Whitening
Many of us want more than a full set of healthy teeth. We want to look more attractive, which is why we are increasingly demanding with respect to ourselves and other people. A beautiful white smile lets us feel more attractive and younger.
Recent studies have found that teeth are the second part of our face (the first one being eyes), which our interlocutor looks at.
We are not trail blazers in this field – it was pioneered by the ancient Romans.
The Romans whitened their teeth with human urine, which women would rub into their teeth with handkerchiefs. Allegedly, it was Portuguese urine, which proved the most effective (why and how they got hold of it we have no idea) :)
We can only imagine that it was effective as urea, which has whitening properties, is now used in night whitening dental bleaches based on carbamide peroxide. Nowadays, it is obtained in chemical laboratories.
It is possible to whiten whole dental arches, or single dark teeth (e.g. dead teeth after root canal treatment). There are many methods of teeth whitening; the safest one, however, is a whitening procedure carried out by a dentist.
Beyond teeth whitening
This method uses a chemical agent based on hydrogen peroxide and silicon dioxide, which is activated with light by means of a special lamp (the BEYOND whitening accelerator).
Before the procedure
- the teeth and gums should be healthy
- tartar should be removed
Whitening procedure
The teeth are covered with a special substance, which is exposed to the light emitted by the BEYOND lamp. This light activates and accelerates the whitening process. The whole procedure takes about 45 minutes.
Safety
Long-term studies and clinical tests have proven that teeth whitening is completely safe for both teeth, gums, as well as fillings, crowns and bridges. The process does not result in any weakening of the enamel structure, nor does it increase its susceptibility to dental caries.
Effect
The procedure has a long-lasting effect. It should be noted that our teeth naturally grow darker with age. Moreover, this process is accelerated by cigarettes, coffee, tea, wine, dark fruit juices, etc. After a few years, the whitening procedure can be repeated, if necessary.
After the procedure
Following the whitening procedure, patients should go on a 48-hour “white diet” (in order to maintain the best whitening effect, they should consume dairy products) and are recommended to use fluoride-free toothpaste. For the next ten days, they should avoid strong tea, black coffee, black currant juice, or red wine.
Restrictions
- allergies to hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide – very rare
- other contraindications are temporary and result from the lack of appropriate studies
- pregnancy and lactation
- children below 16 years of age
Night whitening
Another method we recommend in our clinic is dentist supervised night whitening.
In a prosthetic laboratory, for every patient we perform whitening splints. Apart from them, the patients receive whitening gel, which they apply to their teeth themselves on a daily basis. Gel continuously interacts with the teeth (all night long). The procedure is repeated, depending on the patients’ needs, from a few days up to three weeks. The whitening effect is equally long-lasting and, given proper hygiene, can take a few years.
