Tooth whitening treatment has recently become a very popular method of lightening teeth to their ultimate natural whiteness.

You can carry out tooth whitening at home using our easy to use home kit. You will need to make a consultation appointment with a dentist who will be able to assess whether you are a suitable candidate for tooth whitening treatment. We always recommend a trip to one of our dental hygienists who will carry out a scale and polish of your teeth to remove any build of tartar or staining as this will help to achieve the best results possible. To prepare for your tooth whitening treatment an impression is taken of your teeth and from these impressions trays are made to fit over your upper and lower teeth. The tooth whitening solution is squeezed into the trays and you will need to wear them for several sessions to achieve the best possible results.

The alternative to home whitening is to have your teeth whitened in one treatment at the practice. The same process will be followed to ensure you are suitable for the treatment and you will be referred to our dental hygienist for scale and polishing prior to receiving your tooth whitening treatment. The dentist will carefully apply the tooth whitening agent to your teeth whilst you relax in the dental chair. You will need to allow an hour or so for the completion of your treatment.

Results can be remarkable, particularly if your teeth have some staining build up from  eating and drinking staining foods or smoking. Your dentist will be able to advise you of the likely results you can realistically expect to achieve by showing you a colour chart prior to treatment. The most important thing to remember is that your teeth will only whiten to their ultimate naturally white colour. Some people have ivory coloured or dark teeth and these will not bleach to the same extent as those teeth which are already naturally light in colour. There are also some conditions that cause teeth to be marked with patches of light and dark colour. Sometimes this is caused by taking antibiotics when adult teeth are forming in the jaw, or by consuming too much fluoride. Your dentist will be able to advise you of the likely results to expect from having tooth whitening, but as with any clinical procedure the end result cannot be guaranteed.

Very occasionally some patients experience increased levels of sensitivity during and immediately following tooth whitening treatment. This feeling should pass after 24 hours.

Providing there are no signs or symptoms of gum disease we recommend that all our patients who are having restorative dentistry within their “smile line” complete a course of tooth whitening first. This means the colour of the restorations can be made to match the natural whiteness of you teeth.

Once the restoration has been completed it is not possible to carry out tooth whitening as the tooth coloured material used when making restorations such as crowns and bridges will not alter its colour in the same way as your natural teeth.