Teeth Whitening

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Teeth Whitening Before and After

Teeth whitening is a popular non-invasive procedure which lightens the colour of your teeth by using a safe dental bleaching agent. Professional teeth whitening by a dental practitioner is the only safe, legal and effective method to bring back the sparkle to your smile.

There are many factors which can affect the colour of your teeth, such as aging, food and drink, smoking and trauma. Individual results of teeth whitening will vary and are based on your initial tooth colour and the nature of your tooth staining.

Boutique Whitening

At Mulgrave Dental Care, we offer the multi-award winning Boutique Whitening, a premium quality teeth whitening system which is designed by dentists and can only be prescribed by a dentist. Boutique is designed to fit in with your lifestyle by offering day and night options for your convenience.

The Boutique by Day formula will require 1.5 hours wear time per day, or alternatively, there are 4 types of overnight gels that can be offered depending on patient requirements. The teeth whitening options will be offered to patients after a dental examination is carried out to assess the overall oral health of the patient. We will take an impression of your teeth and send it to the Boutique Whitening laboratory where they will precision manufacture your bespoke whitening trays.

The trays will be fitted at the practice and the dentist will provide advise on how to use the whitening syringes and how long to wear the trays for. Results are usually seen over 2 weeks and your teeth will appear whiter and brighter!

Teeth Whitening FAQs

Natural tooth whitening (bleaching). This is the most common method of improving the colour of teeth. It can take a few weeks to reach the desired shade but there is no lasting damage to teeth or gums if carried out correctly and with the right equipment and materials. This leaflet will aim to answer most of your questions regarding this procedure.

Is there any damage to my teeth or gums during the procedure?

The materials that are used to whiten teeth can be dangerous and require a lot of training in order to use them safely and effectively. For this reason only dentists are allowed to prescribe a therapeutic dose of whitening gel (maximum 6% hydrogen peroxide). When they are used correctly, there is no lasting damage.

Will my teeth become sensitive during the treatment?

There is a chance that the teeth can become sensitive during the process but if the correct protocol is followed then this should be a temporary inconvenience and will settle a few hours after cessation of the treatment. It is usually minimal and easily managed with sensitive toothpastes and other local measures.

How long will my treatment take?

The length of time can vary from two weeks to several months. This will depend on the cause of the discolouration and in severe cases a perfect colour change cannot be guaranteed. There may be cases where the teeth are whitened with gels to achieve an acceptable colour and get no further improvement with gels. In that case, it may be possible to prescribe veneers in order to mask the most severe discolouration. It is still better to use gels first as the thickness of the veneer can be reduced to stop any natural tooth colour showing through.

What is the procedure?

At the initial consultation, a mould of the teeth will be taken and sent to the dental laboratory for the construction of your trays which are prescribed by the dentist. They will be fitted at a subsequent appointment and full verbal and written instructions will be provided. It is imperative that you read and understand the instructions fully and ask any questions. The dentist will review you in two weeks and then appropriately to ensure there are no problems and the procedure is going as planned.

Should I avoid any food or drink during the process?

It is only necessary to watch your diet for a few hours after each whitening session. If you consume a lot of red wine, black tea and coffee or smoke a lot then you will still get an improvement in your colour but it may take longer. This may be a good opportunity to quit smoking if it has been on your mind and achieve the teeth that you have desired bringing you new confidence and a healthier lifestyle.

How long should I wear the trays?

It is important to wears the trays as prescribed. It is designed to be worn at night as it is a slow release gel but some people find it uncomfortable and in that case the trays can be worn at another time but must be kept in the mouth for at least 4 hours.

Will my fillings/crowns be affected?

The white fillings/crowns will not change colour and may need replacement after the desired tooth colour is achieved. It is important to wait two weeks after finishing the whitening protocol before the fillings are changed as the whitening gel remnants can affect the ability of the white filling to perform effectively.

When do I stop using the gels?

If the gels are used as prescribed by the dentist then there is minimal risk of any long term damage and the short term problems such as sensitivity can be easily managed. In rare cases the treatment needs to be abandoned due to an adverse reaction to the materials used but it is very rare. You can decide when to stop whitening your teeth but it is advised that you continue for one week after you achieve the desired colour as there will be some shade regression.

How long does the treatment last?

This will depend on many factors such as diet, social habits such as smoking and your oral hygiene. After your treatment has completed, the amount of chromogenic products used in the mouth will affect the longevity of the treatment. As a rough guide it may need repeating after six months in year one then nine months year two then annually. It depends on a lot of factors but generally the treatment time is reduced and the longevity is increased after each treatment period.

This page is designed to answer most of your questions regarding tooth whitening and an opportunity to review the information provided by your dentist. Please feel free to ask all the questions and ensure you are fully informed of the entire process of tooth whitening. The products used at the surgery are medical grade and the technology in the trays is the reason why we rarely experience any side effects and we nearly always achieve the desired colour.

It is a very safe and effective way to improve your smile. We hope you enjoy the experience and are happy with the final results.

Please speak with your dentist for further information who will be happy to answer any further questions.