Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)
Aesthetic dentistry is a set of treatments that increase individuals’ self-confidence in their social lives and improve smile aesthetics. Among these treatments, procedures that enable the lightening of tooth color using chemical agents without disrupting the integrity of the tooth tissue hold an important place. Called “Bleaching” in medical literature, Teeth Whitening is the process of removing discolorations occurring in the structure of the tooth enamel and the underlying dentin layer. Teeth that lose their natural brightness over time due to factors such as food consumption, habits, or aging can achieve a brighter appearance with professional methods.
This procedure, which is at the forefront of the aesthetic expectations of patients receiving oral and dental health services in the Kırklareli region, yields safe and effective results when performed under physician control.
Physiological and External Causes of Tooth Discoloration
Tooth color is a genetically determined feature that varies from person to person. However, this natural color can change over time due to various reasons. Discolorations are basically examined in two main groups:
- Extrinsic Discolorations: Stains that accumulate on the tooth surface and usually develop depending on eating habits. Consumption of coffee, tea, red wine, fruit juices, and tobacco products penetrates the porous structure of the tooth enamel, causing yellowing. Additionally, bacterial plaque and tartar formed as a result of insufficient oral hygiene also cause the tooth to look darker.
- Intrinsic Discolorations: Color changes occurring in the internal structure of the tooth during its development period or afterwards. Tetracycline group antibiotics used in childhood, excessive fluoride intake (fluorosis), loss of tooth vitality due to trauma, or thinning of the enamel tissue due to aging and the underlying darker dentin layer becoming visible fall into this group.
Professional Teeth Whitening applications can achieve success in both types of discoloration – at rates varying according to the condition of the case.
Professional Teeth Whitening Methods
Whitening methods applied in clinical practice are classified according to the application site, the concentration of the agent used, and the activation method. The methods most frequently encountered by patients searching for a Kırklareli Dental Clinic are:
- Office Bleaching: It is the method applied by the dentist in a clinical setting that gives the fastest results. In this method, the gums are protected by isolating them with a special barrier gel. Then, whitening gels containing high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide are applied to the tooth surfaces. The activation of these gels can be spontaneous chemically, or it can be accelerated with lasers or special light sources (LED, Halogen).
Light activation accelerates the breakdown of peroxide, allowing oxygen ions to be released. The released oxygen reacts with the color pigments in the tooth enamel, breaking them down and allowing the color to lighten. The procedure usually takes 45-60 minutes and can make a visible difference in a single session. The number of sessions can be increased if needed. - Home Bleaching: It is a method applied by the patient at home under physician control. The process begins with the physician taking an intraoral impression from the patient. Transparent and thin trays that fit perfectly on the teeth are prepared according to this impression. The patient squeezes the low-concentration whitening gel recommended by the physician into these trays and wears them on their teeth for a certain period of time a day (usually 4-8 hours or overnight).
The treatment period varies between 1 to 2 weeks depending on the desired whiteness level and the initial color of the tooth. It is a method that progresses slower than the office type but reinforces permanence. - Combined Bleaching: It is the use of office and home methods together in cases where the most effective and permanent result is targeted. Following the office-type Teeth Whitening procedure applied in the clinic, a 2-3 day home-type application procedure is given to the patient to support the result and increase its permanence.
- Single Tooth Whitening (Internal Bleaching / Devital Bleaching): It is applied in cases of graying or darkening occurring over time in root canal-treated teeth. Unlike other methods, the whitening gel is placed not on the outside of the tooth but into the pulp chamber inside the tooth. The tooth, closed with a temporary filling, is checked at certain intervals, and the gel is renewed until the desired color is obtained.
Things to Consider Before and After Application
The whitening process must be performed in a healthy oral environment. A detailed dentist examination is mandatory before the procedure. If there are decayed teeth, leaking fillings, or gum diseases, these problems must be treated first. In addition, performing scaling (tartar cleaning) and polishing before the procedure to purify tooth surfaces from mechanical stains increases the effectiveness of the whitening agent. In Kırklareli Dental Clinic applications, the importance of these preparation stages is explained to patients first.
After the procedure, preserving the whiteness obtained largely depends on the patient’s habits.
- First 48 Hours: Tooth enamel is very sensitive to discoloration as its permeability increases after the procedure. Staining foods such as tea, coffee, cola, red wine, cherry juice, dishes with tomato paste, and smoking should be strictly avoided.
- Sensitivity: It is normal and expected to experience hot-cold sensitivity (tingling) in teeth after the procedure. This sensitivity usually resolves spontaneously within 24-48 hours. Desensitizing toothpastes or fluoride applications recommended by your physician can relieve this process.
Reliability and Risks of Teeth Whitening Process
There is a misconception in society that the Teeth Whitening process thins the tooth enamel or damages the teeth. Scientific studies have proven that whitening procedures performed under dentist control and with correct materials do not cause permanent damage or substance loss in the tooth enamel. There may be temporary roughening on the enamel at a microscopic level, but this situation remineralizes (repairs itself) in a short time thanks to minerals in saliva.
However, uncontrolled products (powders, acidic mixtures, etc.) sold in markets or on the internet under the name of “whiteners” and used outside physician control can cause irreversible damage by scratching or abrading the tooth enamel. Therefore, when choosing a Kırklareli Dental Clinic or applying to any health institution, it should be ensured that the procedure is performed with professional products.
Permanence and Duration of Effect of Whitening
The result of the Teeth Whitening process is not permanent for a lifetime. How long the obtained color will be preserved varies between 6 months and 2 years depending on the person’s eating habits and the importance given to oral hygiene. This period is shorter in individuals who consume heavy cigarettes and coffee. However, the color never completely returns to its initial dark tone. Whiteness can be made permanent with short-term reinforcement sessions (touch-ups) to be done every 6 months or annually.
Who Is It Not Applied To?
Due to medical ethics and safety protocols, the whitening process is not recommended in some cases:
- In pregnant and breastfeeding mothers (Precautionary purpose as there is not enough scientific data),
- In individuals who have not completed their development (Usually under 16-18 years old),
- In teeth with large pulp chambers,
- In people with excessive sensitivity in their teeth,
- In cases with advanced gum recession and exposed root surfaces,
- In patients with unrealistic expectations (Expectation of porcelain whiteness).
It should also be known that Teeth Whitening agents do not lighten the color of porcelain veneers, implant-supported prostheses, or composite fillings. Therefore, in patients with prostheses or fillings in the anterior region, color mismatch may occur after whitening, and these restorations may need to be renewed.
General Evaluation
Teeth Whitening, which is a conservative (protective) approach in eliminating aesthetic concerns, is a treatment with high patient satisfaction when applied with the correct indication and correct technique. For individuals who are not satisfied with their tooth color, consulting a dentist and receiving professional help instead of hearsay information or unnatural methods is the most correct step to protect their oral health.
For patients residing in Kırklareli and its surroundings, health institutions with Kırklareli Dental Clinic status provide services with current technological equipment and licensed whitening products. Your physician will analyze your tooth structure and determine which of the office-type, home-type, or combined methods is most suitable for you. It should not be forgotten that; a healthy smile is possible not only with white teeth but also with healthy gums and a compatible bite.
In modern dentistry, Teeth Whitening applications are procedures planned specifically for the person, respectful of biological limits, and based on scientific foundations. The first step to reveal the natural sparkle of your smile is a detailed clinical examination.
