Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening Process

Consultation
First, the dentist will perform an examination to determine the suitability of your teeth for whitening. This will include a check-up and may include some x-rays of your teeth. Some reasons that you may not be suitable could be gum disease, tooth decay or hypersensitivity.

It is also important to note that teeth whitening only works on actual tooth structure – crowns, veneers or tooth-coloured fillings will not whiten. Therefore if you have any crowns, veneers or fillings in your front teeth, you may need to have these replaced after your whitening treatment to match them to your new, whiter shade.

Impressions
Once your suitability is confirmed, the dentist then will work with you to identify the shade you wish to achieve. What shade you are able to go to will depend on the shade you begin with, but your dentist will be able to advise you on what outcome you are likely to achieve before you begin. Impressions will then be taken of your teeth so that customised whitening trays (made of a clear plastic material) can be made for you.

Once these are made, you will be invited back to the practice and these trays will be given to you, along with a whitening kit which includes tubes of whitening gel which you can use yourself to whiten your teeth at home. The dentist will demonstrate how to use this kit at this appointment.

Treatment At Home
Teeth whitening trays and gel are used for 1 hour per day for approximately 7 to 14 days to achieve a good result. You may experience some sensitivity during this process, but this is completely normal and will disappear when you finish your whitening treatment. If you usually have sensitive teeth, it may be helpful to use sensitive toothpaste before and during the whitening process.

After the initial application, you will have plenty of whitening gel which you can use to “top-up” your teeth to keep them looking nice and white. It is also important to note that tea, coffee, red wine and smoking causes staining of the teeth, and therefore regular hygienist appointments are recommended to keep your smile clean and white following the whitening treatment.

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