First of all, the method of teeth whitening best for you depends on how discoloured the tooth is.
Tooth discolouration can be extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic discolouration can be caused by drinking pigmented drinks or smoking, and is easily removed with whitening toothpastes. Deep intrinsic discolouration may be caused by medication, age, tooth trauma, disease, previous endodontic treatment or other reasons. As a rule, in-office whitening is recommended for teeth with intrinsic discolouration.
Second of all, remember that teeth whitening products and equipment do not work on fillings and dentures. So if you are planning on whitening your teeth, you should do the whitening first, and only then the filling (especially if we’re talking about cosmetic filling) and other procedures.
Teeth whitening is done with a special hydrogen peroxide gel. The patient’s teeth are coated with a layer of this gel and then exposed to a special LED lamp, which makes it possible to achieve a shade that is several tones lighter in just an hour.
Take-home teeth whitening can also be prescribed. Special teeth whitening trays are made for the patient. The patient then fills the trays with the solution and wears them overnight.
The shade of the teeth and how much it changed after teeth whitening is evaluated according to the VITAPAN classical scale, which includes 16 shades, from A1 (the whitest) to D4 (the yellowest).
If you aren’t happy with the result, the whitening can be repeated a few weeks later.
What not to do after teeth whitening? For the first 24 hours, you should steer clear of all food and drinks that create stains. After teeth whitening, your teeth and gums may be a bit more sensitive for a few days, so we also recommend avoiding food and drinks that are very hot or very cold.