Teeth Whitening After Orthodontic Treatment

Teeth Whitening After Orthodontic Treatment, Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic

Hello. I am Jungwon Yoon, the chief director of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic in Daechi-dong.

Today, I’d like to talk about whitening treatment after orthodontic treatment. Recently, many patients are not satisfied with orthodontic treatment alone and want various aesthetic treatments such as whitening or laminate veneers along with orthodontics for the final aesthetic finish after treatment.

For example, even if the teeth have been aligned neatly through orthodontics, if the tooth color is not bright or the shape is not attractive, patients may still feel less confident when smiling even after spending a long time completing orthodontic treatment. Also, if oral hygiene is not thoroughly maintained during orthodontic treatment, staining or demineralization may appear on the tooth surface.

As patients’ interest in aesthetics continues to increase, the demand for teeth whitening to improve the final aesthetic result after orthodontic treatment is also growing. In other words, if orthodontics is the treatment that corrects tooth alignment, whitening can be said to play the role of completing the patient’s smile.

Why Teeth Whitening Is Needed After Orthodontic Treatment

In the past, when I saw patients who came in for whitening after finishing orthodontic treatment, I could sometimes find that some resin adhesive remained on the tooth surface after the brackets were removed, and that area had turned yellowish. After completing orthodontic treatment and removing the brackets, the resin adhesive should be thoroughly removed and the surface polished smooth. If this is not done properly, plaque can accumulate around the remaining adhesive, staining may increase, and the remaining resin may discolor. In such cases, removing the remaining resin and then performing whitening can result in cleaner-looking teeth.

Whitening results after removing remaining resin from the lower front teeth

Also, in the case of Invisalign treatment, because the appliance is worn for most of the day, if the appliance is worn without proper brushing, food debris or staining substances can remain between the appliance and the teeth, making discoloration easier to occur.

And because the appliance continuously covers the teeth, the natural cleansing effect of saliva is reduced, so yellow discoloration of the teeth is also often seen in clinical practice. That is why many Invisalign patients undergo whitening once treatment is completed.

Staining and discoloration around the attachments

The first photo is of a patient undergoing Invisalign treatment, and you can see staining around the attachments. The second photo is of a patient who had Invisalign abroad as a child and kept the attachments in place for a long time without removing them, then visited our clinic to complete the orthodontic treatment, where yellow discoloration around the attachments can be seen.

When to Whiten Teeth After Orthodontic Treatment

So when is the best time to start whitening after orthodontic treatment is finished?

In fact, whitening immediately after removing the appliance is not recommended. Right after the brackets are removed, the tooth surface can be rough and sensitive. Therefore, during this period, the tooth surface should first be smoothed with polishing, followed by a period for tooth remineralization and stabilization of the tooth surface. During this time, the teeth are strengthened by the mineral components in saliva, fluoride toothpaste, and fluoride application.

Remineralization of the teeth

So, in general, it is safest to wait about 1 to 2 weeks after bracket removal before starting whitening. During this period, micro-demineralized areas naturally remineralize as they come into contact with products containing calcium, phosphate, and fluoride in saliva, and the strength of the tooth surface is restored.

If White Spots Appear After Orthodontic Treatment

After orthodontic treatment, white spots caused by demineralization are often observed around the brackets or at the boundary between the teeth and the gums. White spots are caused by changes in the structure of the tooth’s outer layer (enamel) and do not improve with whitening; rather, they may become more noticeable after whitening treatment. Therefore, before whitening, we provide patients with a thorough explanation of this issue.

White spots around the brackets after whitening

Whitening First? ICON Treatment First?

These white spots gradually become less contrasted as the moisture inside the teeth stabilizes and micro-remineralization occurs about 1 to 2 weeks after whitening. However, if active improvement of white spots is desired, ICON treatment (resin infiltration treatment) can be considered after at least 2 weeks following whitening.

Before and after ICON treatment

At-Home Whitening Treatment

At-home whitening

In addition to professional whitening performed at the dental clinic, you can also do at-home whitening using carbamide peroxide 15% whitening gel prescribed by the dentist. At-home whitening is a method in which a custom tray made to fit your own teeth is worn for a certain amount of time each day to achieve whitening. Patients who have undergone orthodontic treatment usually do not feel resistant to wearing an appliance such as a whitening tray, so at-home whitening is also a good treatment option.

With at-home whitening, you can achieve whitening effects by wearing the whitening tray for about 4 hours a day for 10 days. Although the effect does not appear as immediately as with professional whitening, consistent use can provide whitening effects that last longer.

Teeth that have been aligned through orthodontic treatment can achieve an even brighter and healthier smile through whitening. However, because teeth vary from person to person, care before and after whitening and appropriate treatment intervals are important. If you maintain consistent oral care and regular checkups, you can preserve the bright smile gained through orthodontics and whitening for a long time.

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Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, an orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong, offers convenient and free parking.

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