Yaksu Station Dental Clinic: The Effects and Frequency of Teeth Whitening

Hello.

I'm Dr. Kim Tae-young, director of Bareunyoung Dental Clinic at Yaksu Station.^^

Starting this week, the mandatory mask-wearing policy has been lifted for public transportation, excluding infection-vulnerable facilities like hospitals.

Perhaps it's because the weather is getting nicer and spring is approaching,

we've been receiving a lot of inquiries about teeth whitening recently.

I'd like to post about teeth whitening again, building on a previous post.

Today, I'd like to introduce a case using one of my acquaintances as an example.

These are photos taken before whitening.

Referring to the shade guide on the right, the shade is A2.

While the teeth themselves aren't dark, they have a lot of yellowish tones.

You might think that whitening simply involves visiting the clinic, applying the whitening agent, and leaving,

but while not severe, side effects such as tooth hypersensitivity can occur.

Therefore, we recommend undergoing an oral examination before proceeding with whitening.

This individual congenitally lacks two lower front teeth, which has resulted in gaps between the gums.

Additionally, there were areas where the gums had receded slightly, which could cause sensitivity if the whitening gel touched them, so we first checked for any sensitivity symptoms.

Fortunately, there were no sensitivity symptoms, so without any special prior treatment before whitening, we carefully applied a gum protection product

and decided to proceed with the whitening.

This photo was taken after the first session (2 cycles).

The yellowish layer has significantly reduced compared to the beginning.

Since they still desired further whitening,

we decided to proceed with multiple sessions.

This photo was taken after the second session.

While it's clear that the teeth are brighter than in the initial photos,

it's unclear if the stained areas of the teeth are thick,

and more progress seems necessary for dramatic results.

The patient was satisfied, but I recommended proceeding a bit further.^^;

After additional whitening in the future, there are plans to remake the old crowns, which were placed a long time ago, to match the color of the whitened teeth.

As you can see, the whitening effect becomes more noticeable with each session.

Since the whitening effect varies depending on the individual composition of each tooth, we generally recommend visiting for 1-2 sessions of whitening.

If there is no hypersensitivity, additional whitening will yield even better results.^^

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an examination necessary before teeth whitening?

Yes, it is necessary. Side effects such as tooth hypersensitivity can occur when using whitening agents, so it's advisable to undergo an oral examination before whitening to check for sensitivity symptoms.

How many teeth whitening sessions are usually needed to see results?

The effect of teeth whitening varies depending on the individual's tooth composition. We generally recommend 1-2 visits for whitening, and if there is no hypersensitivity, additional whitening sessions can lead to even better results.

Are there any side effects of teeth whitening?

While not severe, tooth hypersensitivity or sensitivity symptoms may occur. To prevent this, an oral examination is conducted before whitening to check for sensitivity, and gum protection products are used if necessary.

Can old crowns be matched in color through whitening?

No, old crowns themselves cannot be lightened through whitening. After whitening is complete, a plan can be made to remake the old crowns to match the color of the newly whitened teeth.

How much brighter will my teeth become after whitening?

The whitening effect varies depending on the individual's degree of tooth staining and composition. In the case study, the yellowish layer decreased after the first session, and the teeth were definitely brighter than the initial state after the second session, but it was mentioned that further progress was needed for dramatic results.