Available with or without retractors.
AT HOME
This method of whitening is carried out at the patient's home. A tailor-made mouthguard is made to apply the whitening gel, the duration of which will depend on the dentist's guidelines and how long they advise the gel should remain applied to the teeth. There are treatments in which the patient must wear the mouthguard all night and some for just a few hours during the day.
It stands out for the comfort it offers the patient, but must always be supervised by a professional. The concentration of the gel is much lower than when the procedure is carried out in the dental clinic and the ability to offer this form of treatment will depend on the patient's needs and the professional's decision.
Opalescence PF 16%: Ultradent Hydrogen Peroxide Kit
Opalescence PF 16% Patient Kit is a good option to carry out the treatment at home. It stands out for its:
- Maximum efficacy for overnight treatment.
- Application time: 4-6 hours.
- Average treatment duration: 5 to 10 applications.
- Reduced risk of tooth sensitivity.
- Includes colorimeter, mouthguard box and Opalescence whitening paste.
COMBINED TREATMENT
This type of whitening combines the two previous techniques: in-clinic photoactivation with home treatment.
Opalescence Quick PF 45%: Ultradent Carbamine Peroxide Kit
Opalescence Quick PF 45% with a new thicker formula, allows for more precise placement and ensures that the whitening gel stays in place:
- Easy application
- 2-3 x 20 minute applications are needed for a total of 40-60 minutes of treatment.
- Maximum of 3 applications per visit.
- Syringe-to-syringe mixing ensures maximum strength.
ENDO WHITENING
Sometimes non-vital or devitalised teeth lose their natural shade for various reasons. To recover the colour, the treatment must be carried out in the clinic to eliminate the agents that have discoloured the tooth or the necrotic tissue of the endodontic pieces. We must mix sodium perborate with hydrogen peroxide and, depending on each case, we will continue the treatment in a certain way.
Opalescence Endo: 35% hydrogen peroxide from Ultradent
Opalescence Endo is colourless and has a consistency that allows for easy application inside the cavity, as well as a simple temporary filling.
- Procedure duration between 1 and 5 days.
- It is advisable to wait 8 to 10 days before restoring the tooth.
- It can be applied on caries.
- Simple temporary closure.
All in all, it is a perfect option for whitening endodontically treated teeth, internally discoloured due to disease, injury or medical treatment.
Precautions
To avoid side effects such as burns or tooth sensitivity, it is very important to use gingival and desensitising caps, as well as other accessories.
The gingival strips are resins that are designed to provide protection and isolation to the gums when whitening is carried out. It is also very useful for protecting adjacent teeth when whitening a single tooth. The light-curing resins also reflect light to keep the tissues insulated from heat.
Light-curing OpalDam Green Gingival Protector Kit
OpalDam Green is a clinical resin that protects the tissue surrounding the teeth that will be altered by whitening. As it is photopolymerisable, it has the advantage of reflecting light and insulating the tissue from heat.
Features of the OpalDam Green Kit:
- Offers secure protection to the tissue by completely sealing it
- Also seals rubber dams.
- Direct application
- The green colour better locates the resin on the gum and tooth
On the other hand, the use of a de-sensitising toothpaste is very important to avoid future injuries and/or conditions such as hypersensitivity. Its aim is to prevent the chemical agents used in whitening from penetrating the enamel and dentine and causing discomfort or pain.
Lastly, we must not forget eye protection. The blue light emitted by the light curing lamp can damage our eyesight and that of the patient, so we must both use eye protection glasses to protect us from this harmful light.
And after that, what should we avoid?
The same habits that we said caused teeth discolouration are precisely the ones we should avoid after having a whitening treatment. Among them are the foods that we advise you to avoid so that your teeth look white for much longer.
Our advice? No tobacco, sugary drinks or consumption of dark-coloured drinks such as coffee, tea or red wine in the 72 hours following treatment and try to minimise their consumption overall to prolong the effects of whitening.
How long does whitening last?
Each case is unique and the characteristics of one patient will not be the same as the next. We cannot reverse the passage of time, but we can advise and guide you on the habits that mean teeth take longer to darken. Also, remember that good hygiene and regular check-ups are necessary to not only have beautiful teeth but also have healthy teeth that are free of avoidable ailments.
It is very important to clarify and reiterate that teeth whitening should always be done under the supervision of a dentist. In our dental whitening section, there is a wide variety of products that you can use depending on the needs of your patient and the type of whitening to be performed. But due to legislation, almost all treatments we sell are sold exclusively to registered dentists in order to ensure the products are not used by minors or by adults without direct supervision.
Thank you for reading our blog! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via phone or email. We will be happy to help you, and we can't wait to see you on our social networks!
See you soon!
