What does teeth whitening involve?
Professional bleaching is the most usual method of teeth whitening. Your dental team will be able to tell you if you are suitable for the treatment, and will supervise it if you are. First the dental team will put a rubber shield or a gel on your gums to protect them. They will then apply the whitening product to your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a mouthguard.
The ‘active ingredient’ in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.
Key Points
- Whitening treatments can be effective on both extrinsic and intrinsic staining.
- Only natural teeth can be whitened, not tooth-colored restorations.
- Whitening treatments include in-office bleaching procedures, dentist-supplied products for use at home, and over-the-counter (OTC) whiteners.
- Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are commonly used in whitening interventions and can readily permeate dental hard tissues.
- Temporary tooth sensitivity and gingival inflammation are the most common adverse effects of vital tooth whitening.
Professional bleaching is the most usual method of teeth whitening. Your dental team will be able to tell you if you are suitable for the treatment, and will supervise it if you are. First the dental team will put a rubber shield or a gel on your gums to protect them. They will then apply the whitening product to your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a mouthguard.
The ‘active ingredient’ in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.
- Whitening treatments can be effective on both extrinsic and intrinsic staining.
- Only natural teeth can be whitened, not tooth-colored restorations.
- Whitening treatments include in-office bleaching procedures, dentist-supplied products for use at home, and over-the-counter (OTC) whiteners.
- Carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are commonly used in whitening interventions and can readily permeate dental hard tissues.
- Temporary tooth sensitivity and gingival inflammation are the most common adverse effects of vital tooth whitening.
