Teeth Whitening

You will initially be invited to attend the practice for a free consultation appointment, where we will see if your mouth is suitable for tooth whitening.  We will expect you to have a clean and healthy mouth and a good oral hygiene routine.  If your dentist feels you are suitable, we will arrange a follow up appointment to have an impression taken of your mouth to allow tooth whitening trays to be custom made to fit.

Teeth whitening is a form of dentistry and should only be performed by a dentist or another regulated dental professional. All of our dentists and dental therapists are qualified to perform the procedure. Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but this is illegal if there’s no dental professional present, and it may put your oral health at risk. You can also buy DIY home teeth whitening kits but also carry risks to your oral health.

There is a limit to how white your teeth will become, but you should expect your teeth to lighten by at least 3-4 shades.  The best results are usually seen after two to three weeks of constant use.

Some people notice the results after only one night, others will require 2-3 weeks before an improvement is noticed.

The gel contains a product called hydrogen peroxide, which soaks into the teeth and breaks down the stains using oxygen, to whiten your teeth.

The tooth whitening will cause sensitivity in your teeth, both during the treatment process and for a few days after.  The sensitivity is usually only mild and we recommend that you use either Sensodyne or Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste during the whitening process.  If the sensitivity is severe, we suggest that you leave the whitening trays out for a few nights, until the sensitivity is better.  We also suggest that you refrain from drinking ice cold or very hot foods and drinks during sensitivity to minimise the sensitive feeling.

No, the gel will only white real teeth.  It will not harm crowns, white fillings or false teeth, but these may require to be replaced once tooth whitening is complete to improve the colour match.  Your dentist will discuss this with you in more detail.

In small amounts, the gel is completely harmless, although you may experience an unpleasant taste. If you swallow large amounts of the gel, we recommend that you seek medical advice.

Yes and No.  The results can be permanent, however if your teeth are stained due to smoking or drinking then the teeth can gradually discolour again over time.  We recommend that you keep the tooth whitening trays and repeat the process for a few nights every couple of years.  You can buy individual syringes of tooth whitening gel from us.

Your dentist will provide you with enough tooth whitening gel to last approximately 2 – 3 weeks, which is usually sufficient to whiten your teeth.  If you require more gel, you can purchase additional individual syringes from the practice.