What is the best treatment for whitening teeth?

Introduction

Having a sparkling white smile is something that many people desire. Healthy, bright teeth improve appearance and even boost self-esteem.

Fortunately, there are several different treatments available for whitening teeth. Although they are all capable of achieving similar results, their efficiency varies from one to another, depending on a number of factors.

For this reason, it is essential to be aware of the different alternatives available and to determine which is best for you.

In this article, we will talk about the best teeth whitening treatment and some alternatives.

In-office teeth whitening

In-office whitening, also known as chairside bleaching, is generally the best treatment option for lightening the colour of teeth. This procedure is professionally performed by a dentist in his or her dental office.

This aesthetic procedure offers visible results in a short time. However, the time it takes depends on the case. In some cases, a single 30-60 minute session is sufficient. However, some patients may require two or more sessions to achieve the desired result.

The tooth whitening is performed with a special gel containing an active ingredient. This ingredient can be hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Peroxide is an ingredient present in a large number of whitening dental products, such as toothpastes, mouthwashes and whitening strips. However, the concentration of peroxide is much higher in products used by the dentist. Therefore, they offer faster results and can only be used by a professional.

Benefits of in-office bleaching

One of the benefits of in-office teeth whitening is the speed with which changes are achieved and the eligibility criteria.

Unfortunately, not all patients are good candidates for whitening. Regardless of the method used, no whitening is capable of modifying the colour of existing dental restorations. In turn, tooth whitening tends to cause transient hypersensitivity. If the patient already manifests this condition, bleaching may exacerbate the hypersensitivity.

However, the dentist can determine whether or not the patient is a suitable candidate for the procedure before performing it.

Another great benefit of this type of whitening is the short time it takes to see results. Although other whitening methods are capable of producing the same or considerably similar results, the other alternatives can take weeks to achieve the desired goal. However, in-office whitening can achieve this in just a few days.

How is in-office bleaching performed?

The dentist starts by using a special shade guide. Together with the patient, he or she determines the desired shade.

Subsequently, a protective barrier is placed on the neck of the teeth. This barrier is called a gingival barrier, which prevents the whitening gel from contacting the gums and damaging them. The barrier consists of a special gel that the dentist hardens using a light curing light.

Finally, the dentist places the whitening gel on the teeth. teeth and let it work for the time stipulated by the manufacturer, according to their instructions. Even so, it is usually 30-60 min.

After the time has elapsed, the dentist removes the gel from the teeth and removes the gingival barrier.

What is the best treatment alternative for in-office bleaching?

Over-the-counter whitening products such as whitening strips are the best option after in-office whitening.

This alternative is cheaper and also uses peroxide as the active agent. However, although they also use peroxide as the active agent, its concentration is lower and the treatment may take months to produce the expected result.