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Dental whitening is a very safe procedure which simply involves the use of a peroxide-based solution and/or special light to remove stains and pigmentations through the liberation of oxygen.
Depending on the concentration of the whitening agent, whitening treatments can be used at home (they are less powerful to avoid the product damaging the gums) or in the dental clinic (more powerful products which must be applied in a controlled manner and the penetration of which can be boosted by, for example, cold light systems).
Depending on the initial staining of the tooth the most appropriate product and system are selected for each case. It is important there are no caries or fillings in poor condition and that the whitening agent is not placed in areas with fractured or eroded enamel or in areas in which the dental root is exposed. It is also contraindicated in people who already display a lot of sensitivity to heat or cold.
The majority of patients notice an increased sensitivity during the treatment and in subsequent days. In some cases it may be somewhat uncomfortable but is easily controlled with analgesics.
In our experience, being conservative and correctly selecting the appropriate treatment for each case, the sensitivity disappears within a week at the most. We use the Quick White system which combines Hydrogen Peroxide in different concentrations depending on the requirements of the case and cold light. The whitening session lasts 45 minutes and subsequently the patient continues with treatments at home for one week.
Dra. Gema Olmos
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