Teeth whitening: features of the procedure, types and prices

Teeth Whitening FeaturesThere are very few people who would not want to have a beautiful smile, but nature, unfortunately, presents only a lucky few with snow-white teeth. Most people have to whiten their teeth. And not so long ago most of the procedures for teeth whitening were completely unsafe for health. Only thanks to the development of technology and dentistry as an independent branch of medicine, today you can whiten your teeth not only very quickly, but also without significant risk to health.

Why do teeth turn dark?

Take a look at the teeth of children. In most cases, they are naturally snow-white, but darken with time. Why? Reasons why the color of the tooth enamel changes, lots of:

  • Consumption of products containing pigments that can stain enamel.
  • Smoking.
  • Excess alcohol consumption.
  • Various diseases: caries, fluorosis, persistent plaque.
  • Violation of personal hygiene.
  • Age changes.

Bleaching methods

Today whiten your teeth can be in different wayswhich can be divided into the following groups:

  1. Teeth whitening methodsProfessional ways. This group includes types of whitening of enamel, which are held in dental clinics under the supervision of a dentist. In some cases, professional bleaching can be carried out at home, but only after a full consultation with a specialist. Professional methods include: mechanical bleaching, chemical bleaching, photo whitening.
  2. Non-professional ways. This is an independent whitening with the help of special pastes that can be purchased in pharmacies, as well as using traditional medicine recipes. It should be understood that non-professional whitening is unsafe. Very often the use of folk remedies and whitening pastes leads to increased sensitivity of the teeth, as people do not know about contraindications or do not take them into account.

Whitening

Today, most people are well aware that high-quality teeth whitening they can get only from professionalsand therefore go to dental clinics. They have at their disposal the latest equipment and technologies of modern dentistry, as well as the safest methods of professional bleaching.

It should immediately be said that the term “photo whitening” does not quite accurately reflect the essence of the procedure. The fact is that the light in no way can affect the enamel. In this procedure, it is needed as an activator of a chemical reaction. The main work on teeth whitening is performed by special lighting reagents.

The main component of the gel used for photobleaching is hydrogen peroxide. It is under the influence of ultraviolet that it turns into an active form of oxygen that can penetrate into the enamel and change its color.

Photobleaching takes place in several stages. and, as a rule, the duration does not exceed 1 hour.

  1. How are teeth whitening procedures?The first stage of the procedure is to clean the surface of the teeth. This is a professional cleaning of the oral cavity from plaque and sediment. Next, the specialist determines the original color of the tooth enamel. For this, a special standardized scale is used. At this stage, the dentist and the patient discuss the possible result.
  2. In the second stage, the lips and cheeks are isolated using a retractor. The teeth are thoroughly dried, and the gums are covered with a protective compound.After that, a photoactive gel is applied to the surface of the teeth, which is then irradiated for 20 minutes. At the end of the session, an intermediate result is evaluated. If the desired shade of enamel is not achieved, then the procedure is repeated taking into account one restriction - no more than 6 treatments per visit.
  3. In the case when six-time processing is not enough, it will be possible to repeat the full cycle of photo-whitening in a week.

The effectiveness of photobleaching is quite high. For one visit to the dentist can lighten your teeth by 8 shades and the effect will persist for a long time, but only if the teeth of a person were naturally of yellowish enamel. In that case, if the enamel is naturally grayish, then the maximum result is a pair of tones.

Photobleaching gives the best result if the patient has received yellow teeth due to excessive consumption of coffee and smoking.

This procedure will have a minimal effect in the case when the patient's teeth have changed colors due to medication and an excess of fluoride in the water consumed.

Also, do not forget that about 5% of the population of our planet tooth enamel has a special composition. Even modern dentistry cannot cope with changing the color of such teeth.

Although the photobleaching technology is different high security, still do not forget about the possible side effects:

  • Increased sensitivity of the teeth after the procedure for several days.
  • Possible manifestation of allergy to the components of the whitening gel.
  • Irritation of mucous membranes.

How much does photo whitening cost? Prices for such procedures vary depending on the gel used, equipment, city and status of the dental clinic. In Moscow, the price for cold bleaching Beyond is on average at the level of 11,900 rubles.

Laser whitening

Teeth whitening technologyThis type of change in the color of tooth enamel, in contrast to classic photobleaching, can help not only those with naturally yellowish teeth, but also patients with enamel, which are grayish by nature. Modern dentistry technologies allow to do this. quickly, efficiently and safely.

Experts believe that this is the most gentle form of exposure to enamel. In addition, during the procedure, the patient does not experience any discomfort.

