Teeth Whitening Lisbon, MINT Clinic
Teeth whitening or Tooth Bleaching is an aesthetic dental procedure that allows the patient to achieve a whiter smile quickly, without damaging the teeth and without surgery.
Teeth whitening is one of the most requested procedures in Aesthetic Dentistry, also responsible for the rehabilitation and aesthetics of fractured and carious teeth.
Types of Teeth Whitening
Laser Teeth Whitening at the Clinic:
In-office teeth whitening is a medical act and, therefore, only oral health professionals are certified to perform this procedure in a safe and effective way.
In this type of tooth bleaching, a highly concentrated whitening product is used and, for that reason, it requires the protection of adjacent oral structures. This high concentration of the bleaching product makes this procedure the fastest of all types of teeth whitening.
The use of a light source with the ability to interact and participate in the activation of the whitening agent makes this process even faster.
Thus, it only takes one session to achieve, in most cases, the patient's expected results. Even when veneer placement is planned, laser tooth whitening can be done to lighten the natural tooth color and enhance the overall result of the treatment.
This type of teeth whitening, although performed at home, should include the supervision of the dentist. The treatment is done comfortably at home, using specific trays, made in the clinic with the exact shape to match the patient's teeth, where the bleaching product will be placed.
With this individual trays, a perfect adaptation to the teeth is achieved, which is a fundamental aspect for the success and safety of the treatment. In case of poor adaptation of the trays, and despite being a less concentrated product than the one use in-office, the bleaching gel can damage the gums in case of extravasation.
Usually this type of teeth whitening is performed to complement the in-office bleaching or, occasionally, to do a periodic maintenance of the whitened tooth color after this procedure.
Benefits of Teeth Whitening
The great advantage of teeth whitening is the significant improvement of dental aesthetics and therefore the patient's self-esteem.
Although an ultra-white hollywood smile is not always possible with this type of procedure, our patients always finish their teeth whitening appointments with a huge smile and much more proud of showing their teeth
In addition to this personal benefit, another benefit of teeth whitening for the dental structure is the non-need of any kind of invasive procedures.
Another big plus is undoubtedly the time spent in the clinic, for teeth whitening treatments. The stressful daily basis nowadays frequently limits the search and attendance in dental appointments. Teeth whitening emerges as a quick solution for aesthetic improvement without requiring hours "in the dental chair".
Teeth Whitening: Before and After
Teeth whitening aims to restore the natural color of the teeth. It can be performed, in-office or at home, after a clinical and radiological evaluation of the patient's dental and periodontal conditions.
Although the natural color of teeth may differ from person to person, certain factors such as tobacco, coffee, wine, pigmented foods, carbonated drinks or tartar may also contribute to change the tooth coloration.
How Professional Teeth Whitening Is Done?
We explain the process of teeth whitening below in a simple way.
Before applying the bleaching product, a preparation of the surrounding tissues is done to safely perform this procedure. This preparation includes:
- Application of vaseline on the lips for hydration throughout the session;
- Placement of a lip retractor in the patient's mouth and cotton rolls that will help absorb saliva.
- Application of a gum protector around the teeth to avoid contact with the gel, which may cause a slight burning sensation.
- And finally, the application of a tooth whitening gel activator.
After finishing the preparation process, we start the teeth whitening process with the bleaching gel.
The whitening product used at the MINT Clinic has a series of components that reduce sensitivity and react to an LED light. Basically, its function is to open the “pores” of the teeth and cause a chemical reaction that whitens the tooth from the inside out.
Duration of Teeth Whitening Treatment
How long does teeth whitening last?
It's not possible to define that time since it depends on patient's habits. In my case, for example, it has been five years and my teeth are just like when I finish the procedure. But I've to say that I rarely drink coffee, I don't smoke, and I am very careful about oral hygiene.
How Long Does a Tooth Whitening Consultation Last?
The teeth whitening consultation lasts 1 hour, and every 15 minutes the activator and the gel are replaced. In the end, we remove the product and accessories, and the patient rinses normally. Finally, we show the beautiful result.
Is tooth whitening safe? Are there any contraindications?
If performed and / or supervised by an oral health professional and using good products available only at dental clinics, teeth whitening is an extremely safe procedure. Like any dental treatment, there are inherent risks that are recognized and controlled by the dentist or hygienist. These include post-treatment tooth sensitivity and irritation of the gums that may occur from contact with the concentrated whitening product.
In the OTC market, in turn, there is a wide spectrum of products that are advertised as “tooth whiteners/bleachers” but whose effectiveness is questionable. Since they are significantly different, in composition, from clinical whitening products, it is not possible to assert their safety or effectiveness.
Anyone with good oral health is a candidate for teeth whitening. For this, a prior evaluation is essential to detect situations that may influence the outcome of the procedure. Dental carious lesions, gingivitis, periodontal pockets or infiltrated restorations are examples of problems that must treated first, before any bleaching procedure.
Furthermore, extensive restorations, dental crowns or dental veneers may influence the overall result, as these materials do not bleach. The whitening products only have an effect on the natural dental surface.
Pregnant and nursing mothers are advised not to perform tooth whitening during these periods. Not because of the risk that there might be a complication, but just as a precaution.
Patients under the age of 18 are also advised to wait for adulthood, at which time it's guaranteed that there are no immature teeth that could be damaged by whitening products.
Care After Teeth Whitening
The teeth whitening treatment does not end in the clinic. The patient may use transparent silicone trays for 3 days, at night while resting, with a viscous gel that prevents regression of the color of the tooth enamel.
These trays are made from dental impressions taken at the appointment, with the shape of each patient's teeth. They can be done before (recommended) or after tooth whitening treatment.
Because the "dental pores" are open 24 to 48 hours after treatment, some aspects should be taken in consideration. The consumption of acidic or pigmented foods or beverages such as coffee, teas, berries, curries, tomato sauce, natural juices, red wine and soft drinks should be avoided.
If the patient fails to follow the recommendations, at least he or she should drink some water after eating the mentioned foods, brush their teeth or rinse their mouth with an elixir. Tobacco should also be avoided as much as possible.
I decided to do the teeth whitening. What is the next step?
The first step is to choose a reliable teeth whitening Clinic and make an oral hygiene assessment.
Prior to teeth whitening, dental scaling should be performed and, if tooth decay is present, it should also be treated. As I often say: first health, then aesthetics.
Another important factor to consider is whether the patient has restorations on front teeth because they will not whiten and may need to be changed after in order to have a perfect smile with an homogeneous color.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening in Lisbon at the Mint Clinic
Schedule your initial evaluation appointment using the form below or call 211 552 308 (Call to the national fixed network)
Contact us
Other ways to get in touch:
☎️ Phone: (+351) 211 552 308 (Call to the national fixed network)
📱 WhatsApp: (+351) 918 393 844 (Call to national mobile network)
✉️ E-mail: info@mint.pt
How to get to MINT Dental Clinic?
Our Teeth Whitening Clinic is located in central Lisbon, between Saldanha and El Corte Inglés.
Address: Av. Marquês de Tomar, 5 B, 1050-152 Lisboa, Portugal
To get to the clinic you can choose:
- Metro Saldanha (red or yellow line)
- Metro São Sebastião (blue line)
- Carris: 713, 716, 726, 742
- Aerobus Line 1 (Saldanha)