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Cosmetic dentistry · Professional whitening

Teeth whitening in Istanbul, Turkey Professional whitening by a dentist, after your teeth and gums have been checked.

Another treatment room at İkon Dental Hadımköy, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey
Teeth Whitening

Treatment at a glance

How teeth whitening works, step by step

Teeth whitening in Istanbul: 3D illustration of upper and lower front teeth showing whitening at the clinic and at home

Illustration for explanation only. How much lighter your teeth can become depends on your own teeth; your dentist tells you what to expect at your check.

In short

Professional teeth whitening uses a peroxide-based gel that breaks down colour inside the enamel, so your teeth look lighter. It can be done at the clinic (in-office whitening), at home with custom-made trays and a gel your dentist gives you (at-home whitening), or from inside a single tooth that has darkened after root canal treatment (internal whitening). Our dentists work with professional whitening systems made for dental use.

Coffee, tea, red wine, smoking and age all leave their mark. Whitening lifts many of those stains, but it only changes the colour of natural teeth. It does not change shape, close gaps or lighten crowns, veneers and fillings. That is why your teeth and gums are checked first. Your written plan states the days and visits you would need in Istanbul.

How it works — 4 steps

  1. We look at your photos.A free first assessment from home: is whitening likely to help?
  2. Your teeth and gums are checked.Decay, gum problems or tartar are treated first.
  3. Your gums are protected.Your starting shade is recorded before any gel is used.
  4. The gel is applied.At the clinic, at home with trays, or inside one tooth.
What it changes
Colour onlyShape, length and gaps stay the same
Methods
In-office or at-homeInternal whitening for a dark root-treated tooth
Done by
A dentistTeeth and gums examined first
Anaesthesia
Usually not neededYour gums are covered with a protective barrier
Crowns & veneers
Not whitenedOnly natural enamel lightens
Price
Written quoteAfter a dentist has seen your photosShort-lived sensitivity is common

1 Before you travel · From home

Will whitening lift your stains?

Send a few photos of your smile in daylight on WhatsApp or through the form. A dentist looks at the colour and type of staining, and at any crowns, veneers or fillings that show. Yellowish stains often respond well; grey or deep stains often respond less. We would rather tell you that before you travel than after.

What we ask you

  • Photos of your smile in daylight
  • Whether your teeth are sensitive now
  • Any crowns, veneers or fillings at the front
  • Your general health, medication and any pregnancy
  • Which dates could work for you

What you receive

  • An honest view on what whitening can do for you
  • In-office, at-home or internal whitening, explained
  • Another option, if whitening is not the right one
  • A price range and the days you would need

2 In Istanbul · Arrival and check-up

We make sure your teeth are ready

  • Airport and hotel. We coordinate your airport transfer and your stay with partner hotels near the clinics, including the Sheraton Grand Istanbul Esenyurt and Days Inn by Wyndham Istanbul Esenyurt.
  • Examination. Your dentist checks your teeth and gums. Decay, cracked teeth, gum problems or exposed roots are dealt with first, because whitening on unhealthy teeth can hurt.
  • Cleaning, if needed. Tartar and surface stains may be cleaned off first, so the gel works evenly. Sometimes a cleaning alone makes a visible difference.
  • In your language. Our international department works in English, Arabic, French and Turkish.

3 In Istanbul · In-office whitening

Professional gel, with your gums protected

  • Starting shade. Your shade is recorded against a shade guide, so you can see the change for yourself afterwards. Your dentist tells you what to expect for your type of staining.
  • Protection. A protective barrier covers your gums, leaving only the teeth exposed.
  • The gel. A professional whitening gel is applied to the front of your teeth, left on for a while, then removed and renewed. Depending on the system, the gel may be activated with a light.
  • Tell us how it feels. Short twinges can happen. If you are uncomfortable, say so and your dentist adjusts or stops the treatment.

4 In Istanbul and at home · Other methods

At-home trays, or one dark tooth from inside

  • At-home trays. Your teeth are scanned or measured, and thin trays are made to fit them. You are shown how much gel to use and how to wear the trays, and you continue at home following your dentist's instructions. At-home whitening can also be used later to refresh the shade.
  • Internal whitening. For a single tooth that has darkened after root canal treatment, the root filling is first checked on an X-ray. It is sealed, a whitening agent is placed inside the tooth and the tooth is closed with a temporary filling. The agent may need to be renewed before the tooth is finally filled.
  • Matching other treatment. If you are also having veneers or crowns, whitening comes first, and their shade is then matched to your lighter teeth.

