Teeth whitening with laser; what are the benefits? What are laser teeth whitening, when is the procedure indicated, and what contraindications? The level of the assembly, the results of the whitewash. Real patient reviews.
Laser teeth whitening is a clinical procedure to lighten the dentistry using oxygen gel and a laser beam. During the session, plaque oxidizes; pigments are broken down and removed from the tooth tissue. Laser whitening is painless and takes only half an hour.
What is teeth whitening with laser?
Laser whitening at the clinic is done with a gel that contains herbal substances or oxygen. The agent is applied to the dental glass and then exposed to a laser beam—the latter acts as a catalyst.
The gel components penetrate deep into the tooth’s tissue and reach the dentin, causing oxidation and splitting of pigments. At the same time, the solvent does not destroy the enamel but strengthens and disinfects it.
Laser whitening has many advantages:
- Effectiveness … The correct implementation of the procedure guarantees a permanent result for 7 years, subject to dentists’ recommendations. You can achieve teeth staining in 15-20 minutes with 8-12 shades. The reason for the yellow or gray layer does not matter.
- Safety … Despite the thermal power of the laser beam, the resin does not overheat. The enamel is not destroyed but, on the contrary, strengthened. The solvent, as a disinfectant, kills the bacteria that cause tooth decay. There are no painful sensations during the procedure. Sometimes patients feel a slight tingling. After the session, the high sensitivity of the enamel is excluded, which is typical for the chemical method.
- The peculiarity of the method … When exposed to the teeth, the laser and the preparation do not destroy the gums and enamel.
- Antibacterial … The solvent removes microbes from the teeth and gums’ surface, preventing caries’ development.
- Long-lasting results in a short time … To get perfectly white teeth, 1-2 procedures are enough.
The disadvantage of solving teeth Whitening is often called the high price. The procedure is not cheap, although the results last a long time.
Evidence of laser dentistry
Dark enamel and the appearance of age spots on it are the main reasons for recommending a whitening procedure.
Various factors affect the condition of teeth:
- Bad habits (smoking, alcohol) … Decomposing substances, toxins settle on the enamel and form a dense layer. For this reason, smokers and people fond of alcoholic drinks, whose teeth have a rich yellowish tint, suffer from caries. Among the common diseases are gum disease and stomatitis, which require treatment before Whitening.
- Use of antibiotics (especially the tetracycline series) … Antibiotics interfere with the microflora of the digestive system and oral cavity. Plaque bacteria multiply in the mouth. Harmful substances in medicines also affect the color of the enamel.
- Dental treatment with unique materials or pulp removal … Orthodontics in dentistry changes the color of the tooth enamel. When the pulp is removed, bleeding occurs, and the decay products form a yellowish tint on the tooth.
- A diet containing food with dyes … The regular contact of the enamel with paints affects the color of the teeth. Carbonated drinks, sweets, and sauces contain many harmful substances that affect the condition of the enamel.
- Oversaturation of drinking water with fluoride … Excessive mineralization harms teeth. Fluoride causes the formation of yellow plaque. Whitening will help deal with the problem temporarily.
- Advanced age … The aging process affects the entire body and the teeth’ condition. Over time, the enamel becomes thinner and yellow, even if a person leads the proper lifestyle.
- Incorrect metabolism, diseases of the internal organs … If there are general health problems, the condition of the teeth worsens. Whitening will not solve the underlying problem, but it will improve the appearance of the smile area.
- Work at a harmful company … Inhalation of vapors of lead, bromine; mercury contributes to the formation of plaque.
Attention! A yellow tooth is congenital. Then more methods are needed to achieve noticeable relief.
Contraindications to teeth whitening with laser
Laser teeth whitening has serious contraindications, although the treatment duration is only 20-30 minutes.
The meeting is not carried out when the patient is diagnosed with the following diseases or conditions:
- The high sensitivity of enamel cracks on its surface … During the procedure, gels with hydrogen peroxide are used, which can worsen the condition of the teeth. Since white anesthetic is prohibited, the patient may experience severe pain.
- Bleeding and Inflammation of the gums … The symptom indicates the presence of diseases in the oral cavity. Before the procedure, the gums should be treated and strengthened.
- Teeth … There is no point in bleaching bad teeth because, after a short time, they will turn yellow or rot. Before the appointment, the dentist treats the oral cavity and does a little whitening.
- Removable structures or seals in large quantities … Whitening reduces their strength, negatively affecting the tooth’s condition.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding … During this period, intervention in the body is undesirable, including in dentistry.
- Allergy to gel ingredients … If the medicine contains ingredients the patient is allergic to, the patient’s condition may worsen significantly during the procedure.
- Children and adolescents with unformed tooth enamel … Exposure to chemical compounds is not recommended.
In other cases, the doctor decides whether Whitening is advisable after examining the oral cavity.
How are teeth whitening with laser performed?
The whitening procedure does not require special preparation from the patient. Still, before applying the gel, the doctor must align the teeth:
- Seal cavity-filled cavities … After bleaching, diseased teeth will continue to deteriorate from within and change color. Since peroxide and preparations based on it are used during the session, pain can penetrate the tooth tissue causing severe pain.
- Treat gingivitis and bleeding … Inflammation of the soft tissue in the mouth indicates the presence of disease-causing bacteria. After Whitening, they will continue to damage the teeth and affect not only the enamel but also the health of the teeth in general.
- Brush your teeth from stones and deposits … Tartar is the result of hardening and plaque accumulation. Whitening is carried out after professional teeth cleaning with ultrasound, allowing you to lighten the enamel by 1-2 shades.
Once the oral cavity is prepared, the dentist begins bleaching.
The procedure consists of the following stages:
- Isolation of the gums and mucosa … To prevent the laser beam from touching the soft tissues, they are separated by a rubber dam, polymers, adhesive wax, and retractors (tools for spreading) cheeks and tongue. The creation of barriers protects the oral cavity from the effects of whitening agents, limits the surgical field, and protects against laser radiation. If the seal is broken and the gel with hydrogen penetrates the barrier, the patient feels a burning sensation. The rest of the procedure does not cause any discomfort. Do not use anesthesia: the doctor must know the patient’s reaction. Spectacles with filters are placed on the patient’s eyes.
- Apply whitening agents … The gel or solution is squeezed onto the teeth from syringes or ready-made tubes and applied with a brush, stages, or gauze bandage soaked in peroxide. The thickness of the whitening gel on the teeth is at least 2-5 mm. If re-use is required, rinse off the previous coat and reapply.
- Activation of solutions with a laser beam … Each tooth is treated with a diode laser for 1-5 minutes. Some setups allow you to illuminate the entire dentition at once. In this case, one Exposure takes 8-20 minutes.
- Transfer of whitening agents … After the procedure, the oral cavity is washed with water. In some cases, the surface of the denture is ground and polished, treated with drugs to reduce the sensitivity of the enamel.
Since the procedure is painless, you can immediately go about your business. Sometimes slight tingling is felt within 2-3 hours with increased enamel sensitivity. Gradually the feeling disappears.
The dentist advises the patient on nutrition and brushing to maintain the whitening results. It is not recommended to consume tea or coffee, red wine, or smoke, including foods with dyes in the diet. It would help if you brushed your teeth after every meal.
To maintain the desired level of enamel, the patient must thoroughly clean the teeth from plaque and calculus at least once every six months, as well as a scheduled examination by a dentist to prevent tooth decay.