This procedure is used to lighten the colour of natural teeth. The colour of teeth varies among individuals and in different age groups - teeth can naturally darken over time. Tooth colour is influenced by a person's genetic makeup and by any surface stains or deposits in or on the teeth. If teeth are dark due to external stains or deposits, they will need to be cleaned prior to tooth whitening. All of our whitening treatments are clinically approved and range from our easy to use home bleaching kits to our state of the art in house tooth whitening treatment which takes about one to two hours to complete. We offer 4 different procedures, dependent on your individual requirements, and we will be more than happy to discuss these treatments at your consultation appointment.
Suitability for tooth whitening
Whilst many are able to undergo a tooth whitening procedure, there are some people who are not suitable candidates. Suitability for treatment is determined through information you provide on a tooth whitening questionnaire and information gathered during your consultation and screening. Should your dentist advise you are not a suitable candidate for this procedure, you may be able to explore other treatment options to achieve the smile you want. Invariably, other options are more invasive and involve drilling the teeth or bonding white filling material onto them.
The great advantage of tooth whitening is that it does not involve the destruction of existing healthy tooth structure which can result in tooth death and the necessity of root canal therapy in up to 10% of teeth prepared for veneers, crowns or bridges.
Types of tooth whitening
A gel, normally carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, is used to whiten teeth. Chlorine Dioxide whitening products are never used in this practice as they strip the surface off the teeth, making the teeth much more prone to further staining.
We offer 4 different tooth whitening procedures:
Whitening Strips.
The brand of whitening strips we use have been tried by ourselves and have proved easy to use, stay firmly in place when fitted and they can even be used “on the go”. Other strips we found were difficult to place and moved around as they did not stick to the teeth . The adhesive strips containing the active ingredients are applied to the teeth as per the detailed instructions and left in place for 30 minutes. Patients are initially supplied with 14 days of strips. The teeth will become gradually lighter over time. Results may vary depending on the initial darkness of the teeth and some patients may need to purchase further strips to extend the treatment time to get the required result over a longer period or to top up the result already achieved.
2 - Tray System.
Impressions are taken of your teeth to make a flexible whitening tray (similar to a very thin gum shield) and this fits over and around your teeth. The gel is placed in the tray and used in accordance with the advice given by your dentist, usually over night for a number of nights. The teeth will become gradually lighter over time. A course of treatment takes a variable number of weeks and results may vary depending on the initial darkness of the teeth, the concentration of the gel used and the frequency of application.
3- Enlighten System.
Impressions are taken of your teeth to make a more specialised whitening tray. This tray is constructed differently and helps keep more of the gel in the tray, thus giving a more predictable result. The tray is worn every night for 14 nights and conditions the teeth for the second stage. On the 15th day, the dentist uses the same tray to place a different and higher concentrate gel on the teeth for 20 minutes and then repeats this for another 20 minutes. This system almost guarantees to get your teeth to shade B1 though it may take longer than the time scale just discussed, depending on the individual.
4- Britesmile Power Whitening.
You attend for an appointment where your gums are isolated using special materials. A gel is placed directly onto your teeth and a special high intensity light focused on the teeth for 20 minutes. This is then repeated up to three further times (all in the same appointment) the appointment taking between 90 minutes and two hours. No home treatment is necessary using this technique though we do provide you with whitening strips to allow you to maintain your new colour. A Britesmile pen may also be used for this purpose.
Is it safe and what are the risks?
Tooth whitening is the safest thing to do to teeth apart from doing nothing.
Risks
- There is a risk that the whitening process will not work quickly and the dentist will discuss the possible reasons why this might not work particularly well or why it might take longer than average.
- Not all teeth whiten to the same extent, particularly deeply discoloured teeth. Some teeth lighten more effectively or more quickly than others. Teeth which are already quite white only lighten a little further.
- Some teeth do not whiten evenly. This can be a problem where the gum has receded and the darker root surface is exposed. Such teeth or worn teeth can become sensitive with whitening.
- Certain types of tooth discolouration do not respond easily and require special treatment by a dentist. Fillings, veneers, crowns and bridges that match the existing teeth will not change colour with whitening. The cost of replacing these so that they match the new lighter colour of the natural teeth can be considerable and must be discussed with the dentist before whitening is undertaken.
- Extensive clinical data continues to support the safety and effectiveness of tooth whitening but during the process teeth may become sensitive for a period of time. This is usually only temporary and a fluoride gel or special sensitive type tooth paste can be placed in the tray and worn for up to 30 minutes before and after each whitening period to minimise the sensitivity.
- Temporary irritation of the soft tissues in the mouth, particularly the gums, is rare but can occur if too much gel is loaded into the trays. The dentist will advise how to help avoid this problem.
How long does the lighter appearance last?
Teeth that have been whitened have a tendency to eventually return to their original colour. The time this takes depends on a patient’s diet and whether they smoke. The colour obtained would be expected to be maintained for between two and four years but patients who regularly eat darker foods and smoke will darken their teeth more quickly. Teeth will require to be “topped up” from time to time. Patients can purchase further whitening strips, Britesmile pens or tubes of gel and use their original trays when required to maintain the desired whiteness. Because the gel used in the whitening process, when exposed to air, degrades fairly rapidly we now provide gel in sealed compules, pens or strips to prolong its shelf life.
Summary of advantages and disadvantages of each system.
Smile strips are very convenient and easy to use though results can, in some patients, take several weeks to be achieved. They can leave the necks of the teeth less white than the biting edges, though generally they produces less sensitivity. It is however very controllable as you can stop if you think the teeth are white enough. Smile strips are excellent for “topping up” the whiteness of your teeth, say once a month and may be purchased from us having undergone an initial course of treatment.
Tray whitening takes two to three weeks, it is messier, can leave the necks of the teeth less white than the biting edges and generally produces more sensitivity. It is however very controllable as you can stop if you think the teeth are white enough.
Enlighten is more expensive, is still time consuming (two weeks) and messy but has the advantage of guaranteeing the whitest possible result
Britesmile is the most expensive but has the advantage of being completed in between one and two hours. It is not messy and normally produces very little sensitivity.