5 Aftercare · Back home

Keeping your teeth lighter for longer

Enamel picks up colour more easily just after whitening, so for the first days choose pale food and drink and leave coffee, tea, red wine and cigarettes until later. The shade fades gradually rather than all at once, and how quickly depends mostly on your habits. Regular hygiene visits can be done with a dentist near your home.

After you fly home, your coordinator stays in touch and your dentist is one message away for questions and follow-up.

Your treatment journey

Your teeth whitening journey,
step by step.

From your first photos to a lighter smile, one international team coordinates every step.

Step 1 / 5 · From home

Get in touch

Send a few photos of your smile in daylight on WhatsApp or through the form, and tell us about any crowns, veneers or fillings at the front. A dentist reviews them, and our international team replies in your language.

  • Photos on WhatsApp
  • Reviewed by a dentist
  • English · Arabic · French · Turkish

Often a good fit if …

  • Yellowing that comes with age
  • Stains from coffee, tea and red wine
  • Staining from smoking
  • Your teeth and gums are healthy
  • You are happy with the shape of your teeth and only want them lighter

Worth discussing first if …

  • Grey or banded stains, for example from tetracycline → these often lighten less, and porcelain veneers may be discussed
  • One tooth darkened after root canal treatment → internal whitening, a veneer or a crown
  • Visible crowns, veneers or fillings → they keep their colour and may need replacing to match
  • Decay, gum disease, exposed roots or strong sensitivity → treated first
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding → whitening is postponed

Not sure? Send us a photo of your smile in daylight. A dentist will tell you whether whitening is likely to give you the result you want, or whether another treatment fits better.

FeatureIn-office whiteningAt-home whiteningInternal whiteningPorcelain veneers
Who applies itA dentist, at the clinicYou, at home, as your dentist instructsA dentist, at the clinicA dentist, bonded to the teeth
Which teethThe teeth that show when you smileThe teeth that show when you smileOne root-treated toothThe teeth being covered
Where the gel goesOn the front of the teethInside custom-made traysInside the toothNo gel: a thin porcelain shell
How the change comesUsually visible at the end of the appointmentGradually, while you wear the traysGradually, as the agent is renewedWhen the veneers are fitted
Teeth preparedNoNoA small opening, already made for the root canalYes, not reversible
What changesColour of natural teethColour of natural teethColour of that toothColour, shape and length

Back to everyday life

Pale food and waterStraight away
Very hot or very cold drinksBetter avoided at first
Coffee, tea, red wineAfter the first days
SmokingBest avoided; it brings stains back

What you do

  • Choose pale food and drink at first
  • Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth if you feel twinges
  • Rinse with water after dark drinks
  • Wear home trays only as your dentist instructs
  • Keep up regular hygiene visits

Contact us if …

Sensitivity is strong or does not settle, your gums stay sore or white where the barrier sat, or a tooth treated with internal whitening becomes painful or its temporary filling comes out.

What it does not do

Whitening does not change the shape of teeth, close gaps or lighten crowns, veneers and fillings. It is not permanent either: colour returns gradually over time.

Sensitivity

Twinges or sensitivity to cold are common during and after whitening. For most people they fade on their own. Tell us if they do not.

Gum irritation

Gums can feel tender, or look white for a while, where gel touched them. It usually passes. Trays that fit well and a barrier at the clinic reduce this.

Restorations do not match

Crowns, veneers and fillings keep their colour and may look darker next to whitened teeth. Changing their colour means replacing them.

Results vary

Yellowish stains often lighten well. Grey, banded or deep internal stains often lighten less. How light your teeth become cannot be promised in advance.

Colour returns

Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking bring colour back over time. Habits affect how long the shade lasts more than anything.

With internal whitening

Rarely, the outer surface of the root can be affected after internal whitening. Sealing the root filling first and regular check-ups are part of the care for this reason.

What changes the price

The method (in-office, at-home trays or internal whitening of one tooth), whether a cleaning, fillings or gum treatment are needed first, and whether whitening is part of a larger plan.

What to ask for in writing

  • The whitening method, by name
  • What the price includes, such as trays and gel for home
  • The days and visits planned in Istanbul

Travel and stay

We coordinate airport transfers and accommodation with partner hotels near the clinics. Ask your coordinator what your quote includes.

Only if your case needs it

A cleaning, fillings or gum treatment before whitening, or new crowns and veneers to match, are explained and written into your plan before treatment starts.

No price is final until a dentist has examined you. Your plan is confirmed after your examination in Istanbul.

Before & afterBefore and after cases from our clinics

Real cases treated at İkon. Each card names the treatment that patient had; tap a card to see more photos.

