Preparation Process You Should Know Before Teeth Whitening at Magok Station Dental Clinic

With the desire to have white, clean teeth,

many people come in for whitening consultations.

But when they hear that scaling is also needed,

they sometimes pause for a moment.

They thought whitening alone would be enough,

so they may wonder why scaling is necessary too

or why additional treatment is being recommended.

In fact, there is a clear reason for this order.

Today, Magok Station Dental Clinic will explain the reasons for scaling before whitening

and the things you should check in advance.

1. Why scaling is recommended

Even though teeth may look smooth to the eye,

they actually have tiny irregularities.

Between these areas, pigments, bacterial film, and tartar build up,

and over time, discoloration becomes deeper.

This process progresses even faster,

especially for people who often drink coffee, tea, or wine,

and it is difficult to remove with brushing alone.

Whitening agents work by breaking down pigment molecules

within the enamel on the tooth surface.

For this process to work properly,

the agent must come into direct contact with the enamel.

However, if tartar is covering the surface,

the agent cannot penetrate beneath it.

To explain it in an easy-to-understand way at Magok Station Dental Clinic,

it is similar to spraying a waterproof spray on shoes covered in dirt.

If foreign substances remain on the surface,

they do not soak in properly and instead just sit on top.

Only when the tooth surface has been cleaned

can the agent fully act on the enamel.

2. When should whitening begin after scaling?

Even after scaling is finished,

whitening does not start on the same day.

This is because during tartar removal,

the gums are temporarily irritated

and the teeth also become more sensitive.

If the agent is applied right away at this point,

sensitivity or gum discomfort

can appear much more strongly than usual.

In general, whitening begins after allowing about 1 to 2 weeks

after scaling for things to settle down.

In particular, if there was gum disease

or if the scaling area was extensive,

the recovery period may be longer.

Once the swelling has gone down, there is no bleeding,

and the sensitivity has eased,

it becomes the right time to start whitening.

3. The important thing is checking oral health

Before starting whitening, there are things that must be checked

in addition to scaling.

The first thing to look at is

the current condition of the mouth.

If the agent comes into contact with a tooth that has a cavity,

it can strongly irritate the damaged area

and lead to severe pain.

The same applies when gum inflammation remains;

as explained earlier by Magok Station Dental Clinic,

it can also lead to pain.

Because whitening is a procedure that should begin

when the oral cavity is healthy,

addressing these issues first is the correct order.

Prosthetics or resin filling areas

should also be identified in advance.

These materials do not react to the whitening agent,

so only the natural teeth become brighter while they remain the same.

In particular, if there is resin or a prosthetic on the front teeth,

the color difference from the surrounding teeth may become more noticeable,

which can actually make it look more awkward.

In such cases, along with whitening,

a plan for prosthetic replacement and resin refill should be made together

in order to achieve a natural result.

4. Questions you couldn’t ask in the treatment room

Even after deciding to proceed with the procedure,

it is natural to have questions

before actually starting.

Magok Station Dental Clinic will organize the questions

that may have felt awkward to ask directly in the treatment room.

Q1. Are there any precautions after whitening?

Right after whitening, the enamel surface

is temporarily in an open state,

so pigments can settle in easily.

For about 48 hours after treatment,

foods and drinks with strong color,

such as coffee, wine, and curry, should be avoided.

Q2. Is tooth sensitivity okay?

In most cases, it naturally subsides within 24 to 48 hours.

Because it is a temporary reaction that occurs during the process

of acting on the enamel,

for most people, discomfort decreases

within a day or two after treatment, which is normal.

However, if the symptoms continue for a long time,

it is best to visit the clinic and get checked.

Q3. How long does whitening last?

It varies depending on each person’s eating habits and care methods.

Usually it lasts about 1 to 2 years,

but for people who drink coffee or wine or smoke,

discoloration may progress quickly.

Managing it along with regular scaling

can help maintain the result for a longer time.

This has been Magok Station Dental Clinic.

Thank you. ​