Teeth Whitening (In-Chair or Home)
Teeth whitening can help brighten your smile and reduce the appearance of stains. Seeking treatment with your dentist is the safest and most reliable way to get results from tooth whitening. We offer both in-chair (at the dentist) and take home teeth whitening treatments.
Why do teeth discolour?
Teeth come in many different shades naturally but over time they can appear darker, take on a yellowish tone or develop spot staining. Teeth discolour for many reasons and we can help you understand if the staining is on the inside or outside of your tooth or if there are specific reasons your teeth have changed colour.
For example, staining on the outside of teeth may be caused by smoking, certain types of food and drink. Coffee, tea and red wine are major culprits due to their intense pigment. Staining on the inside of the tooth is more often a result of tooth decay, exposure to certain medications or other tooth trauma.
In-chair teeth whitening
In-chair teeth whitening gets its name because the treatment is done while you are at the dentist. There are many reasons why people prefer to have their treatment done this way:
In-chair whitening uses more concentrated solutions of teeth whitening products (hydrogen peroxide).
Your dentist can control the exact amount of whitening gel used.
Your dentist can ensure the solution does not come into contact with any soft tissues (gums, tongue or cheek) and cause irritation.
The results are immediate and you will leave your appointment with whiter teeth.
Take home whitening treatments
Another option for tooth whitening is for your dentist to prepare a take home whitening kit for you. Here’s how it works:
Your dentist will take digital scans of your teeth to prepare custom-made plastic trays shaped to your teeth
At home, you will follow your dentist’s instructions to place whitening gel in the tray for a set amount of time over a set number of days per week.
This method can achieve the same results as in-chair whitening over a longer time period.
Take home whitening may also be used as a maintenance regime following in-chair whitening.
Things you should know
Teeth whitening can achieve great results and help brighten your smile but care needs to be taken. Your dentist is the best person to speak to about various treatments to minimise any risks.
Whitening treatments use concentrated hydrogen peroxide that can cause irritation and ulcers if applied incorrectly and you get the solution on the soft tissues in your mouth.
Your teeth may also become more sensitive to hot and/or cold following treatment or if products are used incorrectly. If you are worried about sensitivity, speak to your dentist about the best option for you.
Finally, teeth whitening treatments only work to lighten the colour of tooth enamel. If you have teeth that have been, or are likely to be, restored with fillings, crowns or veneers, it is best to speak to your dentist first. They will recommend completing your teeth whitening treatment first so they can match the colour of any tooth restorations to your post-whitening shade.
