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Dentistry vocabulary · Fillings and Restorations

Tooth whitening

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

nounCommon term

In dentistry, tooth whitening means: A cosmetic treatment that makes teeth lighter with a peroxide gel, applied either in the clinic or at home in custom-made trays.

In Turkish: diş beyazlatma, bleaching

How it is used

Usually called tooth whitening in the UK and teeth whitening or bleaching in the US. Dentists talk about in-office and home whitening and the change in shade. Whitening does not change the color of fillings or crowns.

Example sentences

  1. Tooth whitening won't change the color of your front crown.

  2. She had tooth whitening before her wedding and is very happy with the shade.

Common collocations

  • home tooth whitening
  • in-office whitening
  • whitening trays
  • whitening gel
  • veneerA thin shell of porcelain or composite bonded to the front surface of a tooth to improve its color, shape or apparent position.
  • tooth sensitivityShort, sharp pain in a tooth when it meets cold, heat, sweet food or air, usually because dentin has been exposed by gum recession or wear.
  • enamelThe hard, shiny outer layer covering the crown of a tooth. It is the hardest substance in the human body and cannot grow back once it is lost.
  • compositeA tooth-colored filling material made of resin mixed with fine glass or ceramic particles. It is bonded to the tooth and usually hardened with a blue curing light.

More terms: Fillings and Restorations

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.