Home bleaching system

Tray teeth whitening method is an effective way to a beautiful, bright smile. The patient applies whitening gel to trays (splints), made individually by the dentist, locates the trays onto teeth and leaves them on overnight (8 hours). The whole treatment takes 8-10 nights. The effects are quickly visible, often even after the first night. The time required to achieve the whitening effect depends on how dark or stained the teeth were before treatment. Now they will be brighter forever – the whitening process in irreversible!

The active agent is carbamide peroxide with neutral pH of 6.9. It is a safe chemical agent, used for decades for oral cavity disinfection, and now it allows millions of people around the world to whiten their teeth.

The dentist may also choose the chair-side whitening method. In that case trays are not used, only a special, stronger whitening preparation (Opalescence Boost) is applied to the teeth. The whitening effect may then be achieved even after 2-3 visits. This method is much faster, and as safe and effective as tray whitening. Sometimes very dark teeth may require a longer period of whitening.

Ultimately, the colour of teeth stabilises after about 2 weeks. During tooth whitening a temporary hypersensitivity to cold may occur – in such cases a desensitising preparation is applied to the same trays.

In people maintaining normal oral hygiene, tooth whitening is as durable as any other dental treatment. Bright colour is maintainted longer, if the patient applies oral hygiene methods recommended by the dentist. After several years after treatment the teeth may become slightly darker due to staining agents (tobacco, coffee, tea). In such a case the dentist will recommend a supplementary treatment of 1-2 nights.

Before starting the whitening treatment, the dentist examines the condition of teeth and gums to ensure maximum safety. Old fillings and tartar often have to be removed, and losses filled. As a rule, in such cases the dentist applies temporary fillings, as fillings do not become whiter. The teeth are ultimately filled after the whitening treatment and after the brighter tooth colour is stabilised.

Depending on the patient's lifestyle and level of tooth discolouration, the dentist selects the preparation and course of treatment. Recently more preparations for tooth whitening without the help of a dentist appear on the market. Without the dentist's supervision, uneven whitening may occur. The patients often do not realise that they have fillings in tooth colour and that these will not become whiter, and after such individual whitening they will have to be replaced with new fillings. In case of uncontrolled excessive whitening, teeth may become transparent and thus seem to be darker, amalgam filling may start to appear through tooth tissue. If the patient has old, non-hermetic fillings, pain may occur.

Only a dental surgeon may prepare the patient in a proper way, select the appropriate method, prevent excessive whitening or hypersensitivity. Please feel invited!