Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening is a simple solution that can immediately improve the colour of your teeth and boost your self-confidence.

It’s a great way and the easiest way to enhance your smile.

Why whitening?

Most wish to have a celebrity smile but, very few people have naturally bright white teeth. Over time teeth start to become darker and, other factors such as your diet can affect their colour, for example, coffee, red wine, curry, balsamic vinegar.

You may wish to whiten if:

• You have an important occasion like a wedding and would like to enhance your image
• Your job role requires being in front of the camera
• If you have dark or discoloured teeth
• To complete your smile transformation journey (maybe after tooth straightening)
• To have a younger appearance
• To enhance your smile – this can help you in many ways including a boost to your confidence

What’s involved?

At your consultation, we will expertly assess your teeth to make sure they are suitable for safe whitening treatment. Before undergoing treatment we recommend seeing the hygienist for a professional clean as all external stains can be removed. This will give you a more accurate idea of your natural shade and the best course of action going forward. It will also allow more surfaces to be freed from plaque and so the whitening process is more efficient and accurate.

We will use a 3D scanner to custom make your whitening trays in a dental lab. You will need to return for a further appointment, to collect your tray and pick up your whitening gels. On this appointment I will go through your kit with you so you are comfortable with how it all works.

Generally, there are three ways to whiten your teeth:

1. Home whitening – This is when we will issue you your whitening trays and kit for you to take home to whiten your teeth either during the day or at night, whilst you sleeping.
2. In-surgery Whitening – This is when we will use special gels to whiten your teeth in your custom trays while you are in the dental chair. This usually will take around an hour or so to complete.
3. Combination whitening – This shows the best result. It incorporates both methods 1 + 2. So you’ll be issued a kit for home whitening and then after 2 weeks, we will get you back in to complete the final in house whitening.

If you have a single tooth that is much darker; then it could be that the tooth is no longer alive. This tooth may already be root filled and if not then may require root canal therapy. Once completed, we can then complete something called internal whitening. This is used when root filled teeth are not only whitened from the outside but the inside also by placing the whitening solution within the tooth itself. This is only required when teeth have heavily discoloured.

How long do I need to whiten my teeth?

Trays can be worn throughout the evening, or overnight. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of colour change required; however, I will discuss your desired results with you and advise the length of your treatment time. Usually, 2 to 3 weeks shows a good change in shade.

Going forward you can retain this new shade by a single night of whitening over a 2, 3 or 4 months interval. If you decide you would like a boost of whitening – then just give us a call and we can arrange for you to purchase top-up whiten gels. These can be used within the same trays that have been issued to you. So if you have an upcoming birthday, party or holiday and wanted that extra sparkle, then you can definitely do this.

How can I keep my smile bright white?

As well as using a whitening treatment, you can keep your smile looking fresh by incorporating some simple steps into your oral healthcare routine:

• Avoid, or keep to a minimum heavily coloured foods and drinks
• Drink water regularly to cleanse the mouth
• Use water or mouthwash to rinse out within 30 mins of eating
• Plaque attracts stains, so regular brushing and flossing definitely helps
• By visiting your hygienist for a scale and polish at least 1-2x yearly