Teeth Whitening Offered by Dentists

Teeth Whitening offered by dentists

White Teeth are a huge trend and so many people have had teeth whitening treatments to make their teeth look whiter and also contribute towards a more attractive smile. I have written a blog which addresses the questions I am most frequently asked about teeth whitening during my day to day working life.

What do Dentists use for Teeth Whitening treatments?

Dentists generally use peroxide-based products to whiten teeth and remove stains. The peroxide can come in the form of a hydrogen peroxide (for in surgery teeth whitening) or a weaker carbamide peroxide (for take home teeth whitening). These whitening systems use concentrations which vary from 6% to 16% concentration. The concentration you use depends on how white you would like your teeth to go and whether you have any sensitive teeth. If you have sensitive teeth, I would advise the weaker concentrations. We used to be able to provide teeth whitening with gels up to 35% but this is no longer available in England due to very strict laws regulating the use of teeth whitening gels. To read the GDC regulations and guidelines around Teeth whitening click here. The stronger gels are available across Europe and in America.

What kind of Teeth Whitening is provided by a cosmetic dentist?

A cosmetic dentist will offer either take home teeth whitening or in-surgery teeth whitening. For take home teeth whitening, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth using a soft putty. We have an iTero Scanner which we use to scan our patient’s teeth, making the process more comfortable for our patients. The impression or scan is sent to our technician. The technician will use the models of your teeth to make custom made whitening trays which fit your teeth snugly. A snug fit is important to make the teeth whitening process comfortable and also ensures an effective delivery of the gel. We then give you the trays and some teeth whitening gel, enough to last you 2 to 4 weeks and you do the treatment at home. The trays can stay in your mouth for 2 hours or overnight. The gel is no longer active after 2 hours, so the length of time you leave the trays in your mouth will not affect the outcome. Whether you choose to the 2 hours treatment or overnight treatment depends on your lifestyle, habits and how well you can adopt to sleeping with the trays in your mouth. 
If you have the in-surgery teeth whitening, the dentist will apply a barrier to your gums to protect your gums from the gel. They will then apply the peroxide gel to your teeth and use a bright light to activate the gel. The gel is applied in increment of 15 minutes, and we use a maximum of 4 applications per person. Most people may follow this in-surgery teeth whitening with some whitening trays. This is called combination teeth whitening. The beauty of this is that once you have had the in-surgery whitening treatment, you only have to wear the whitening trays at home for a shorter time.

How well does Teeth Whitening done by the dentist work?

The outcome of teeth whitening is dependent on a few factors. If you are doing take home teeth whitening, you can continue to apply the gel until your teeth are as white as you would like them to be. Some patients stop after a couple of days, some continue on for a few weeks (we normally recommend no more than a month). If you are having in surgery teeth whitening, each patient has the exact same treatment, and we always advise patients the outcome can vary depending on how receptive your teeth are to whitening and this outcome can change from person to person and from tooth to tooth. How well the treatment works will also depend on how dark your teeth are to begin with, darker teeth tend to have a better contrast for a comparison of the outcome. Darker teeth can also be more difficult to stain. The cause of staining will also affect the outcome of the whitening treatment.

Is Teeth Whitening permanent?

Teeth whitening is not a permanent treatment. How long you maintain your brighter, whiter smile depends on your teeth, your habits and the types of food and drinks you take. It is best to stay away from substances that stain your teeth such as coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine and some heavily spiced foods such as turmeric. Your oral hygiene, how well you brush and maintain your teeth will also affect the longevity of the treatment. I usually advise my patients to do 2 days of top after e 6-month hygiene session just for a maintenance. This usually works very well if the patient has the trays from previous treatments. They may need to just buy some gel if they don’t have fresh gel. The teeth whitening gel usually lasts up to 24 months if kept in the fridge, but it is always good to check the expiry date before using the gel.

Can bonded teeth be whitened?

The active component in teeth whitening gel does not work on any bonded materials which may be attached to your teeth. The gel will not work on any type of filling material nor on porcelain of crowns or veneers, nor any denture materials. If you have bonding which is starting to look a bit dark, you could have this polished by your dentist, and this may brighten it a little. If you still don’t like the shade of the bonding after the polishing, you could do some cosmetic dentistry which would involve teeth whitening on the rest of your teeth. Once your teeth are as bright as you would like them to be, you can replace the bonding to a shade that is better suited and matches the new colour of your teeth after the teeth whitening.

Is Teeth Whitening with hydrogen peroxide safe

Teeth whitening is a generally safe procedure. The treatment has to be provided by a qualified dentist as we have the knowledge and expertise to make sure we keep our patients safe during the treatment. The main issues which could arise from teeth whitening are to do with the gums or sensitivity of the teeth. If the barrier which protects your gums is not applied correctly or there is incorrect application of the gel, then you may risk suffering from burnt gums. Dentists have the know-how and expertise to avoid this from happening. You may also have sensitivity during the treatment. If this is communicated to your dentist, then the treatment can be stopped with immediate effect. Post-operative sensitivity is common after teeth whitening, but this is usually very mild and should only last a day or two. The use of toothpastes like Sensodyne pronamel toothpaste and mouthwash can help to prevent or reduce this sensitivity.

What is the cost of teeth whitening?

The cost of tooth whitening processes does vary a lot, from one neighborhood to the next. And from one city to another. The general cost of take-home whitening kit is anything from around £150 upwards. In-surgery whitening can go as low as £200 and often as high as £600. It is always a good idea to check who is providing the treatment for you and if it is bargain bucket cheap, best to also establish why the treatment is so cheap. Our prices are £350 for the take home teeth whitening and £650 for the combination teeth whitening (both in-surgery and take-home teeth whitening). We also provide replacement teeth whitening gel at £50 per syringe.
It is always important to seek the opinion of a regulated dental professional so the treatment you receive is professional teeth whitening. It is also important that you check your teeth and gums are healthy before you have teeth whitening treatment and that the treatment you receive is incorporated into your routine dental care. If you require any dental treatments such as fillings or hygiene session with the dental hygienist to make gums healthier, it is always best to have these taken care of before you have the teeth whitening.

Please do get in touch with us if you have any further questions about teeth whitening treatment. We are happy to book you in for a free consultation to discuss the ins and outs of the treatment and advise on whether you are suitable for the treatment.