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Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the simplest, fastest and most efficient ways to refresh and rejuvenate your smile. Therefore, teeth whitening is among the most popular dental services today.

What will you learn in this article?

Why do teeth change color?

Teeth can change color for many reasons, and sometimes it just happens because teeth age.

Pigments in food and beverages

The most common reason for tooth discoloration are pigmented food and beverages which we consume daily (coffee, red wine, tea).

Coffee, tea and red wine contain tannin, a substance that leaves dark coloring on surfaces. Because the tooth surface is rough and somewhat porous, tannins and other pigments from food and beverages can lead to stains on teeth.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: obojenja na zubima, prije i poslije izbjeljivanja.
A visibly more beautiful smile after teeth whitening.

Teeth and aging

The second most common reason for discoloration on teeth is the physiological aging of teeth.

Tooth enamel wears out and thins with age. Therefore, the inside hard tissue of the tooth, dentin, starts to show, which is darker and yellower than the enamel. That is how teeth lose some of their whiteness.

Optical properties of teeth

The natural color of teeth depends, for example, on the thickness and transparency of the enamel. These and other physical characteristics will determine the optical properties of teeth, such as translucence, opalescence, or fluorescence.

Therefore, even innate optical properties of teeth can affect the darker appearance of teeth.

Smoking

Smoking can also lead to discoloration of teeth.

This is because by-products of combustion of tobacco are deposited on the tooth surface.

Poor oral hygiene

Poor oral hygiene results in staining of teeth due to plaque, a thin film of dirt on the teeth, but also dental calculus, a yellowish hardened deposit.

Endodontic treatment (Root canal)

Endodontic treatment can also lead to discoloration and then the treated tooth differs in color from the rest of the dental arch.

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What types of teeth whitening are available?

There is professional whitening of teeth performed by a dentist in the office and teeth whitening at home using special splints.

What does the teeth whitening procedure look like at the dentist’s office?

First we will talk with the patient to assess and explain what can be expected after one treatment and after more whitening treatments.

We will also try to conclude which shades of teeth can be achieved from their existing color.

Then we proceed with the procedure of professional teeth whitening: Removal of soft and hardened colored deposits on teeth

The first thing which will make a difference and which is necessary before teeth whitening is removal of deposits and pigmentation on teeth.

Removal of soft and hardened colored deposits on teeth

  • The first thing which will make a difference and which is necessary before teeth whitening is removal of deposits and pigmentation on teeth.
  • Plaque and dental calculus deposits gain color from food pigments. By removing them, the teeth become shiny and smooth again, but the natural color of the teeth does not change.

Impermeable barrier protection

  • The procedure begins by protecting the gums with impermeable barriers. This will ensure that there is no contact with the bleaching agent.
Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: zubi i zubno meso zaštićeni prije nanošenja gela za izbjeljivanje zubi.
Protection of gums before applying the bleaching gel

Application of the teeth whitening agent under controlled conditions.

  • In order for the teeth to change color and become whiter, it is necessary to apply a high concentration of peroxide (40%) for 45 to 60 minutes.
  • This is a very intensive treatment. It is necessary to perform it according to a pre-defined protocol and under controlled conditions. Therefore, it is completely safe for the patient.
  • After that a bleaching gel is applied on the teeth with great precision.
Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: gel za izbjeljivanje nanesen na zube.
Applying the bleaching gel on the teeth

The treatment together with the preparation lasts about an hour. The results will be visible immediately, but will gradually develop over the next 10 to 14 days.

It should be noted that sometimes it is not possible to achieve the desired shade of teeth. The reason may be their natural color, but also other factors, as we already explained.

Also, in order to achieve a specific tooth shade, patients sometimes have to undergo the treatment several times.

Professional teeth whitening performed by a dentist is the recommended and also the fastest method of whitening.

Entrust the task of beautifying your smile to us.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional checkup without leaving your home!

We offer you a virtual dental examination. Learn more!

Recommendations after professional teeth whitening

It is recommended that after professional teeth whitening, the patient does not consume food or beverages for at least 30 minutes.

For the next two weeks, it is recommended to avoid smoking and pigmented food and beverages (coffee, tea, colored juices, dark fruits like blueberries).

After the whitening, the teeth will be sensitive, especially to heat or cold, but this is temporary and only lasts a day or two.

Maintaining white teeth

Whitened teeth retain their whiteness for a while, and then it gradually diminishes. To maintain white teeth, it is necessary to occasionally do at-home teeth whitening.

At the Apolonija Dental Clinic, you will get splints for at-home whitening which will make maintenance easy and simple.

What does the whitening procedure look like at home?

As mentioned earlier, there is also at-home teeth whitening. After consultations with the dentist, individual splints are made, which match the patient’s dental arch and bite.

These splints are safe for home use as they perfectly reach only the teeth, without touching the gums.

Along with the splints, the patient receives a bleaching gel. It is a mild bleaching agent, with a peroxide content of up to 10%.

The dentist will give the patient all the instructions and explain every step so that everything would go well.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: udlage za izbjeljivanje zubi kod kuće.
At-home teeth whitening kit

At-home teeth whitening takes up to 8 days and can also be repeated.

At-home whitening can be used to supplement professional teeth whitening and preserve the whiteness of teeth.

Can anyone whiten their teeth?

Teeth whitening will not be equally effective for everyone. The dentist must thoroughly examine the patient’s teeth and determine if there are contraindications for teeth whitening.

Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to whiten their teeth, and there is no upper age limit. Only older patients with a very thin enamel are not suitable for this procedure.

Teeth whitening is also not recommended to pregnant women.

Healthy teeth

The most important thing is that the patient’s teeth are healthy. This means that the patient has no cavities or inflammatory processes.

Prostheses and fillings

Artificial dental crowns, veneers, dental bridges and fillings cannot be whitened.

After teeth whitening, these prosthetic supplements should be replaced by new ones in the achieved lighter shade.

Did you find out what you wanted to know?

In this article you have learned more about teeth whitening. You may want to learn more about the following topics:

Contact us and find out if you are a candidate for teeth whitening.

Entrust the task of beautifying your smile to us.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional checkup without leaving your home!

We offer you a virtual dental examination. Learn more!