Teeth Whitening

There are many types of teeth-whitening gels. These chemicals include peroxide, and carbamide chemicals that help accelerate the teeth whitening process. A dentist is the only person who can legally prescribe whitening gels containing peroxide or carbamide.

As part of the treatment, we only use non-peroxide teeth-whitening gels.

According to MHRA, bleaching is only allowed when teeth can be whitened beyond the natural colour. This is true for products that contain bleach, such as hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide.

On the other hand, “whitening” refers to restoring a tooth’s surface colour by removing any dirt or debris. Technically, any product that cleans teeth (like toothpaste) can be considered a whitener. The term whitening sounds more appealing than bleaching so it is used more often. Only use whitening products.

As part of the treatment, we only use non-peroxide teeth-whitening gels.

Age:

There is a direct relationship between tooth colour, age, and wear. Teeth become darker over time due to wear and tear, stain accumulation and age. Whitening can have dramatic effects on teens. Teeth-whitening can be more difficult in the twenties as teeth start to show yellowing. In the 40s, the yellow turns to brown, and it may require more maintenance. The teeth can become stained by a variety of stubborn stains that are difficult to remove. Our teeth whitening procedure aims to remove external stains, not intrinsic ones. This is what we discuss below.

Start colour:

Each person is born with a tooth colour that is yellow-brownish to smoky-grey and it intensifies over time. The yellow-brown tooth is more sensitive to whitening than the green-grey.

Translucency, thinness and transparency:

These traits are also genetic and become more prominent with age. Translucency is a characteristic of all teeth. However, opaque and thicker teeth have an advantage. They are lighter in colour and more responsive to whitening. The amount of pigment required for whitening is less for teeth that are thinner or transparent, especially the front teeth. Cosmetic dentists say that transparency is the only condition that can’t be fixed by any type of teeth whitening. If someone is interested, we recommend that they give the treatment a shot with just one session. This will allow them to assess how they do and see what results are possible.

Eating Habits:

Over the years, the habitual intake of red wine, tea, coffee, teas, oranges, and other deep-coloured drinks and foods can cause significant staining. Enamel erosion can also be caused by acidic foods like vinegar and citrus fruits. The result is that the surface becomes transparent and more yellow-coloured dentin can be seen through it.

Smoking Habits:

The brownish deposits of nicotine and tar slowly penetrate the tooth structure, causing intrinsic discolouration.

Drugs/chemicals:

The use of tetracycline during tooth formation causes dark brown or brown ribbon stains that are difficult to remove. Fluorosis is caused by excessive fluoride consumption. This can also lead to white mottling. Fluoride can be increased after teeth whitening. However, it is possible for fluorosis to return to its original state in as little as one to twelve hours. Most people expect that their teeth whitening treatment will last between 3 and 2 years, depending on how they live.

Grinding:

Teeth grinding and gnashing, which are most commonly caused by stress, can lead to micro-cracking of the teeth and cause the biting edges and teeth to darken. Trauma: A fall or other injury can cause large cracks in your teeth that collect large amounts of staining and debris.

Most of us start out with white teeth, thanks to their porcelain-like enamel surface, which is made of microscopic crystal rods. Tooth enamel is designed to protect teeth against the effects of chewing, gnashing, trauma and acid attacks caused by sugar. Over time enamel becomes less transparent, allowing the yellow dentin colour – the core material of the tooth – to show through.

During routine chewing, dentin remains intact while millions of micro-cracks occur in the enamel. These cracks and the spaces between the crystalline enamel rods are what gradually become clogged with stains. The teeth gradually lose their shine and become dull.

The results of teeth whitening are highly subjective and can vary from one person to the next. Many people are delighted with the results. If you have had teeth whitening done in the last 2 years or if you have used any home whitening products, this could reduce the results. Your expectations play an important role in teeth whitening. We will do a shade assessment of your teeth at the beginning and the end of each one-hour session.

Although whitening may sometimes lighten the colour of teeth by 4-5 shades in some cases, most people who whiten their teeth will see a difference of between 2-7 shades.

When the instructions are followed, teeth whitening procedures are safe. There are however some risks involved with teeth whitening.

Sensitivity:

Teeth whitening may cause temporary increases in temperature, pressure, and touch, although this is rare. Some people may feel shooting pains, especially in extreme cases. People with severe gum recession, cracks or leakage from faulty restorations are at the highest risk of experiencing whitening sensitivity. If this occurs we will discontinue immediately and ask you to rinse and make an appointment with your dentist.

Whitening sensitive teeth usually take less than one day, although some cases can last a bit longer. To reduce the sensitivity, we recommend a toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

Gum Irritation

Very rarely, clients experience any gum irritation after applying the gel to the gum tissue. This irritation can last from a few seconds to several days after treatment. It is possible to eliminate gum sensitivities by using a vitamin e-swab.

Technicolour Teeth:

The whitening treatment does not affect restorations like bonding, porcelain veneers, or dental crowns. They will retain their natural colour even if the surrounding teeth have been whitened. These are often called “technicolour teeth.” The whitening treatment may still be applied if the restorations are lighter than the natural tooth colour. Your teeth will be colour checked after the first 20-minute session in these cases, as it may be all that is required to match the restorations. Alternatively, you can whiten your natural teeth and then get the replacement teeth swapped to match your natural teeth’ whiteness.

It is best to avoid teeth whitening for pregnant or nursing women. It is still not known what the potential effects of swallowing whitening gel on a foetus or baby could be. For persons over 16 years of age, we recommend this treatment.

Before undergoing a whitening procedure, it is important to consult your dentist if you have sensitive teeth or if you need dental work.

Our teeth whitening procedure is completely hygienic and you never touch your client or their mouth. We use an LED light accelerator. It gives the client maximum results within one hour. With the gel alone and no accelerator, these results would take weeks of continuous treatment. Because the chemicals are not exposed to teeth for long, this accelerated treatment is easier on your teeth and gums.

For hygiene purposes we ensure you handle your own kit. We make sure that you have a paper towel or a disposable hygenic place to put the cheek retractor when not being used.

We always start with the darkest tooth when selecting the teeth shade. We will compare the colour of your teeth before and after teeth whitening with the tooth shade chart. It is simple to understand because it is organised from darkest to lightest and has numbers from 2 to 40. Each model represents 2 shades. You will easily see how many shades lighter their teeth have become.

We recommend that you do NOT consume tea, coffee, red wine, curry or anything that would stain a white shirt for 24 hours if possible, as their teeth are more susceptible to re-staining during this period. If you must consume dark liquids do so through a straw. Finally, you should enjoy your new smile!