Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is the process of removing stains and discolouration from teeth and improving their colour through a bleaching process to make them look “whiter”.

For heavily stained teeth a significant improvement in their appearance can be achieved following a procedure as simple as a scale and polish from a dental hygienist.

Most cosmetic dental practices offer a combination of in-surgery immediate teeth whitening and professional take-home tooth whitening kits with custom made trays. Both procedures are based on a bleaching process which uses a peroxide based compound which varies in strength (3-30% peroxide). The higher the concentration of peroxide in the compound the more powerful the bleaching compound is. This means it is more effective at whitening the teeth but at the same time has a greater potential to cause damage to the surrounding gum tissue and your lips.

It is very important that your dentist isolates your gums and lips with a protective material in order to avoid any potential damage and burning of your soft tissue. It is for this reason that home whitening kits usually have a low concentration of peroxide so that there is less change of any damage occuring at home. Although recently high strength home whiteining kits that can be purchsed online and from certain stores have attrracted media attention with horror storied of people with badly burnt lips and gums. Teeth whitening is a procedure that should always be carried out under the supervision of a dentist.

Home Teeth whitening Kits
The take home whitening kits provide more permanent results over a longer time scale whereas laser whitening offers immediate results. A combination of the two provides the perfect solution to both immediate and long-term whitening.

How much whiter will my teeth look?
This varies from individual to individual and also the type of whitening system used. Some people respond very well to teeth whitening and have dramatic whitening results whereas others may notice very little difference at all. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the likely results expected with your teeth.

Does it hurt ? what are the side effects of Teeth whitening?
Some people expereince no pain or sensitivity with their teeth. However, the majority of people will expereince some kind on sensitivity either during and / or after the initial treatment. This is usually described by patients as spoaradic sharp shooting pains coming from your teeth. This should settle down after approximately 48 hours. Your dentist may give you a special gel or mouse to apply to your teeth to help with the sensitivity. It is advisble to avoid and hot or cold food or drinks within the first 48 hours of your whitening treatment.

Which is the best teeth whitening brand / System?
There are many different brands of professional teeth whitening systems each claiming to provide the best results depending on who you believe, with the most popular systems being Zoom!®, as featured on extreme makeover, Opalescence® , BriteSmile® and the latest Enlighten system. Each of the systems have their pros and cons and your dentist will be able to discuss which system would be best suited for your teeth.

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Click next and read on to learn about the procedure of in surgery-light activated or "laser" teeth whitening.