Bleaching

Most people want a whiter, brighter smile. Unfortunately, no toothpaste by itself can guarantee a whiter smile, it will only remove external stains. That's why our practice is pleased to offer a safe, cost effective way of getting a whiter, better smile in the shortest possible time, using a technique known as bleaching or tooth whitening.

Enamel stains and discoloured teeth and teeth discoloured by childhood trauma can all benefit from bleaching. Bleaching is sometimes the step prior to crowns or veneers to provide a pleasing appearance.

The bleaching process is quite easy. First, you come for an examination to make sure that bleaching is appropriate for you.

 

At home bleaching - Simple and Effective

The bleaching gel is applied to your teeth with a bleaching tray (a thin plastic flexible mouth guard) so only the teeth to be bleached are covered by the gel. We take impressions of your upper and lower teeth, these impressions are used to make a bleaching tray which fits your mouth exactly. This usually takes about a week. When the tray is complete, you'll come back for instructions and supplies. We will shown you how to use the gel and to apply it correctly. We usually advise wearing the trays overnight for up to two-weeks. Bleaching results usually last a long time, but will gradually fade, therefore we usually recommend a 6 monthly "touch up" treatment of 1 - 2 days duration. Your mouth is unlikely to change and so your trays will still fit. Should you run out of bleach we can provide more as needed.

 

Are there any side effects?

The bleaching gel we use has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment. It does not damage or weaken the enamel of teeth.

Some patients may experience a temporary increase in sensitivity, although the gel concentration we use makes this unlikely. Should it occur we suggest stopping the bleaching process for 1 -2 days to give your teeth a rest, then continue the process.

Gum irritation may also occur, especially if you have gingivitis and bleeding gums to start with. For this reason we recommend a thorough teeth cleaning prior to commencing the bleaching process. This also helps to remove any stains from your teeth and thus makes the bleaching more effective.

Bleaching may change the color of your teeth, but will not change the color of your fillings. For this reason, after your teeth have been satisfactorily whitened it may be necessary to replace some old fillings to better match the color of your teeth.

Severe tetracycline stains may not be removed completely and an alternative treatment procedure such as porcelain veneers may be required for affected teeth.