Lightening of dental tissues is one of the most common and popular procedures in dentistry. A snow-white smile is considered a sign of health, success and wealth. There are many means to lighten dental tissues, but the best is to have the procedure done by a dentist. Only a doctor can eliminate all contraindications, select medications, and carry out the procedure effectively and safely.
Indications and contraindications for teeth whitening
Professional teeth whitening is the lightening of tooth enamel by one or two or more shades. It can be carried out either in a specialized dental clinic or at home.
Indications for lightening are as follows:
- stable dark color of the tooth surface;
- formation of colored stains from coffee, wine, tea and other food products that are not removed during the cleaning process.
Main contraindications:
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- increased sensitivity to thermal, chemical, mechanical irritants;
- severe abrasion due to various reasons;
- presence of wedge-shaped defects;
- the appearance of numerous enamel cracks;
- diagnosis of caries with unfilled carious cavities;
- a large number of fillings that are not affected by whitening agents.
If there are single fillings after completion of whitening, they must be replaced by selecting the appropriate shade.
Another question that patients ask is whether professional teeth whitening is harmful. If it is carried out by an experienced specialist, strictly adhering to all prescribed recommendations, then the procedure will not cause any visible harm to health. You should not overuse lightening, repeat it too often, using aggressive pastes in between, otherwise there is a danger of thinning the enamel. And this, in turn, leads to the destruction of dental crowns. Read more about the dangers of whitening for tooth enamel »
Indications for teeth whitening ZOOM 4
Any dental procedure has indications for implementation, teeth whitening ZOOM 4 is no exception in this regard. Zoom 4 will be the most effective and useful procedure for you under the following circumstances:
- The enamel of your teeth has darkened due to drinking tea, coffee, smoking, and frequent consumption of coloring foods;
- With age-related darkening of tooth enamel;
- ZOOM 4 whitening can be used by people suffering from fluorosis, a disease that causes spots and streaks to appear on the enamel of teeth;
- When the enamel darkens due to long-term treatment with drugs of the tetracycline group.
NOTE: In the article we will provide photos before and after ZOOM 4 whitening, but you should understand that your result may differ from the examples given, since the degree of teeth whitening for each person is individual and it also depends on the initial state of the enamel, its natural shade, depth of dentin colored with pigments.
Kinds
There are clinical (office, office) and home whitening. The first is carried out in a dental clinic by a dentist, takes about two hours, after which the teeth become snow-white. The second is done at home by the patient himself, but as prescribed by a doctor. Whitening at home takes a little longer - from 3 to 14 days. The achieved effect in both cases is not much different.
Depending on the condition of the teeth, it is possible to lighten the enamel by 10-12 shades.
Types and principle of operation
Currently, there are a large number of manufacturers of teeth whitening strips.
Manufacturers strive to create different types of such records based on customer requirements. The strips are elements of chemical action on tooth enamel. Before using such plates, you should consult your doctor.
The following types of whitening strips are found on pharmacy shelves:
- Gentle action. Well suited for those with sensitive teeth. The active substances in this product are provided in safe concentrations.
- Standard impact. Can be used by those who do not have signs and symptoms of oral disease. Strips are an excellent part of a dental care package.
- With powerful influence. The strips are used in cases of severe pigmentation and the formation of significant mineralized deposits.
- With a fixing effect. Used after bleaching has achieved the desired result. Prevents discoloration for a long time.
Methods
As the name suggests, professional whitening is carried out in a clinic, under the constant supervision of a dentist or hygienist. There are several methods, which we will discuss in more detail.
Laser whitening
A fast, effective, safe and painless way to whiten enamel. Removes color stains from the surface, brightens the color by 5-7 tones. The patient's teeth are coated with a gel containing molecular oxygen and illuminated with a special diode laser. Under its influence, pigments are removed from the enamel.
Advantages of laser whitening:
- teeth remain white for a long time, up to several years;
- one procedure is enough to achieve a positive effect;
- Laser treatment strengthens tooth enamel; it becomes not only lighter, but also less sensitive to various irritants.
