Teeth whitening

The first appointment with your orthodontist is decisive. That’s when the specialist will perform all of the tests to determine what strategy to adopt for your treatment. Orthodontists see patients of all ages and backgrounds. Every case is unique and must be treated in accordance with the patient’s specific needs. For example, the orthodontist may prescribe an Invisalign treatment for an adult if the malocclusion isn’t too difficult to correct, or in a more serious case, the orthodontist may recommend jaw surgery along with braces.

Although few people are aware of this, orthodontic treatments can correct malocclusions that are the source of more serious problems, like sleep apnea. However, it’s important to remember that one of the most common reasons why patients consult a practitioner is to improve their appearance. That’s why your specialist may propose teeth whitening to ensure that the final result will be as satisfying as possible.

Assessment

You should be aware that there are certain contraindications. For example, it’s inadvisable for patients with cavities or mouth injuries, such as inflamed gums, to have their teeth whitened. It’s also very important to understand that, in order to ensure an optimal treatment, the specialist must first perform teeth cleaning, tartar removal and polishing procedures. You shouldn’t underestimate the importance of the assessment! There are several different teeth-whitening strategies. In the case of devitalized teeth, a particular treatment is appropriate. In order for teeth that have darkened over time to regain a normal hue, it’s best to employ a technique entailing the use of a whitening gel that works on the teeth over a period of several days.

The most common techniques

Your specialist may propose two different solutions:

Treatment at the office

You will be scheduled for one or two sessions in the dental chair, lasting 30 to 60 minutes, each. After taking all the necessary precautions, whitening gel will be applied to your teeth and activated with the help of a UV lamp.

Treatment at home

The specialist will take impressions of your teeth at the office. These impressions will be used to create trays that are perfectly molded to your teeth. Once you return home, you’ll apply whitening gel inside the trays, which you’ll wear on your teeth for 30 to 60 minutes a day for about two weeks. This technique is very practical, as you can save the trays for future whitening treatments.

Precautions

There’s a high demand for do-it-yourself teeth-whitening products that can be used at home. For some time now, there has been an endless variety of products that are readily available to the consumer. Unfortunately, not all of these products are risk-free. In fact, when present in large quantities, the active ingredients in teeth-whitening products can be harmful to your oral and dental health. In short, the wisest solution is to leave these types of treatments in the hands of professionals. If you are dead set on using a home treatment, it’s strongly recommended to seek the advice of your specialist beforehand.