Tooth whitening

Tooth Whitening

Before

After

Teeth can be whitened using several techniques giving varied results. The two main techniques used are “in surgery” whitening or “at home” whitening.

The “in surgery” whitening uses a strong concentration of bleach which is “activated” by your dentist. This produces same-day result.

The “at home” whitening uses casts of the teeth to create custom fabricated trays to hold the bleach in position. These uses a carbamide peroxide gel to whiten the teeth. These can then be worn once or twice a day, or even overnight, depending on your dentist’s instructions.

How white will my teeth look?

The final colour of the teeth is dependant on several factors, including the strength of the bleach, the number of times and duration the trays are worn for, the start colour of the teeth and the amount of discolouring agents, such as smoking.

A single course of bleaching used on all the teeth will normally lighten the teeth by at least 3-5 shades. Ask your dentist to see the standard shade guide to see what this will mean for you.

Is there a difference to the bleach I can buy in the chemist?

There are three main differences between the whitening systems you can buy and those used by your dentist

1. The Trays:- The trays made by your dentists are custom fabricated to fit your mouth. This makes them easier and more comfortable to wear and will hold the bleach on the teeth more accurately

2. The Bleach:- The bleaching agents sold in the chemist are often lower concentrations. This means that they will have less effect on the teeth. In fact some concentrations have been found to be so low that they have no noticeable effect.

3. Advice:- your dentist can advise if there may be problems or complications with the treatment specific to your mouth

Are there any problems

Not all people are suitable for bleaching. Some cosmetic problems may be made worse by bleaching. Crowns and fillings will not lighten with the rest of your teeth. Your dentist will be able to advise you on what the effects will be, alternative options you could consider and the cost of replacing fillings or crowns if these needed to be changed to match the new shade

Text Box: “Aesthetic fluorosis” An example of a cosmtic issue that be exaggerated by tooth whitening

Are there any side-effects?

Tooth whitening has not been found to have any long term side-effects. A minority of patients can suffer with sensitivity during the treatment. If this is mild then it can be treated at time. More severe sensitivity might result in the bleaching being stopped, or require some of the teeth being “sealed” to prevent the problem. Patients who do suffer with sensitivity find it settles back down at the end of treatment

What if I want to whiten my teeth more?

Further bleach can be bought from the surgery at a much lower cost, once the trays have been made. With the in-surgery bleaching, trays to top-up the bleaching are provided with the treatment for future use if required