Introduction: Tooth whitening is nowadays one of the most common techniques in aesthetic dentistry. Various tooth whitening methods and bleaching tools are available. Safe and effective whitening is based on the appropriate selection of the whitening procedure, knowledge of tooth structure, and professional supervision. Purpose: The purpose of the theoretical part of this thesis is to present the general characteristics of teeth, the causes of tooth discoloration, different tooth whitening methods, as well as the composition, mechanism of action, and possible risks associated with whitening procedures. The purpose of the practical part is to present the digital laboratory preparation of custom-made whitening trays and to demonstrate the results of supervised at-home tooth whitening. Methods: A descriptive research method was used in this thesis. The thesis is based on a review of professional literature on tooth whitening, mainly written in English and obtained through the online platform Google Scholar, the COBISS system, and the PubMed database. Results: In the practical part of the thesis, the phases of intraoral digital impression taking, the fabrication of working models, and the process of manufacturing custom-made whitening trays from two different foils used in tooth whitening are presented both visually and descriptively. Whitening with a 10% Opalescence bleaching gel resulted in a clinically noticeable improvement in tooth shade without the occurrence of adverse effects, confirming that properly performed supervised at-home tooth whitening is effective and safe. Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of this thesis confirm that tooth whitening represents an effective and predictable aesthetic procedure when performed correctly and under professional supervision. In supervised at-home tooth whitening, precisely fabricated custom-made whitening trays play an important role, as they ensure a proper fit, improved retention of the whitening gel, and greater comfort during use.
|
