Dental Bleaching: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Dental bleaching helps in whitening the teeth and helps in removing the stains and discoloration. Whitening is a very common dental cosmetic procedure which helps in improving the look of your teeth. In order to maintain the brightness of the teeth, individuals need to repeat the procedure from time to time. The natural color of the teeth is made by reflecting and scattering the light off the enamel.

There are two main methods used for teeth whitening namely, vital whitening and non-vital whitening. In the vital whitening method, the live nerves are focused on whereas the non-vital method focuses on teeth which have had root canal treatment done before and do not have a live nerve. Dental whitening can be done both at home and in the doctor’s office as well. There are preparations needed before starting the procedure of teeth whitening at a dental clinic. Your dentist will start with photographing your teeth and will follow it with a cleaning process. This process will help in removing the bacteria, food and other substances stuck in between your teeth and cause the staining. After completing the procedure of photographing and cleaning, the process of whitening will start.

There are two methods of whitening the teeth. One is vital whitening and the other is the non-vital whitening. The in office vital whitening process helps the dentist use a stronger gel and use a laser which allows the gel to set faster. This process normally takes 30-90 minutes and needs around 1-3 appointments. However, the number of appointments depends on the method used by the doctor, the severity of the stains and how white do you want your teeth to look. This is because different types of stains respond differently to the various methods. If you are getting the vital whitening at home, each mouthpiece will be filled with gel which you will have to wear for a couple of hours each day. This process may take a week or two, depending on the kind of whitening you desire. In some cases however, you may need to wear the mouthpiece for longer than four weeks as well.

The non-vital whitening procedure targets the appearance of the teeth which have had root canal done and treats the stains which come from the inside of the teeth. Different procedures of whitening the tooth from inside are used with this. A whitening agent is placed inside the tooth which is then filled with temporary filling. The tooth will be left like that for a couple of days.

Individual who believe they need to get their teeth whitened should opt for this treatment. It is recommended for people who have stains, use tobacco, drink dark colored liquids or for people who do not take good care of their teeth as well.

People who already have issues of cavity need to treat this problem before getting the dental bleaching treatment done. People with receding gums are not eligible as the whitening of the teeth will not be visible in these cases as well. Pregnant women are also not eligible for this treatment.

Teeth whitening does not have any major side effects but some people can deal with temporary sensitivity of the teeth. Mild gum irritation is also another side effect of dental bleaching.

People who get their teeth whitened should be very careful of avoiding any dark colored liquid and taking tobacco as they may see the whitening fade in a month if they don’t take good care of it. Whitening may not be needed for 6-12 months after if you avoid these products. Whitening can also be done at home if you have a custom made mouthpiece.

Teeth whitening does not need any recovery period as the person remains completely fit and healthy while and after the process. However, the whitening may fade, if you do not take proper care of your teeth, in about a month as well.

The price of teeth whitening in India can vary, depending on the appointments, intensity of the whitening and the fees of the dentist you consult as well. However, the price range of products used during this procedure is between Rs 500-3,000. The procedure may come up to Rs 15,000 to 20,000

The results of this treatment are not permanent as not taking care of your teeth may result in the fading in a month’s time itself. You need follow up’s and repeated procedures in order to maintain the whitening.

The alternative of the treatment is to take good care of your teeth and to avoid any product which can result in the staining of your teeth. Veneers and bonding are other alternatives which you can opt for as well.