Laser whitening procedure is as follows:

  1. The surface of the teeth is cleaned of plaque and stone, after which Smartbleach gel is applied to them. It is based on the same hydrogen peroxide.
  2. The gel is activated when exposed to a laser. In addition, each tooth is processed by its own beam. The duration of exposure is minimal - 2 minutes.
  3. During the treatment of the teeth with a laser, the gel is split into its component parts with the release of active oxygen, which penetrates into the enamel and neutralizes coloring pigments.

The whole procedure takes on average no more than half an hour. In this case, in one pass, you can lighten the enamel immediately to 7 tones.

Laser whitening technologies in dentistry are constantly being improved. Only a few years ago, equipment generating a laser with a wavelength of 488 and 514 nm was used, because of which the procedure took longer and required more sessions to achieve the desired result. Today, thanks to infrared and diode lasers with a wavelength of 810 nm, the length of the procedure has been reduced to a minimum. Moreover, new lasers allow for a more uniform enamel brightening.

The main disadvantage of laser whitening is the high cost of the procedure. How much does laser whitening cost? In Moscow, obtaining the desired shade of tooth enamel using a laser will cost an average of 25,400 rubles. Expensive, but the price pays off in full terms for preserving the achieved effect - 4 years.

Zoom

Different methods of teeth whiteningThis is another type of tooth whitening that can be considered completely safe.The basis of this technology is all the same gel with hydrogen peroxide. Its activation on the surface of the teeth is carried out using a special lamp emitting in the ultraviolet spectrum.

This type of bleaching has gained its popularity due to its very high efficiency and long-term preservation of the achieved effect. In addition, products and equipment from one manufacturer are used for this procedure, which negates the risk of complications. Finally, despite the fact that the Zoom technology is professional, it is quite possible to use it at home. However, the effectiveness of such whitening will be somewhat lower than if it were carried out in a clinic. However, it is very convenient for many people.

In Moscow, for the Zoom whitening procedure using the Philips Zoom 3 system, they are asked to pay 25,000 rubles. The high cost of whitening is due to the need to make molds of the jaw and make a special mouth guard.

As you can see, at a cost Zoom is comparable to laser bleaching. Therefore, the choice of one or another type of lightening of tooth enamel falls entirely on the shoulders of patients.

Chemical bleaching

Such whitening of tooth enamel can be carried out both in the clinic and at home. Moreover, in the latter case, it will still be considered professional if it is carried out under the supervision of a dentist.

In dentistry, despite the fact that with the wrong approach to the procedure, teeth can be harmed, chemical methods of teeth whitening are positive, because they give a guaranteed positive result.

The most popular chemical tooth whitening system is Opalescence system .

Opalescence

This is a gentle chemical bleaching technology developed by the American company Ultradent. Despite the sparing effect, such whitening allows you to cope with bleaching of teeth affected by fluorosis, darkened due to the use of tetracycline, which changed color from age. Also, Opalescence technology is often used. before installing dentures or veneers.

The advantages of such teeth whitening include the stability of the achieved effect, relative safety, low cost. With comparable results, Opalescence is an order of magnitude lower than Zoom whitening. In Moscow, the price of this procedure at the level of 7,000 rubles.

Mechanical bleaching

This method of teeth whitening is considered the oldest. At its core, this is simply professional dental hygiene. In dentistry, there are specialists who do not consider mechanical bleaching to be a whitening, even though the effect of the procedure is quite pronounced.

Mechanical removal of dark plaque from the teeth just opens enamel underneath. That is, no destruction of the pigment that darkens the enamel, does not occur.

The most effective and popular method of physical teeth whitening is Air-Flow.

Air-Flow teeth whitening method

Teeth whitening with the latest technologyThis method of mechanical cleaning of enamel has been used in dentistry for a very long time. It replaced the traditional mechanical cleaning with the help of dental instruments, which were not sufficiently effective and traumatic.

The very name of the technology reveals the whole essence of bleaching. Air-Flow is essentially a sandblaster, in which medical mixture is mixed with air instead of sand. from purified water and special abrasive. This therapeutic solution is applied to the teeth under high pressure, which provides quick and effective whitening.

The important point of Air-Flow is the absence of painful sensations both during the cleaning and after it. After the procedure, a special protective varnish is applied on the surface of the teeth to protect the enamel and fix the effect achieved.

It should be understood that such a procedure can lighten your teeth, but will not make them snow white. Enamel after Air-Flow will simply get the shade given by nature: yellowish or grayish.That is, to lighten the enamel will have to resort to chemical or photobleaching.

So why so many people choose Air-Flow? The answer is simple - the price. How much does one tooth cost using Air-Flow technology? In Moscow, for cleaning one tooth with this technology on average they ask 150 rubles. What is most interesting, people who use Air-Flow, in the future, as a rule, do not resort to more expensive methods of teeth whitening, since the result obtained completely satisfies them.

Implantation

Veneers

Crowns