Gel whitening
Allows you to lighten the surface by 4-12 tones within one hour. An active gel-like substance is applied to the tooth enamel, which acts both independently and under the influence of light irradiation. The procedure usually lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. Read more about gel whitening »
Whitening with Zoom 3 lamp
A modern whitening method for business people with a constant lack of free time, lasts approximately one hour, allows you to whiten your teeth by 7-8 shades. Light-activated hydrogen peroxide gel is applied to the surface, after which they are treated with a special Zoom lamp! The procedure is completed with fluoride treatment to consolidate the result. Read more about whitening using Zoom 3 technology »
Before starting whitening, it is very important to isolate the patient’s lips and gums from exposure to aggressive drugs.
Airflow
Popular professional cleaning procedure Air Flow. It does not whiten teeth, but simply returns them to their original natural color, eliminating darkening of the enamel and food stains. Under high pressure, the enamel surface is treated with a mixture of water and abrasive powder. In this way, any dental deposits are removed; they are literally erased from the surface of the enamel, falling into the dental vacuum cleaner. The process is completely painless, is carried out without anesthesia, and lasts about 30-40 minutes.
Advantages of the Air Flow system:
- removes plaque even in the most difficult to reach places;
- brightens enamel by 3-4 tones in one session;
- prevents the occurrence of gum diseases;
- used for cleaning braces and implants.
Contraindications:
- inflammatory periodontal diseases;
- chronic bronchitis or asthma;
- allergic reaction to citrus fruits (the powder has the smell and taste of lemon).
To avoid staining of teeth, it is necessary to refrain from drinking coffee, cocoa, tea, red wine and other dyes in the first hours after the procedure.
Beyond Polus (USA)
Multifunctional system for comfortable, safe, convenient, effective whitening. Consists of a halogen whitening accelerator, built-in LEDs, low-level laser therapy. Allows you to whiten each tooth individually, or both jaws at the same time. Does not allow temperature increases and ultraviolet radiation. The duration of the procedure is about 30 minutes, the sustainability of the achieved result depends on the patient’s lifestyle, his eating habits, and the presence or absence of bad habits.
Opalescence Xtra Boost
An innovative whitening method that does not use light lamps. The method is based on a 38% solution of hydrogen peroxide in the form of a gel, which is applied to the vestibular surface of the teeth about 1 millimeter thick. The gel is removed using a dental vacuum cleaner after 15 minutes, after which it is washed with a stream of water using a vacuum suction.
It is important to protect the soft gum tissue with the OpalDam barrier.
If necessary, the procedure can be repeated, but only if there is no increased sensitivity of the teeth to external irritants. Read more about the Opalescence whitening system »
White & Perfect (Germany)
The White & Perfect system is not aggressive, does not damage tooth enamel, and does not cause side effects. A thin layer of special gel applied to the surface, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, brightens it by several tones.
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Clinic A-3
Teeth whitening
Modern professional products make it possible to whiten enamel not by 1-2 shades, as with mechanical lightening, but sometimes by more than 10 shades.
Teeth whitening is recommended before prosthetics or installation and replacement of fillings. Before whitening, it is necessary that the mouth be sanitized, dental deposits - plaque and tartar - removed, and inflammation of the gums relieved.
Contraindications to whitening are periodontal inflammation, allergies, and childhood. A relative contraindication is smoking (slight yellowness may soon return and the whitening effect will last half as long as expected). Restrictions for use are unsatisfactory hygienic condition of the oral cavity, pregnancy, and individual intolerance.
The mechanism of teeth whitening is that the pigments of dental tissues become lighter under the influence of oxygen, the active component of the whitening gel. To prevent the whitening agent from getting on the tissues of the oral cavity, an insulating gel is applied to the gums. The whitening gel is then applied to the teeth and left on for about 10 minutes before being cured. The procedure can be repeated several times until the desired result is achieved. Then the teeth are treated with a gel containing fluoride to prevent tooth sensitivity.
In-office teeth whitening system
White&perfect t is a safe in-office teeth whitening system. Unlike other well-known teeth whitening systems, the White&Perfect system is not aggressive and does not cause side effects, and despite this, remineralization therapy is carried out at the end of the whitening course.
The teeth whitening procedure is very simple and takes no more than 30 minutes. The White&perfect in-office teeth whitening system helps lighten the color of both enamel and dentin.
Teeth whitening procedure
Using light, the component of the whitening gel, hydrogen peroxide, is activated. Hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen, which penetrates the enamel structure and surface layers of dentin; oxygen, without changing the structure of the tooth, discolors dark spots and stains. Hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in the White&Perfect teeth whitening system and has been used for many years in the treatment of gums and other soft tissues of the oral cavity.
