Teeth Whitening/Bleaching

Tooth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental procedure designed to lighten the natural color of your teeth through chemical bleaching. This process doesn’t involve the removal of any tooth structure, making it a non-invasive and effective way to enhance your smile. The procedure is ideal for individuals looking to lighten and brighten their discolored teeth by altering the intrinsic or extrinsic color of the tooth enamel.

What is the Need for Teeth Whitening?

Teeth discoloration is the most common reason individuals seek teeth whitening. Over time, various factors can cause teeth to lose their natural brightness:

• Food and Drink: Beverages like coffee, tea, red wine, and certain fruits like blackcurrants and cherries are major culprits. They contain intense color pigments called chromogens, which attach to the enamel, causing discoloration.
• Smoking: Tobacco contains tar and nicotine, both of which contribute to staining. While tar is naturally dark, nicotine turns into a yellowish stain when it mixes with oxygen, leading to discoloration.
• Calculus or Tartar: The buildup of plaque and tartar on teeth can also lead to changes in color.
• Aging: Over time, the enamel wears away, exposing the dentin underneath, which is naturally yellow, causing teeth to appear more yellow.
• Injury: Trauma to a tooth can prompt the production of more dentin, leading to a yellowish appearance.
• Medications: Certain antibiotics, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and blood pressure medications can cause teeth to darken. For example, tetracycline, when used during tooth formation, can bind to calcium in the teeth, leading to a yellow discoloration.
• Medical Treatments: Radiation to the head and neck and chemotherapy can also contribute to changes in tooth color.

The Whitening Procedure

If your dentist determines that you’re a suitable candidate for teeth whitening, the procedure is straightforward and usually completed in about an hour. This in-office procedure, known as chairside bleaching, involves the following steps:

1. Preparation: The dentist first applies a protective rubber shield or gel to your gums to safeguard them from the chemicals.
2. Application: A whitening product containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is applied to your teeth using a custom-made tray that fits snugly in your mouth.
3. Activation: The active ingredient breaks down, releasing oxygen into the enamel, which lightens the color of your teeth.

For those seeking even faster results, Laser Whitening (or power whitening) is an alternative. This method involves applying a strong bleaching agent to the teeth, which is then activated by a light or laser.

While this option is more expensive, it can lighten teeth by 5-6 shades in just one session. However, due to the high concentration of bleach, special precautions are necessary to minimize tooth sensitivity and protect the surrounding oral tissues.

At-Home Whitening Options

Home Whitening Kits

Home whitening kits are widely available and include options like paint-on whiteners and whitening strips. The effectiveness of these products varies based on the formulation, concentration, and dosage of the active ingredient.

While more affordable, these kits are not always safe for oral tissues and may increase the risk of damage to teeth and gums. Given the potential for harm, it’s advisable to consult with a dentist at Smiline Dental Hospital before beginning any home whitening treatment.

At-Home Bleaching by the Dentist

In some cases, your dentist may recommend at-home bleaching with minimal amounts of low-dose hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

This method involves using custom-made trays, which reduce the risk of swallowing the bleaching agent and minimize the potential for damage to teeth and gums. The total treatment typically takes 2-3 weeks, with the patient wearing the trays for 30 minutes to an hour each day.

Newer products in the market allow for extended wear times of up to eight hours, reducing the overall treatment time to just one week.

Risks and Side Effects

Certain home whitening kits may not contain an adequate amount of the whitening agent to be effective.

Moreover, improperly fitting trays can cause the bleaching gel to leak onto the gums, leading to irritation and sensitivity. Teeth whitening services offered in beauty salons by untrained staff are particularly risky, as they can jeopardize your oral health.

To ensure maximum benefits and minimal risks, it is crucial to seek professional guidance from a qualified dentist, such as those at Smiline Dental Hospital.

Side Effects

Some individuals may experience temporary sensitivity in their teeth following the whitening procedure due to the penetration of the peroxide into the enamel and dentin. Others might encounter soft tissue irritation, sore throat, or white patches on the gums. Typically, these symptoms are temporary and subside within a few days.

The Cost of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments in Hyderabad, offering both cosmetic and health benefits.

At Smiline Dental Hospital, the cost of teeth whitening varies depending on the chosen procedure, with prices ranging from INR 10,000 to INR 18,000. Laser whitening, which provides faster results, is generally more expensive than traditional methods.

The cost also depends on the extent of tooth discoloration and the type of whitening method selected.