Teeth whitening is an aesthetic dental treatment aimed at achieving a whiter smile quickly, without damaging the teeth and without the need for surgery.
Anyone with good oral health can whiten their teeth. For this purpose, a prior assessment is necessary to check for conditions that may affect the outcome of the procedure: cavities, gingivitis, periodontal pockets, or invasive restorations are examples of issues that should be resolved before whitening procedures.
In addition, a large number of existing restorations, crowns, or veneers will also affect the results obtained because these materials do not whiten like the surface of the tooth.
Before applying the whitening product, a conditioning of the surrounding tissues is done to ensure that the procedure is carried out safely.
The preparation includes:
- Applying petroleum jelly to the lips for hydration throughout the session;
- Placing a lip retractor in the patient's mouth along with cotton rolls to help absorb saliva.
- Applying a protective gingival barrier to the gums around the teeth to prevent contact with the gel, which can cause a slight burning sensation.
- After completing the preparation, the actual whitening is performed using the whitening gel for several cycles.
