Teeth whitening is a dental treatment that aims to improve the appearance of your teeth. The colour of teeth can have a significant psychosocial impact, and more and more people are seeking a whiter and more harmonious smile. The goal of teeth whitening is to make the teeth lighter and aesthetically more pleasing.
In this article, you will find the information you need so that together with your dentist you can assess whether this is the right treatment for your case.
What factors enhance tooth discolouration?
The natural colour of teeth varies from person to person, and as such, you should always keep this in mind when evaluating your own teeth. Comparing with another person does not always make sense, and it is always necessary to seek advice from professionals.
However, some factors can contribute to teeth becoming stained and yellowed, even if you take good care of your oral hygiene. These factors are:
age
frequent consumption of coffee, wine, carbonated drinks, soft drinks, sweets, and foods that stain (red fruits, for example) or contain dyes
smoking
Who can undergo teeth whitening?
Before undergoing teeth whitening, an evaluation of the patient's dental condition and oral health should be conducted.
In this consultation, a member of our clinical team will perform an evaluation and create the most appropriate Plan, as well as the respective Budget. The evaluation consultation costs €100, except for employees and associates of companies with a Protocol with MALO CLINIC.
We always want to provide you with the most accurate information possible because each case is unique. Therefore, if you wish, you can already schedule here your consultation at one of the 6 clinics distributed across the country.
Attention: people with cavity lesions, tooth sensitivity, or gum problems may need to undergo treatment before teeth whitening. Teeth whitening is not recommended for pregnant women and those under 18 years old.
Types of Teeth Whitening
There are two main types of whitening. One is done by the patient at home with a custom mold (trays), while the other is done in the office by a dentist.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
The in-office treatment is currently the most common, and this is performed by the patient under the supervision of the dentist. The molds are made and customized in the office, and from them, trays are created that should preferably be worn at night. The patient should fill the trays with teeth whitening gel and wear them in the mouth every night for the period recommended by the dentist.
This procedure lasts on average two weeks but the treatment time can vary, primarily depending on the initial color of the teeth, as a darker shade tends to take more days to whiten.
What are the stages of teeth whitening?
In summary, these are the main steps:
You must first have an oral assessment consultation to check if other treatments need to be done before starting the whitening process.
Secondly, you must have a scale and removal of extrinsic pigment.
The final step will be the outpatient whitening, using customized trays and a whitening gel.
In some cases, it may be necessary to replace restorations, crowns, or bridges to ensure that the colour of your smile is uniform since whitening only works on natural tooth structure.
Teeth whitening for smokers - can I do it?
Not disregarding the aforementioned assessment consultation, the vast majority of people can undergo the treatment, including smokers. However, for a longer-lasting result, regular oral hygiene appointments should be made, and smoking habits as well as consumption of staining beverages or foods should be avoided.
In other words, nothing prevents you from having the treatment, but if you continue to smoke, you will be compromising the effect and durability of the whitening, and you may not find the results satisfactory in the long term.
Do I need to go to the dentist for whitening, or can I do it myself?
To eliminate any doubts: whitening should always be carried out under the recommendation or supervision of a dentist, and many over-the-counter alternatives can damage your teeth. Therefore, we discourage their use.
For this reason, it is very important to have the support of a dentist, who will advise on the method suitable for each patient's characteristics. For any of the processes, you should always contact your dentist.
In our clinics, you will find experienced dentists in teeth whitening, ensuring the improvement of your smile. We remind you that to make an appointment at one of our 6 clinics across the country, simply schedule.
