Teeth Whitening
Giving you a Brighter, Whiter Smile
Do you want a brighter, whiter smile? We can help you! Tooth whitening is one of the most popular procedures done to achieve an aesthetically pleasing smile. It is less invasive and more cost effective than crowns and veneers where appropriate.
One can observe that whiter teeth and a pretty smile boost self-confidence, self-image, and employability.
Off the shelf tooth whitening products are often advertised and sold as a “one size fits all” solution. Unfortunately, this is untrue as each person’s mouth is very different and requires a detailed diagnosis and a customised treatment plan to ensure the best results and the least side-effects. The whitening procedure must be professionally supervised to ensure safe use of whitening products and prevent abuse that could weaken tooth structure.
What does the Whitening process consist of?
- Whitening Treatment Plan
- Custom made whitening trays
- Primary whitening kit
Patient assessment is key to determine whether you are a candidate for whitening. We do a thorough oral exam to determine if there are cavities or gum disease present. If that’s the case, we will treat these conditions to avoid irreversible damage to your oral health. Your oral hygiene techniques will be reviewed to ensure that the whitening treatment is successful and lasts longer.
Impressions are taken of your mouth to be able to manufacture whitening trays. Custom made trays are required as the effectiveness of the whitening gel is dependent on the fit of the tray. We will provide you with your custom whitening kit which will be used for a few weeks. In specific and complex cases, a boost procedure is done in the dental chair.
The whitening products we use are different to the bleach used at home on our clothes. We use carbamide peroxide in low concentrations over an extended period of time. Carbamide peroxide is stable and has a higher pH, therefore it is safe to use with less sensitivity. Research has shown that low concentrations over an extended period, results in whiter teeth that stay whiter for longer. Over the counter chlorine dioxide based products have a lower pH, making them more acidic and this will result in weakening of the tooth structure.
Does tooth whitening cause sensitivity?
While sensitivity can occur, there are effective ways to manage this and we automatically include desensitising treatments with our procedure. We will provide you with the whitening products that cause the least sensitivity during treatment. We do advise all our patients what to do should sensitivity occur after the whitening procedure.
Most common tooth whitening sensitivity will occur during “single visit light assisted whitening shocks”. This occurs due to the high concentration of the materials used during these protocols. Whitening materials with lower concentrations over a couple of weeks help avoid sensitivity and possible pulp damage.
Call Us Today for a Consultation!
We look forward to welcoming you to our practice!