Dental whitening is an aesthetic treatment (aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry) which manages to reduce various shades of colour leaving the teeth whiter, shinier and healthier and it can be performed at home or in the dental clinic.

Teeth whitening also permits the elimination of stains produced by medications or extrinsic causes such as tea, coffee, mate, cigarettes, red wine, amongst many other substances and foods.

Whitening does not produce dental abrasion (erosion), neither does it weaken the teeth; it simply uses gels which act chemically to reduce various shades of the same colour within the tooth.

Whitening has no effect on any type of restoration, such as: amalgams, restorations using halogen light, fillings and crowns or bridges. In the event of the patient presenting any of these restorations, particularly in the anterior teeth, the whitening is performed and subsequently any restorations that have not changed colour can be exchanged. To carry out the exchange of these restorations approximately 15 days must be waited so that the colour obtained through the whitening can stabilise.

Generally, whitening procedures are performed in the clinic and this takes approximately one hour, after which the patient will see significant changes and a complementary treatment is indicated for at home, with the respective instructions of the dentist. This treatment in high concentrations can be repeated by way of maintenance after 6 months to a year, depending on the severity of the stains or pigmentations presented by the patient.