Having beautiful, dazzlingly white teeth is the biggest requirement when it comes to people’s dental health. We smile and talk every day, so the way our teeth look is often noticeable. Their yellow colour often entails embarrassment or aversion to interpersonal contacts. Discolouration is a common phenomenon that may also occur in people who visit the dentist regularly and clean their correctly. This is both an aesthetic and clinical problem. Our physicians always try to get to the cause of discolourations, since based on this, it is possible to choose the most appropriate method of their removal. These days, teeth whitening is a very popular procedure. Most importantly, it is completely safe. Patients need to keep in mind that this treatment does not have a lifelong effect, and it is necessary to perform follow-up procedures to renew the original result. Teeth can be whitened to a certain level, after which subsequent treatments will not improve the result. Patients undergoing teeth whitening must take care of the overall oral hygiene after leaving the office, as it will allow maintaining the effect for a longer time.
Causes of tooth discolouration
Every person has naturally different colour of teeth. It results from the colour of the dentin, as well as the translucency of the enamel. People usually have teeth that are white with shades of yellow, brown or grey. The whitest teeth are characteristic of younger people. As the years pass, the dentin assumes less aesthetically pleasing colouration as a result of various activities. It is associated with wear and tear, consumption of various sugary meals and coffee, which cause plaque to appear on the enamel. There are many reasons behind the occurrence of plaque, which is why it is very important to determine the cause of tooth discolouration so that the patient can receive the most individualised help. The most common causes, associated with daily lifestyle, include food, drinks and the lack of proper hygiene. In such cases, the occurring plaque and discolouration are usually superficial and much easier to remove. However, there are examples that are difficult to remove because they result from genetics, past illnesses, medications or
shortages. Fortunately, modern dentistry has advanced to the point where it can deal with such difficulties as well. Physicians working in our clinic do everything within their power to make the patient feel satisfied both in terms of health and aesthetics.
The difficulty of removing discolouration also depends on the time when they appeared and their location. The patient’s age is of great importance, as the elderly need more time and several dentist procedures to achieve a result that is comparable to that of younger patients. This is related to the advancement of the yellowing process. Each person also has an original colour that responds differently to whitening, depending on the shade. It is more problematic to remove discolouration also from places located near the cervix of the tooth or in interdental spaces that are difficult to access
Tooth whitening using the Beyond method
Teeth whitening using the Beyond method is currently regarded as one of the most popular solutions associated with procedures aimed at improving smile aesthetics. The Beyond lamp is different from the traditional LED lamp because it uses longer wavelengths of light, thus it is able to reach not only the first layer of teeth. The gel used for whitening can also reach the dentine, which makes this method preferable for people who struggle with severe discolouration that has appeared as a result of the medication use or due to genetic predispositions.
Dentists analyse the condition of stains as well as their location before proceeding with tooth whitening. The degree of their embedment is also of great importance and has a direct impact on the choice of method. Sometimes specialists have to perform tooth whitening by using specialised tools such as a mouth gag that makes it easier to reach hard-to-reach places. The next part of the procedure is to apply a dedicated gel and then direct the light from the lamp onto it for several minutes. The entire procedure takes up to 1.5 hours. After the procedure, patients should follow recommendations that focus primarily within diet. Avoiding sugary drinks, coffee or tea will definitely maintain the effect for longer. It is necessary to perform proper cleaning of the teeth, as well as the spaces between them.
Tooth whitening using the PrevDent method
Tooth whitening using the PrevDent method is a modern solution, thanks to which many people can enjoy beautiful teeth. The biggest advantage of this option is the fact that in addition to its standard purpose of changing the colour of teeth, it also enjoys regenerative properties. During this procedure, a LED lamp is used as well as a whitening agent that reduces hypersensitivity, making the entire procedure and the period immediately afterwards painless. The procedure focuses on remineralising the enamel and this is made possible by using a special ingredient – nano-hydroxyapatite. Its effectiveness is due to its ability to penetrate the structure of the enamel, which results in the removal of stains deposited somewhat deeper. The procedure is performed in 3 parts. The first part involves stain removal, then a preparation is applied on the teeth. Finally, a concentrated serum is used for repairing the enamel. The patient does not feel any hypersensitivity or pain, and the whole procedure does not take longer than 3 hours.
The Prevedent method makes it possible to whiten teeth, however, patients who want to maintain the effect for as long as possible must keep the rules of full oral hygiene. As with all other aesthetic solutions, it is necessary to adhere to certain restrictions, especially in terms of diet. Patients should avoid products that could stain the enamel. A complete oral hygiene regimen involving brushing, flossing and rinsing is recommended. This causes the result to be visible for up to 3 years.
Whitening of dead teeth
Whitening of dead teeth is not as easy as whitening of healthy teeth; this is primarily due to the lack of vital pulp. This makes standard methods prove ineffective, even those used in dentist’s offices. Leaving such teeth in their natural state will not look very aesthetically pleasing especially if a particular element of dentition is located in the front part of the jaw. The Clinic uses specialised techniques to ensure that the final result matches the colour of the remaining teeth. Before performing the whitening process, the dentist must assess the status of the teeth and check whether this process was performed thoroughly in case of root canal treatment. If there are no contraindications, it is possible to use one of the most popular options – Internal Bleaching.
The Internal Bleaching involves opening and preparation of the tooth chamber. The dentist takes special care not to prevent the bleaching agent from entering the canal. To do so, the dentist secures it and then applies the product to the inside of the tooth chamber. Several visits are required for this method.
