Whitening
Tooth whitening is the safest and most cost effective way of enhancing the appearance of teeth.It is the most requested dental procedure of patients between the ages of 18-60 years of age. Most results will last a long time with good maintenance. Top ups can be used without fear of damaging the teeth.
Tooth whitening can be used alone or as part of a restorative procedure to improve the overall appearance and health of your smile.
Every smile is unique and therefore every treatment is customised to achieve the best possible results for you. These professional materials are designed for use under dental supervision as part of a professional treatment.
Procedure:
Oral examination
Bitewing x-rays
Production of bleaching trays, both upper and lower
Whitening gel is left on teeth for 30 minutes to an hour depending on bleach strength
We use and recommend NOVON Enhanced Whitening.
NOVON® is a new, patented whitening compound that comprises hydrogen peroxide, urea and sodium tripolyphosphate (Figure 1) and is the active ingredient in a new generation of tooth whitening gels.
Figure 1.0
NOVON®, when formulated, has a pH value of 6.5, i.e. in the acidic range. However, when NOVON® is diluted, the pH value rises to 8.5, i.e. into the alkaline range. This is sometimes referred to as a “pH jump”.
NOVON® is used in the next generation of tooth whitening gels.
Gels containing NOVON® have a pH value of 6.5, i.e. acidic and stable. However, during their use, the gels are diluted in the mouth and the “pH jump” created by NOVON® results in an alkaline environment. In this alkaline environment hydrogen peroxide breaks down to produce a larger amount of perhydroxyl ions (Figure 2).
Figure 2.0
The result of the enhanced release of perhydroxyl ions is a more effective whitening action. Perhydroxyl ions are responsible for the whitening action as they break down the large organic molecules that cause staining of the teeth (Figure 3).
Figure 3.0
Regular tooth whitening gels use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (a mixture of urea and hydrogen peroxide) as their whitening agent. To ensure these gels are stable, and have a good shelf-life, they are produced at a pH value of less than 7.0. However, in order for hydrogen peroxide to break-down and release perhydroxyl ions, in other words, to whiten effectively, an alkaline environment is required! Whitening gels containing NOVON® are the only ones which, during use, produce a “pH jump”. This jump causes a change in pH from acid to alkaline and this results in an enhanced release of perhydroxyl ions for a faster whitening effect.
NOVON®-containing gels can therefore produce a similar whitening effect within a shorter time-frame, in comparison to whitening using a regular gel. Alternatively, within the same time-frame, a similar level of whitening can be achieved with a lower inclusion level of NOVON®. This should be an advantage to patients with sensitive teeth. The lower inclusion level effect has been reported in results of clinical trials at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College, London (Hyland et al., 2014).
Take Home Whitening
When this method is applied, individual bleaching trays are prepared in our laboratory. Before the treatment, our Dentist will happily answer all your questions and make some recommendations concerning your mouthguard and gel. In the end, however, you can choose the degree of the night & day bleaching yourself. If you go for the day bleaching method, you either let the gel work on the bleaching trays for 1-2 hours or leave them on for two periods of 30 min respectively. The night bleaching process, on the other hand, provides an all-night application of the gel. Our Dentist will advise you on each procedure according to the degree of discolouration. You should take into account that home bleaching offers the advantage of freely choosing the moment to begin the bleaching process. The disadvantage is a longer duration (one night will not be enough).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does dental discolouration come from?
There are many reasons for discoloured teeth. Above all, ageing and the consumption of substances contained in coffee, tea, coca-cola, tobacco, red wine etc. are decisive factors. Additionally, certain antibiotics or high doses of fluorides can result in dental discolouration.
Is teeth whitening a common treatment?
More people than you may think have already had their teeth bleached. A brighter smile displaying white and shining teeth definitely makes a difference.
Is tooth whitening totally harmless?
Yes! Numerous scientific and clinical studies have found that tooth whitening under the dentist's supervision is absolutely risk-free. Many dentists are even convinced that dental whitening is the safest procedure within the field of dentistry.
How long do the results of a whitening treatment last?
If you stick to the simple care instructions after whitening, your teeth will definitely be whiter after the treatment than before. To keep your teeth shining white, you should brush them twice a day, use dental floss and visit Metro Dental for tooth cleaning. In general, our dentists at Metro Dental recommend a dental cleaning procedure BEFORE the tooth whitening treatment to optimise the result of perfectly white and beautiful teeth.
Things to avoid:
Tobacco products
Coffee and tea
Red wine
Food coloring
Any bright-colored drinks