Teeth whitening is a highly effective way of lightening
the natural colour of your teeth without removing
any of the tooth surface.
Why whiten my teeth?
White teeth look great- attractive, youthful and clean. Few people have
naturally white teeth, and teeth can become darker with age. Smoking
and drinks such as tea, coffee and red wine will also progressively
darken the teeth.
What does teeth whitening involve?
Teeth whitening is a bleaching process that lightens discoloration and
removes stains from within the enamel of the teeth.
During your consultation the procedure will be discussed with you to
determine if tooth whitening is suitable in your case. Teeth whitening
does not affect the colour of artificial teeth, crowns, veneers or
fillings.
An impression of your teeth is taken with a dental compound. This is
used to make thin, clear trays, which fit snugly over your teeth. You are
given syringes of gel that contain a 15% carbamide peroxide bleaching
agent. You simply place some of the gel in the tray and fit it over your
teeth for a few hours daily for one to three weeks. You need to wear
the tray for at least three hours each day- or overnight if you prefer.
We will see you again to review progress after two weeks.
Is the process safe?
Yes. Research and clinical studies indicate that whitening teeth with
carbamide peroxide and/or hydrogen peroxide under the supervision
of a dentist is safe for teeth and gums.
How much does it cost?
Teeth whitening at Studental costs £198. This includes: impressions,
upper and lower whitening trays, storage case, six syringes of whitening
gel (usually enough for about three weeks of whitening if necessary), a
follow-up appointment and advice.
How long will my teeth stay whiter?
The effects of whitening normally last for many years, although this
will vary from person to person. Inevitably with time the teeth will
start to darken again due to drinks and food (and more rapidly if you
are a smoker). Most people like to maintain their whitening effect
by using the gel for one or two nights every three to six months.
Additional syringes of gel can be purchased for £15 each.
Is teeth whitening OK for everyone?
Teeth whitening can only lighten the existing colour of your natural
teeth. It will not work on any types of ‘false’ teeth such as crowns,
veneers or dentures. These may need replacing if they are stained or
are the wrong colour. If you have white fillings, these will not change
and may also need to be replaced to match your whitened teeth.
What if I am pregnant?
To date, there has been no testing done on the effects of teeth whitening
while pregnant or breast-feeding. To be cautious we recommend that
you do not have your teeth whitened during pregnancy
Are there any side effects?
Most people find that their teeth become sensitive to cold during the
treatment. This lessens after a few days, but you may find you need to
have a break from whitening for a day or so or use a toothpaste such
as “Sensodyne” to reduce the effect. If you have natural white flecks in
your enamel these will become more apparent during treatment but
will fade following treatment.
Are there other methods?
Yes: “Zoom”, “power whitening” and “laser whitening” are all
techniques which are completed at a single visit in the surgery. They
use extra strong gels kept on the teeth for an hour and activated
using bright lights. There are some disadvantages to this technique: it is
more expensive (typically £450-600), can be painful and can produce
a less long-term shade change of the teeth; largely due to dehydration
of the enamel.
What about whitening toothpastes?
Whitening toothpastes do not affect the natural colour of your teeth.
They may be effective at removing staining and may help maintain the
effect of professional whitening.
What about home kits?
Home kits are cheap, but are usually not very effective. Over-thecounter
kits sold in the UK are not recommended as they contain
only a very small concentration of peroxide (the whitening agent). To
be effective gels need to have at least 3.6%. Many home kits contain
mild acids and/or abrasives. Acid or abrasives used on the teeth will
ultimately make the teeth even yellower with time by damaging the
enamel of your teeth.
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