Dental whitening

How long does dental whitening last?

We recommend "reminders" from one year onwards. If we opt for an "ambulatory" whitening (the one done at home with transparent splints and a whitening gel) it is very easy to make these "reminders", since the patient has his splints and it is only necessary to ask us for the whitening gel to review it. Of course, it is very important to come for a check-up to control the effects of these reminders.

• Ambulatory" or "at home" whitening: this type of whitening is performed at home with the material, recommendations and precautions provided by our dentist. We use transparent plastic splints made from a mold of our mouth, where the whitening gel is placed with syringes (usually carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide). Our dentist will explain to us the number of hours a day we should wear it and the number of weeks we should use it, which is usually no more than four weeks.
• In-clinic" or "professional" whitening: this technique is performed in the dental office. Our dentist will first protect our gums and then place the gel (usually 35-40% hydrogen peroxide) which is activated by heat and/or a light source. Typically, about four sessions of about 15-20 minutes are performed, but this may change depending on the product. They can also be performed by laser.
• Sometimes it is necessary to combine the two previous types, especially in people with quite dark or yellowish teeth, to enhance the whitening of the teeth as much as possible. We recommend that people who have their teeth whitened in a clinic always continue whitening at home to enhance and prolong its effects.
• • Internal whitening: this is the type that is performed on teeth that have undergone endodontics or root canal treatment. In this case, after a good sealing of the root canal of the tooth, the whitening agent is placed inside the crown of the tooth, which is changed periodically until the desired whitening is achieved.

The time it takes for teeth to whiten depends on the type of treatment we have. Usually, the effect obtained is faster with "in-clinic" whitening, since, in most cases, an instantaneous effect is achieved the day the sessions are performed. However, if a reinforcement with splints and whitening gel (the other type, such as "ambulatory") is not carried out after the treatment, the effect is usually lost more quickly.

If we do the "ambulatory" whitening directly, the effect will be more progressive, but we can achieve the same effect as the one obtained with the "in-clinic whitening". In people with dentin hypersensitivity, commonly called "sensitivity", we recommend this type, because it is much lower, and in case you have "sensitivity" with a certain

The time it takes for teeth to whiten also depends on:

• If you eat foods or drink beverages that stain the teeth.
• If you are a smoker
• If you have any teeth with root canal treatment.

There is a small percentage of patients (1-5%) in whom bleaching is not as effective, and in this case, alternative treatments such as composite or ceramic veneers should be considered.

Teeth whitening is a highly demanded esthetic treatment that always requires explanation and supervision by a dentist. The teeth are formed by, in aadition to hard and mineralized structures, such as enamel and dentin, a nervous system and blood vessels that may be affected if this treatment is not carried out properly. Only the dentist has the appropriate knowledge to diagnose and guide the patient to achieve teeth whitening. In addition, it is important that, before starting treatment, our dentist checks our mouth and verifies that we do not have any infection, such as caries or gum disease (periodontitis), since our teeth and gums can be damaged to a greater extent.

There are several home remedies to try to whiten our teeth, such as the use of baking soda, lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide, which, if used indiscriminately, can accelerate the wear of the enamel and cause tooth sensitivity.

You can also buy online products such as "whitening kits" that have plastic splints where the "whitening" agent is poured or certain "whitening strips" that are placed on the teeth.

We must be careful because if we use a high concentration of whitening agent without supervision, we can suffer burns in the gum or can even cause alterations in the nerve of the tooth. But, in addition, if we do not visit our dentist or specialist for this treatment, we may be overlooking oral diseases that should be diagnosed and controlled before carrying out strategies with a mere aesthetic objective such as whitening. We can improve our smile as long as our teeth are healthy and we do not risk the well being of our mouth.

Among the risks of unsupervised treatments, we can find:

• ·Overlook detection of caries, gum disease and other oral pathologies.
• Increased erosion and wear of the teeth. Many whitening products contain abrasive particles in their composition that can favor the deterioration of the tooth surface if they are not used properly.
• ·Dental sensitivity. If we do the treatment in the dental office, our dentist will be able to explain the steps to follow if the sensitivity of our teeth increases.
• Not all teeth can be whitened. People who took certain antibiotics (tetracyclines) or excess fluorosis in the water during the period of formation and development of the tooth present stains on its surface that, depending on the degree of affectation, may or may not be susceptible to whitening. The same applies to other congenital or developmental disorders that affect the enamel. Nor can teeth be whitened with crowns or "caps", since the surface of the tooth, which is what is whitened, is covered by ceramic and/or metal. In these cases, with an unsupervised treatment, the person will be exposed to side effects without obtaining an added benefit in return. If we go to the dentist's office, the dentist will explain to us if we are candidates for this type of treatment for our teeth.
• Not all teeth can be whitened. People who took certain antibiotics (tetracyclines) or excess fluorosis in the water during the period of formation and development of the tooth present stains on its surface that, depending on the degree of affectation, may or may not be susceptible to whitening. The same applies to other congenital or developmental disorders that affect the enamel. Nor can teeth be whitened with crowns or "caps", since the surface of the tooth, which is what is whitened, is covered by ceramic and/or metal. In these cases, with an unsupervised treatment, the person will be exposed to side effects without obtaining an added benefit in return. If we go to the dentist's office, the dentist will explain to us if we are candidates for this type of treatment for our teeth.
• Persistence of stains and stains that should have been removed in a previous teeth cleaning by the dentist.
• Lower whitening effect when using these agents at a lower concentration than those that can be prescribed by the dentist.