Dental Whitening
Dental Whitening is a non-invasive way you can lighten the colour of your natural teeth.
This is achieved by applying a special whitening gel, containing Hydrogen Peroxide as the active ingredient, which has the ability to chemically degrade the existing tooth stains. While healthy teeth come in different shades as it is genetically predetermined, everyday diet and certain habits can have a significant impact on the colour of your smile.
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This includes foods or Drinks that have the potential to stain your teeth like Coffee, tea or Wine. Smoking, in addition to the other health risks that poses, can be a major factor in darkening the shade of your smile.
Professional At-Home dental Whitening Kit.
A Professional at-home dental whitening kit contains several whitening gel syringes, a special whitening toothpaste and a set of whitening trays, individually made to fit exactly on your teeth. Initially you will need to attend 2 appointments at your dentist. At the first appointment an impression of your teeth will be made in order to fabricate the whitening trays. At the second appointment the dentist will check the fit of the trays and provide you with the whitening Home-Kit. Then, the practitioner will give you specific instructions of use. Usually, the whitening course lasts for about 3-5 weeks and you will need to wear the trays for 4-6 hours a day.
Why someone may need Tooth Whitening?
Dental whitening is classified as a cosmetic procedure, so while there is no actual medical need for this, it can notably brighten your smile if you are not satisfied with the current shade of your teeth. Also, occasionally due to irreversible damage to the pulp (nerve) of a tooth (e.g after an accident), the crown may darken from the inside and whitening is needed to reverse the natural colour of that tooth.
How white can my teeth get and how long does it last?
It is important to note that Whitening can lighten your smile by several shades (2-3) depending on your existing tooth colour, but can not make your teeth brilliant white; This can be only achieved with either dental Veneers or Crowns (see. MORE***). Also, you should be aware that dental whitening does not last forever as teeth continue to be vulnerable to staining through your diet or smoking. So, the more you protect your teeth from staining the longer your whitening result will last.
Will Dental Whitening brighten my existing fillings or false teeth?
No, the whitening gel has no effect on false teeth (e.g crowns) or fillings. For instance, if you do have composite fillings on your front teeth and you undergo a whitening course, it is advised to replace these fillings to match the new brighter shade that has been achieved.
Is dental Whitening bad for my teeth?
No, Professional Dental Whitening is not bad for your teeth when the procedure is clinically indicated. The dentist will do an examination, ask you some questions and then decide whether whitening is for you. For example, it is not recommended to undergo a course if you have sensitive teeth. This is due to the fact that whitening gel can temporarily increase teeth sensitivity, especially in higher concentrations.
