Tooth whitening at the dental office
Tooth whitening at the dental office lasts between 60-90 minutes, where 1 to 2 meetings are required based on the type of discoloration. The dentist applies a special protective gel on the gum before moving forward to the whitening gel. The whitening agents are usually activated with special frequency light sources (led, plasma, laser).
Tooth whitening at home
The dentist takes impressions to produce 2 soft, custom-made clear splints that will receive the whitening agent. The patient then fills the splints with the whitening gel that is supplied by the dentist and wears the splints for 2-4 hours daily. In most cases the desired results are achieved within 1-2 weeks. Often, the combination of home and office bleaching produces the best results.
Whitening of an endodontically treated tooth
The improvement of the appearance of an endodontically treated tooth requires the application of a slightly different technique through which the tooth is whitened from within. The dentist applies the whitening gel on the tooth and then blocks it up with a temporary filling, allowing the material to work for a few days. This procedure might be effective with the use of only one application, or it might be necessary to be repeated until the tooth acquires the desired color. As soon as the desired effect is reached, the dentist concludes with the application of the permanent filling.
It is vital that during the whitening process and for the next 24 hours, regardless of the whitening method, that patients avoid smoking, the consumption of beverages that could create tooth staining such as: tea, coffee, red wine, coke, beets, cherries and others.
Porcelain veneers
This procedure uses veneers, which are thin pieces of porcelain (thickness≈ 0.5mm.) that are cemented on the front surface of your teeth. Their placement is completed in two consultations and the aesthetic results are impressive. During the first appointment, the front surface of the teeth is first shaved down to make room for the veneers and later imprinted in order to create a personalized mold. During the second session, the veneers are cemented. The veneers may be used to improve not only the color but also the shape and size of teeth. In addition, since porcelain doesn’t stain like resins, veneers offer an excellent long-lasting result.
Resin veneers
Direct (bonding)
Dental bonding uses a(tooth-colored) composite resin material and the restoration may be completed in just one consultation. It is a modern, quick, and economic solution that usually does not require the removal of dental enamel.
Indirect
A similar procedure to porcelain veneers with the only difference being the use of resin. Advantages of this method are that it provides an increased resistance to the absorption of color and that it offers a more economical solution than porcelain veneers.
The technique is recommended in cases of:
- Slightly crowded teeth
• Tooth discoloration
• Cracked teeth
•Gapped teeth
• Restoration of uneven teeth
