We get a lot of patients asking us about teeth whitening. We think it is great that you are seeking professional advice about it, as there is a lot of advice that on the internet that may not suit all people. So is some general information about the modes of whitening that you might hear from us at Highgate Hill Dental Centre.
Common foods can cause stains to accumulate on teeth and can cause them to discolour. Any foods that contain proteins called “tannins”, such as black tea or red wine, will leave stains on teeth. Smoking and tobacco can also substantially stain teeth. A regular six-monthly cleaning regime with your dentist will remove a lot of these stains, but there are also times that patients ask us about what other things are available to get whiter teeth.
There are three types of whitening that we would recommend. The types three of whitening differ in: the amount of sensitivity they may create, cost, time required and what type of whitening results they will yield. Each has their advantages and disadvantages and each type suits different patients, so it is always good to consult your dentist about whether a particular method is suitable for you.
Commercial Teeth Whitening
Commercial products are those that are found regularly at supermarkets and chemists. Bleaching strips, which are peroxide impregnated strips for teeth, are the item of choice in this circumstance. This mode of whitening is generally the mildest, the least sensitive but at the same time the slowest at yielding noticeable results.
We generally do not recommend the use of whitening toothpastes as they regularly rely on abrasive particles to remove stains from teeth. When used on inappropriate cases it can contribute to toothbrush abrasion.
Take Home Teeth Whitening
Take Home Whitening is the most regular type of whitening that we do at Highgate Hill Dental Centre. The process involves taking moulds in surgery and making personalised trays that avoid the gum tissue for each patient. Patients are trained by their dentist and specialised dental bleach is then used in these moulds at home to provide a whitening result.
The amount of time required is less than that for commercial whitening products, but the chances of sensitivity are higher. The advantage is that you are in control of the length of your treatment and when to stop when the teeth become too sensitive. This solution is not suitable for all people and there are limits to how many shades of whiter each individual person’s teeth will reach.
In Office Teeth Whitening?
This mode of whitening is the quickest type of whitening and is performed by a dentist in the dental surgery. It uses a high-concentration, dental bleach gel administered by a dentist and is activated by a high intensity blue light for a specific number of cycles. Although it yields the fastest results of the three whitening modes, it also has the most potential for sensitivity of the three types of whitening.
The appointment takes about two hours and patients walk out of the clinic with completed whitening straight afterwards. It is great for people who are getting married, going on television or having photos taken in the next few days after treatment.
Consult with a Dentist
Not all types of whitening are applicable to you, so we would always advise you to consult a dentist and have a proper checkup and consult prior to choosing to have bleaching done. If you have questions about whether this is the right procedure for you, call us on (07) 3844 6071 and make an appointment with our friendly dentists at Highgate Hill Dental Centre today, we would be very happy to discuss your whitening options with you.
About Our Author:
Dr Will Wang:
Dr Will Wang has been a dentist at Highgate Hill Dental Centre since 2008. He aims to make seeing the dentist a positive, happy experience for the whole family, and enjoys making it a fun visit for children. Will has a particular interest in preventative and restorative dentistry; and spends a lot of time explaining concepts to empower patients with the ability to maintain their own dental health between visits.