It has been clinically proven that White&Perfect whitens teeth to the desired result in 3 – 4 sessions of 30 minutes. The procedure ends with fluoride treatment of the teeth - 2 minutes (teeth brushing is recommended before whitening). At the end of the whitening course with the White&Perfect system, you will become the owner of snow-white teeth, the amazing result will surprise you!
Safe teeth whitening
Numerous studies and clinical trials prove that teeth whitening under the supervision of a dentist is safe. Moreover, many dentists consider this procedure to be the safest of all dental and cosmetic procedures offered. Like any whitening system, White&Perfect is not recommended for people under 18 years of age, as well as for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Professional teeth whitening at home
With the help of your dentist, you must first select the most suitable system for self-whitening; fortunately, the market allows you to do this quite easily.
Whitening gels contain, in addition to flavoring additives, types and glycerin, 10 percent carbamide peroxide. The latter is considered the most effective and safe.
Repeated courses should be carried out as necessary.
In the presence of chronic diseases, allergic reactions, hypersensitivity, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, home whitening is strictly prohibited!
During teeth whitening, you must strictly adhere to your doctor's recommendations.
Home whitening is contraindicated in the following cases:
- tooth mobility;
- inflammatory gum diseases;
- exposure of roots;
- allergy to carbamide peroxide;
If you follow the instructions, teeth whitening at home is not harmful to the patient. Excessive use of whitening gels can lead to complete thinning of tooth enamel.
Luma White Plus (Opalescence)
A unique professional teeth whitening system at home. Consists of a special gel, a dental tray, and a light source. The gel is applied to the inner surface of the mouth guard, which is placed on the teeth and fits tightly to them. The lamp is aimed directly at the mouth guard and should shine for about 10 minutes. The maximum wearing time is 30 minutes per day. Longer or more frequent use causes damage to the enamel.
To achieve optimal results, the procedure must be repeated daily for 5-7 days.
Benefits of Teeth Whitening Kits
- You can whiten your teeth without leaving home.
- It removes stubborn stains that have accumulated on enamel for years.
- It strengthens your teeth and protects them from harmful bacteria.
- This blue light teeth whitening is much more affordable than dental treatment.
- The LED light used in this device is much safer than UV light teeth whitening procedures.
- Results are achieved quickly and easily.
Amazing, right? Let's check out the 10 best teeth whitening kits you can buy!
TOP 8 best strips for teeth whitening
Now let's start reviewing the most popular and effective strips for different types of tooth enamel, according to buyers.
Today's TOP includes the following products:
- RIGEL;
- White Intensive;
- Bright Light Night Effects;
- Crest 3D White Supreme FlexFit;
- Celebrity Smile;
- Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips;
- Blend-a-med 3DWhite Luxe;
- MeiTan.
Now more about each of them.
RIGEL
RIGEL strips do not contain components that are aggressive to enamel, such as hydrogen peroxide. Suitable for even the most sensitive teeth. The strips dissolve on their own after 15 minutes, kill bacteria, remove plaque and freshen breath. The whitening result is visible from the first use.
Whitening procedure time | 14 days |
Daily procedure time | 15 minutes. |
Shade shelf life | 1 year |
Number of strips per package | 28 pcs. |
Country of Origin | Great Britain |
Packaging cost 1350 rubles
Buy on the official website
pros
- do not contain hydrogen peroxide;
- suitable for sensitive teeth;
- dissolve themselves;
- instant effect;
- kill bacteria;
- freshen breath.
Minuses
- To complete the full course, two packages are required.
RIGEL dental strips
White Intensive
A product that whitens quite intensively. 3-4 tones at once. However, experts note its gentle effect on enamel due to the low percentage of peroxide. The shade obtained as a result of exposure to such strips lasts throughout the year.
Whitening procedure time | 14 days |
Daily procedure time | 60 min. |
Shade shelf life | 12 months |
Number of strips per package | 28 pcs. (14 top, 14 bottom) |
Manufacturer country | USA |
The average cost of such a teeth whitening product is 2,150 rubles.
pros
- home use;
- quite safe;
- comfort in use;
- speed of obtaining results;
- long-term effect.
Minuses
- helps increase tooth sensitivity;
- may cause allergies;
- weaker effect after fluorosis;
- has contraindications.