Teeth Whitening Terminology

Types of Whitening

• In-Office Whitening: Professional whitening treatment performed in a dental office, often using a high-concentration whitening gel and a special light or laser to accelerate the process.
• At-Home Whitening: Whitening treatments that can be done at home, typically using custom-made trays with a lower-concentration whitening gel or over-the-counter products like whitening strips or toothpaste.

Whitening Procedures

• Bleaching: The chemical process of lightening the color of teeth using peroxide-based agents.
• Custom Trays: Mouth trays made from impressions of your teeth to ensure a comfortable and effective fit for at-home whitening.
• Laser Whitening: Using a laser to activate the whitening gel and accelerate the whitening process.
• Scaling and Polishing: Cleaning the teeth to remove surface stains and plaque before whitening.
• Zoom Whitening: A popular in-office whitening system that uses a special lamp to activate the whitening gel.

Whitening Products

• Hydrogen Peroxide: A common bleaching agent used in many whitening products.
• Carbamide Peroxide: Another bleaching agent that breaks down into hydrogen peroxide.
• Whitening Gel: A peroxide-based gel applied to the teeth for whitening.
• Whitening Strips: Thin, flexible strips coated with whitening gel that are applied to the teeth.
• Whitening Toothpaste: Toothpaste containing mild abrasives or polishing agents to remove surface stains.

Related Terms

• Extrinsic Stains: Stains on the outer surface of the teeth caused by food, drinks, or smoking.
• Intrinsic Stains: Stains within the tooth structure, often caused by medications or trauma.
• Sensitivity: Increased tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli, which can be a side effect of whitening.
• Shade Guide: A tool used to measure and compare tooth color.
• Tetracycline Staining: Intrinsic staining caused by the antibiotic tetracycline.