What Happens During the Teeth Whitening Process?

by Derek Rogers



When you want to know what happens during the teeth whitening process, you have to consider the difference between home teeth whitening kits and going to the dentist. When you use the at-home teeth whitening systems, you can usually only whiten your teeth a few shades because some home teeth whitening systems contain less than 10% of the whitening agent carbamide peroxide. By comparison, dentists tend to use solutions that contain between 15% and 35% peroxide.

What happens during the process of whitening teeth at the dentist office, they generally start with an abrasive cleansing, typically with a pumice to "etch" the teeth enamel, which makes the bleaching agent, carbamide peroxide absorb into the surface of the teeth much easier. They will put a rubber barrier over your gums to protect them from the chemicals and then apply the peroxide whitening gel to your teeth to start bleaching the teeth. This process normally takes around 30 to 40 minutes.

In some cases, after the peroxide gel is applied is that a laser might be used to speed the bleaching action, which is where you will tend to see a blue, neon glow from the laser light during the process. During the whitening process the enamel surface is weakened so that the bleaching agent can reach the discolored stains that have penetrated the enamel of the teeth and reached the underlying dentin level.

While your enamel surface might be quite porous before the process, what happens during the teeth whitening process makes it much more sensitive to the cold or hot foods and beverages you might drink. For this reason, some people have opted for the kits that allow them to complete the procedure at home. With less after effects and sensitivity you can enjoy a brighter smile without any of the pain. In the majority of cases, this sensitivity fades after a few days, regardless of whether you opt for home teeth whitening kits or to have the procedure done at a cosmetic dentist.

Regardless of which method you chose,the whole process remains the same, although as previously mentioned, the effect (and side effects) of which are slightly different in each instance. You have to keep in mind that you can change your teeth color by eight shades in one session at the dentist office, while that might be the most you can expect from most home teeth whitening kits. As you might expect, this process is a little more advanced when you visit a dentist office than it is with home teeth whitening kits, but it can be a matter of personal choice and budget.

It is considerably more money to have the procedure done at a cosmetic dentist. It is important to realise that what happens during the teeth whitening process is only a temporary fix because if you drink coffee and fruit juices, smoke or do anything else that can stain your teeth and want to maintain the same level of whiteness in your teeth, you will have to repeat the process with some regularity.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For Teeth Whitening Treatment Process he recommends Direct Whitening.