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Teeth Whitening Terminology

Explore our dental dictionary to learn about common teeth whitening terms. If you have any other questions or would like to schedule an appointment, we would love to hear from you!
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Teeth whitening

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.