NetherlandsUpper-jaw smile design
NetherlandsSmile design
NetherlandsSmile design with zirconia crowns
GermanySmile makeover
Czech RepublicTreatment for missing teeth
Laminate veneers
Laminate veneers
Laminate veneers
Zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns
Zirconia crowns, upper jaw
Smile design
Smile design
Smile design
Smile makeover

Results differ from person to person. What is possible for you depends on your own teeth, gums and bone, which your dentist assesses at the examination.

See all before and after cases

Questions about teeth whitening

The questions we hear most often. If yours is not here, ask us on WhatsApp.

Is teeth whitening permanent?

No. The effect fades gradually, and how quickly differs from person to person. Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking bring colour back sooner; good brushing and regular hygiene visits keep teeth lighter for longer. Many people refresh the shade at some point, for example with at-home trays.

Does whitening damage enamel?

Professional whitening of healthy teeth, supervised by a dentist, is not expected to damage enamel. The gel lightens colour inside the enamel; it does not grind the surface away. Short-lived sensitivity is the most common side effect, which is one reason your teeth are checked first.

Does it hurt?

Most people do not describe it as painful. Some feel short twinges during or after whitening. If you are uncomfortable, say so and your dentist adjusts the treatment.

How white will my teeth get?

It depends on your starting shade and the type of stain, so it cannot be promised in advance. Your starting shade is recorded, and your dentist gives you a realistic idea at the check-up.

In-office or at-home whitening: which is better for me?

In-office whitening is done by a dentist at the clinic. At-home whitening uses custom-made trays and works more gradually. Some plans combine the two. Your dentist recommends one after looking at your teeth and your type of staining.

Is laser teeth whitening different?

Some in-office systems use a light to activate the gel. The principle is the same: a professional gel, applied and watched by a dentist. Your dentist explains the system used for you.

Can crowns, veneers or fillings be whitened?

No. Ceramic and filling materials do not change colour with whitening. If they no longer match your lighter teeth, replacing them is the way to change their shade. If you are planning a smile makeover, whitening usually comes first.

One of my front teeth turned dark after a root canal. Can it be whitened?

Often it can, with internal whitening: the root filling is checked and sealed, and a whitening agent is placed inside the tooth. If that is not enough, a veneer or a crown may be discussed. Your dentist decides after an X-ray.

How much does teeth whitening cost in Istanbul, Turkey?

We do not publish fixed prices, because the cost depends on the method and on any treatment your teeth need first. Send us photos of your smile and you receive a price range with your written plan, free and with no obligation. No price is final until a dentist has examined you.

How long do I need to stay in Istanbul?

It depends on the method and on whether other treatment comes first. Whitening can often be fitted into a visit for other treatment. Your written plan states the days and visits you would need, before you book flights.

This page is general information and does not replace an examination by a dentist.

Why İkonWhy patients choose our clinics

Treatment abroad is a big decision, so here is what you are choosing: three clinics in Istanbul, one standard of care, and an international team that stays in touch from your first message to your follow-up at home.

Reception at İkon Dental Bahçeşehir, a dental clinic in Istanbul, TurkeyAnother treatment room at İkon Dental Kıraç, a dental clinic in Istanbul, TurkeyDental X-ray and 3D imaging room at İkon Dental Kıraç, a dental clinic in Istanbul, TurkeySterilisation room at İkon Dental Bahçeşehir, a dental clinic in Istanbul, Turkey

2008Founded in Hadımköy

Built on one rule

İkon began as a two-chair practice. It grew into three clinics by offering only what is useful to the patient. Nothing is sold because it is profitable.

3Clinics in Istanbul

One team, one standard

All our dentists provide general dental treatment, and each brings fields of special interest from their training. Cases that need more than one field are planned together by the team.

MoHAuthorised

Approved for international patients

International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Health, for the Başakşehir and Hadımköy clinics.

4Languages spoken

Understood from the first message

Our international department works in English, Arabic, French and Turkish, from your first photo on WhatsApp to the follow-up after you fly home.

Other treatmentsWant to change more than colour?

Whitening changes colour only. Shape, gaps, crooked or missing teeth need another treatment; your examination shows which one fits.

Your journey starts here

Your next chapter
begins with a conversation.

Tell us what you would like to change. We reply with options, the days you would need in Istanbul and a price range. Free, and with no obligation.

Bahçeşehir

2. Kısım, Mercedes Bulvarı No:28-A D:78, 34488 Başakşehir
+90 546 690 88 10View on map

Free online consultation

Your details are used only to answer this request. No price is final until a dentist has examined you.

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