Teeth Whitening or Dental Bleaching?

At the dental office the dentist is in complete control of the procedure. He or she has the ability to stop when the desired shade or result is achieved. In this procedure, a high concentration of tooth whitening agent (preferably 25-40 % hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) is applied to the teeth after protecting the gums. Thereafter the agent is activated either by heat or light (as applicable) for around one hour or less.

Teeth whitening is a common treatment option that everyone desires but is mostly clueless about. It enhances one's teeth aesthetically and is the most common procedure in today's world of cosmetic dentistry. It actually deters the aggressive options of veneering, placement of a crown or bonding to augment one's smile. It does not make the natural colour of your teeth change and only lightens the shade of your teeth. Although the natural shade tends to return after a certain period of time, periodic bleaching appointments can prevent this from happening.

There are different ways that dental bleaching is done.

a. At a dental clinic

b. At home supervised by the dentist

c. By using over the counter products

Procedure at a dental clinic:

At the dental office the dentist is in complete control of the procedure. He or she has the ability to stop when the desired shade or result is achieved. In this procedure, a high concentration of tooth whitening agent (preferably 25-40 % hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) is applied to the teeth after protecting the gums. Thereafter the agent is activated either by heat or light (as applicable) for around one hour or less. There might be a requirement for multiple sessions if the desired result is not achieved. Yellowish teeth responds better to bleaching compared to brownish coloured teeth. The effect is less likely to last if one is smoking or consuming products that stain your teeth.

At home supervised by the dentist:

This technique generally uses a low concentration of whitening agent (10–20% carbamide peroxide, which equals 3.5–6.5% hydrogen peroxide). In general, it is recommended that the 10% carbamide peroxide be used 8 hours per day, and the 15–20% carbamide peroxide 3 to 4 hours per day. This treatment is carried out by the patients themselves, but it is supervised by dentists during recall visits. The bleaching gel is applied to the teeth through a custom-fabricated mouth guard that is worn at night for at least two weeks. Although it is self administered the results depend on the diligence of the patient (i.e. whether they are following the advised protocol). Some overzealous patients who tend to over use the tray may suffer from sensitivity.

By Over the Counter (OTC) products:

OTC products are readily available in the market. These products are composed of a low concentration of whitening agent (3–6% hydrogen peroxide) and are self-applied to the teeth as whitening dentifrices, pre-fabricated trays, whitening strips and toothpastes. They should be applied twice per day for up to two weeks. However, these bleaching agents may be of highly questionable standards in terms of safety, especially because some may not be approved by the regulatory bodies. These are recommended only under the advice of the dentist. Else it is better to use something that is bought from the dentist's office.

By: Dr Swagat Pranam Sharma

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