What whitening actually does
Whitening is a chemical lightening of tooth enamel through hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The active ingredient penetrates the enamel and splits color-causing molecules. The result is a brightening of two to four levels on the Vita scale, depending on initial color, enamel thickness and treatment duration.
Whitening is not cleaning. Plaque, tartar and deposits cannot be bleached away but must be removed with dental hygiene. We therefore combine every whitening with a preparatory hygiene session. Anyone who whitens without cleaning lightens the deposits along with the teeth, not the tooth underneath.
In-practice whitening or home whitening
In-practice whitening takes place in a single session. We apply the active ingredient at high concentration, protect the gums with a gel wall and activate with light depending on the procedure. The session takes one to two hours, the result is immediately visible.
Home whitening works with lower concentration over a longer time. We take impressions, manufacture custom trays into which you fill an active ingredient gel at home before sleeping. Wear time at night or one hour during the day, treatment duration ten to fourteen days. The brightening progresses gradually, the result is equivalent to in-practice whitening.
Both procedures are equally safe. In-practice whitening delivers the result faster, home whitening is cheaper and gives you control over the final result. Which procedure is right in your case we clarify during the examination.
What whitening cannot do
Strongly discolored individual teeth after root canal treatment can only be partially brightened with standard whitening. In these cases we work with internal whitening: The active ingredient is introduced into the pulp chamber of the root-treated tooth and renewed over several sessions. The procedure is limited to individual teeth and delivers very good results with darkly discolored individual teeth.
With tetracycline-induced discolorations from childhood, pronounced fluorosis or dentinogenic discolorations, whitening is often not sufficient. In these cases we discuss veneers as an alternative aesthetic solution.
Sensitivity and side effects
During and immediately after whitening, the tooth may temporarily react sensitively to cold-warm stimuli. This sensitivity subsides completely within 48 hours and can be reduced preventively with fluoride-containing gels. In the first 48 hours after whitening, you should avoid strongly coloring foods (coffee, tea, red wine, berries) because the enamel is particularly absorbent in this phase.
