What are the causes of tooth discoloration?
*Physiological coloration

* Coloring caused by amalgam filling

* Tea, coffee, cigarettes, wine, etc. continued use of substances

*Drug-related discoloration during pregnancy and infancy

*Discoloration of the tooth that lost its vitality as a result of trauma

*Discoloration after root canal treatment

What is Teeth Whitening?
It is the chemical bleaching of the discoloration, which has penetrated the structure of the teeth for various reasons, with a special gel. With the whitening performed under the control of dentists, it is possible to bring the tooth color back to its old tone or even a few tones whiter.

Who can do it and who can’t?
It can be applied to patients who are not allergic to whitening agents and are over the age of 18. It is not recommended in cases where there is excessive dentin sensitivity and loss of substance in the teeth.

How is Teeth Whitening Process Applied?
Before bleaching, the dentist performs an intraoral examination of the patient and determines the coloration status. If the physician deems it necessary after the examination, it can be applied in procedures such as dental scaling.

Office Type Teeth Whitening (Bleaching in the clinical setting): It is the bleaching method applied by the dentist in the clinical setting. It is also ideal for patients with time constraints, as it provides the desired result quickly and effectively. This process usually takes an average of 1 hour with a few sessions of 15 minutes each. Before the application, the gums are isolated so that they are not affected by the chemicals to be used. The whitening gel applied on the teeth by the dentist is activated by laser or UV light. After waiting for a certain time, the gel is cleaned from the teeth and the existing whiteness is checked, and if necessary, the sessions are continued.

Home Type Teeth Whitening: The dentist takes an intraoral measurement from the patient. Personalized plaques are produced from this measure. Afterwards, gels containing carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide are given to the patient together with the plaques after the physician explains the method of use. By placing a whitening gel inside the plate, it is used for an average of 10-15 days to be used for at least 4-6 hours a day, or for 8-10 days in night sleep. The most important point in this bleaching method is to adjust the amount of gel used in the plate well. In case of excessive use, it may cause irritation as a result of overflow to the gums. In case of irritation, the gums should be washed with plenty of water and a cream with vitamin E should be applied. In such a case, please contact your dentist.

Combined Teeth Whitening (Office+Home Type Whitening): It is the method in which both office and home whitening are applied together. The whiteness obtained after office bleaching is supported by home bleaching applied for 2-3 days.

Single Tooth Bleaching (Devital whitening for root canal treated teeth): Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment or trauma may change color over time with the death of living tissues in them. In such cases, a single teeth whitening procedure can be applied. The filling of the tooth to be whitened is removed, the whitening gel is applied to the removed filling cavity, and the temporary filling is placed. Sessions continue at 3-day intervals until the desired color is achieved. The most important point in this type of whitening is that the whitening chemical does not stay in the tooth for a long time, otherwise it may cause damage to the tooth.

What should be considered after whitening?
After bleaching, patients may experience sensitivity for a few days. Depending on the severity of the sensitivity, painkillers can be used on the first day. After bleaching, dyes such as cigarettes, coffee, tea, chocolate, red wine, sour cherry and cola should not be used for 3-4 days. If it is used, the coloration of the teeth begins.

How long is the effect of teeth whitening?
The color obtained by bleaching disappears in an average of 6 months -2 years. However, even if the obtained color is lost, the teeth do not return to their pre-whitening color. This period is determined by oral hygiene and the dyestuffs used. At the 6th month after whitening, a dentist should be consulted for a control appointment. If necessary, intermediate whitening sessions can also be applied.

Is teeth whitening harmful?
It is not harmful as long as it is done under appropriate techniques and conditions after the dentist diagnoses that there is no gingival or dental disease before bleaching.

Is there any harm in alternative teeth whitening procedures?
Home-prepared lemon, baking soda, turmeric, strawberry, etc. Trying to whiten teeth with substances is harmful. The use of these substances does not have any effect on the whiteness of the teeth, and on the contrary, they cause irreparable damage to the tooth tissues. It should not be tried in terms of dental health.