Teeth Whitening
A Radiant Smile
Custom whitening to revive the natural whiteness of your teeth.
Safe take-home techniques that are gentle on your enamel.
Teeth Whitening:
The Principle
Teeth whitening (or brightening) is a process that lightens discolorations of the enamel and dentin using a hydrogen peroxide-derived product.
At the practice, we favor the take-home technique: the creation of custom-made trays that you wear at home. European regulations prohibit products with more than 6% hydrogen peroxide concentration to ensure the safety of your teeth and prevent the risks of necrosis or permanent sensitivity.
Why do teeth become discolored?
- Extrinsic stains: Superficial stains related to smoking and dietary habits (coffee, tea).
- Intrinsic stains: The natural color of the enamel, which varies depending on genetics or the intake of certain medications (such as tetracyclines) during tooth formation.
- Non-vital teeth: A root canal treated tooth can change color over time.
Result of teeth whitening
A Safe Treatment
Scientific studies show that external whitening using custom trays and 10% carbamide peroxide poses no danger to your teeth or overall health.
The Process:
Home Bleaching
The standard "take-home" technique takes place in several personalized steps to guarantee an optimal and safe result.
At the practice
During the first visit, we take impressions of your dental arches to make your custom trays. At the second visit, we perform a fitting, take photos for tracking, and provide you with your whitening kit and all necessary instructions.
At home
- Application: You wear the tray with the whitening product inside, at home, all night.
- Duration: The treatment generally lasts three weeks, but can vary from one week to three months depending on the case.
- Follow-up: Check-up visits are scheduled to measure the whitening and decide when to stop the treatment.
Specific Solutions:
Stains & Non-vital teeth
Classic tray whitening has no effect on superficial stains. This is why we offer complementary alternatives tailored to each situation.
Air Polishing
For stains caused by tartar or tobacco and coffee, a special device projects a high-speed bicarbonate powder spray to dislodge pigments.
Air polishing completely removes these stains in a few minutes, painlessly and with no risk to your enamel.
Air polishing erases surface stains for an immediately more radiant smile.
Precautions & Costs
Whitening is suitable for everyone, but a comprehensive assessment at the practice is required before starting treatment.
Possible Side Effects
During the treatment, you may experience sensitivity to heat, cold, sweet, or acidic drinks. This is completely reversible a few days after stopping the treatment. If this sensitivity is too severe, a fluoride gel can be placed in the tray.
Aesthetic Limitations
It is important to know that composite resin fillings, crowns, and ceramic veneers do not change color during whitening. They may need to be replaced if the color difference is visible after the treatment.
Coverage and Estimates
Whitening or brightening techniques, like air polishing, are not covered by Social Security or mutual insurance companies.
An estimate will be provided during your assessment appointment. This includes the cost of creating the custom tray as well as the whitening product.
Maintaining the Results
Whitening results are long-lasting, but regular maintenance is the key to a radiant smile over the long term.
- Lifestyle habits: If you smoke or consume a lot of staining drinks (tea, coffee, sodas), your teeth will discolor more quickly.
- Regular maintenance: It is sometimes necessary to have one or two polishing sessions a year to maintain the radiant white achieved.