Tooth whitening
Tooth whitening is a quick and inexpensive way to dramatically improve someone’s appearance. A bright white smile can make someone look good and feel great. Every Thursday is 'Whitening Thursday' at Augusta, where you can get tooth whitening in our surgery for just £300.
In a recent survey, carried out on behalf of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, tooth whitening was the most popular cosmetic dental treatment. Research has also shown that colour is the most important factor in determining the attractiveness of a smile. The treatment is suitable for most people to reverse age changes and is particularly successful in removing unsightly stains left by smoking, tea/coffee and certain foods. The results will vary for each individual depending on the existing natural shading of the teeth and the level of discolouration.
The advantages of tooth whitening are that it is a quick, safe, painless procedure that restores the natural colour of the teeth with no structural change. People should also consider tooth whitening prior to any restorative work so that the colour of the crowns and veneers can be matched to the natural tooth colour after whitening.
Tooth whitening requires the application of a whitening gel to the tooth surface. The whitening gels use oxidising agents, most commonly hydrogen peroxide, on molecules causing intrinsic staining, allowing these molecules to be converted into smaller non-coloured material. Once whitened, the effects will last between 2-3 years depending on how much tea coffee, red wine or other staining products are used.
Tooth whitening can be carried out in two ways:
- Home Tray Whitening – impressions are made of teeth and custom trays are made to contain the gel. The trays and gel are used at home and the trays are worn for prolonged periods, usually overnight, for several sessions until the bleaching process is complete. The trays allow for a more gradual process, usually 10-14 days.
- Surgery or Power Whitening – more concentrated gel is placed directly on the teeth. The gel is usually applied as carbamide peroxide, which is converted to hydrogen peroxide when the gel is activated by laser, heat or, most commonly, a blue light. The whole process takes just over one hour. The gums and lips must be protected from the bleaching agent to reduce the risk sensitivity following the procedure. Any sensitivity is usually transient and disappears within 24 hours.
Top Patient Tips
- No whitening is permanent. Maintenance is needed to keep that bright smile.
- Only a dentist can get teeth to the maximum whiteness.
- See a dentist first to check teeth are healthy before starting. Teeth and gums can become permanently sensitive if they are not healthy first.
- There is no evidence that whitening toothpastes can actually whiten teeth,
- Whitening kits can at best do nothing and at worst some of those bought abroad or over the Internet can actually harm teeth as they contain acids/abrasives that can cause permanent damage.