What whitening is
Whitening is a chemical lightening of teeth through hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. It does not remove deposits like a cleaning but changes the color of the tooth substance itself. Therefore every serious whitening is preceded by a dental hygiene session, because the bleaching agent acts reliably only on cleaned enamel.
Detailed background information on whitening, active ingredients and indications is in our whitening guide. This page describes treatment in Zurich Bellevue.
Three procedures
In-practice whitening. In a session of one to two hours the active ingredient is applied at high concentration to the tooth surfaces. The gum is protected by a protective gel wall. Fastest result, useful with tight time window or upcoming occasion.
Home whitening. We take impressions and manufacture custom-fitted trays that fit your teeth exactly. You wear the trays at home during the night or one hour during the day, filled with active ingredient gel. Treatment duration ten to fourteen days.
Internal whitening. With a single darkly discolored tooth after a previous root canal, surface whitening does not work sufficiently. The active ingredient is introduced into the pulp chamber of the root-treated tooth and renewed over several sessions.
Before whitening
Before whitening comes the examination. We check clinically whether the teeth and gum are whitening-ready. With active caries, exposed tooth necks or acute gum inflammation, treatment is postponed.
If you have crowns, veneers or large composite fillings in the front area, we discuss that whitening only brightens natural teeth, not the restorations. With stronger aesthetic expectations, a combination of whitening and if necessary new restorations can be useful. More on crown material choice in the article Full ceramic versus zirconia.
Multilingual treatment
The Bellevue practice serves an international patient base. Our team speaks seven languages. If your first language is not German, state that when booking.
Insurance and cost estimate
Health insurance does not cover whitening. Some supplementary insurance with aesthetic clause can cover part, but that is rare. You receive a written cost estimate from us before treatment begins. More on insurance logic in the article on health insurance at the dentist.
Getting to the Zurich Bellevue practice
Resident Zurich Bellevue, Stadelhoferstrasse 42, 8001 Zurich. Three minutes’ walk from Stadelhofen station, two from Bellevueplatz. Tram 2, 4, 11, 15 stop Stadelhofen or Bellevue. Parkhaus Opéra five minutes’ walk to the practice.