Teeth Whitening

Many teeth whitening products are available on the market these days. The include whitening toothpastes, whitening strips, whitening pens, over the counter gels and whitening products obtained from a dentist. Teeth whitening is the procedure of choice for people who have healthy gums and unrestored teeth. It is patients with yellow shaded teeth that respond the best.

What we use at Whitesmile Dental Care

Our home whitening program is extremely popular due to the low cost but mostly due to the success of the system. At Whitesmile Dental Care we use our very successful Tray-based teeth whitening system. This involves placing a very thin and comfortable tray with a gel whitening solution containing a peroxide-whitening agent. The tray is generally worn for 15 minutes to 45 minutes per day for 7 days for simple cases and up to two weeks for moderate cases (which is what this teeth whitening system is best used for).

How do I get started?

The first step to a healthier whiter mouth is to have a consultation and hygiene appointment with Dr Christophers. After that all it takes is two, 10‐minute sessions to get started, and you will be on your way to having white teeth in no time at all! At the first appointment we take impressions of your teeth to create your custom made teeth whitening trays. At the second appointment we check to make sure the trays fit perfectly and show you exactly how to use our take‐home system. You can then use the kit at your convenience – day or night.

How Successful is the Take Home Whitening System?

Whitesmile Dental Care’s teeth whitening take‐home system enjoys a success rate of around 90%. This is a fantastic success rate, however as teeth whitening is unpredictable results cannot be guaranteed. It is our preferred method of teeth whitening as it produces excellent and long lasting results, and creates less teeth sensitivity.

However tooth whitening is not permanent. People who extensively expose their teeth to foods and beverages that cause staining may see the whiteness start to fade in as little as one month.Examples would be Cola, Coffee, Tea,Red Wine, Smoking, Curries,etc Those who avoid foods and beverages that stain may be able to wait one year or longer before another whitening treatment or touch-up is needed. We supply a 6 monthly touch up gel to our patients as part of our Whitesmile for life program.

The degree of whiteness will vary from individual to individual depending on the condition of the teeth, the level of staining, and the type of teeth whitening system used.

What should you expect after your teeth are whitened?
There are no major side effects that occur once your teeth have been whitened but you may notice an increase in sensitivity and potentially irritation on your gums. Typically, if these symptoms do occur, it will only be temporary and last for around three days. Of course, there are a number of things you can do to reduce, or even eliminate these things from happening. The easiest option is to use toothpaste which is specifically designed for sensitive teeth, use a product which is high in fluoride to remineralise your teeth and you can also consider temporarily stopping your teeth whitening treatment for a few days to allow your teeth to adjust to the process.

Can anyone whiten their teeth?
tooth, is enlarged until this age. Teeth whitening under this condition could irritate the pulp or cause it to become sensitive. Teeth whitening is also not recommended in pregnant or lactating women.

Age and pregnancy issues. Teeth whitening is not recommended in children under the age of 16. This is because the pulp chamber, or nerve of the teeth is stiil quite large at this age

Sensitive teeth and allergies. Individuals with sensitive teeth and gums, receding gums, and/or defective restorations should consult with their dentist prior to using a tooth-whitening system. Anyone allergic to peroxide (the whitening agent) should not use a bleaching product.

Gum disease, worn enamel, cavities, and exposed roots. Individuals with uncontrolled gum disease or teeth with worn enamel are generally discouraged from undergoing a tooth-whitening procedure. Cavities need to be treated before undergoing any whitening procedure. This is because the whitening solutions penetrate via existing decay and into the inner areas of the tooth, which can cause sensitivity. Also, whitening procedures do not work on exposed tooth roots. Tooth roots do not have an enamel layer and it is enamel which can be whitened with whitening gels. Exposed tooth roots can however be whitened with bonded resin restorations if necessary.
Fillings, crowns, and other restorations. Tooth-coloured fillings and ceramics used in dental restorations (crowns, veneers,implants, bridges) do not whiten. Therefore if visible existing restorations are present this would usually result in uneven whitening — with the natural unrestored teeth without restorations whitening and appearing lighter than those teeth with restorations. Any whitening procedure should be done prior to the placement of restorations. Individuals with multiple existing restorations that would result in an uneven whitening may be better off considering bonding, veneers, or crowns rather than a tooth whitening system. Ask your dentist what options would be best for you.
Unrealistic expectations. Individuals who expect their teeth to be a new “Hollywood white” may be disappointed with their results.There is a limit to how white each individuals teeth can get and your dentist can guide you as to what is realistic in your case. Smokers need to be aware that their results will be limited unless they refrain from continued smoking, particularly during the whitening process.
Darkly stained teeth. Yellowish teeth respond well to tooth whitening, brownish-coloured teeth respond less well and grey or purple-stained teeth may not respond to teeth whitening at all. Congenital Blue-grey stained teeth which is caused by the antibiotic tetracycline are extremely difficult to whiten and may require up to three months of home treatments or several zoom appointments to successfully lighten. Teeth that have very dark stains may be better candidates for another option to improve the appearance, such as veneers, bonding, or crowns. Your dentist can discuss the options best suited for you.
TEETH WHITENING – COMPLIMENTARY WITH ANY HYGIENE APPOINTMENT AND EXAM! * TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY*