Tooth Whitening
Did you know the first thing people notice about you is your smile? One of the easiest and most effective ways of enhancing your smile is by creating a lighter, whiter look.
At Elmwood Dental we offer two types of tooth whitening:
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Daytime Bleaching This involves having impressions (moulds) taken of your teeth, and using these moulds to make customized bleaching trays (a little like very thin and discreet gum shield). Every day for two weeks you put gel bleach into these trays and pop them in for approx 30 minutes. Many of our patients do this while they are watching their favourite TV programme or out for a walk. The system we use for this is Colgate Professional Max Whitening 6% Hydrogen Peroxide
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Night time Bleaching Again, with this system take impressions (putty moulds) of your teeth to make the customized bleaching trays. Every night for two weeks you pop a gel bleach into these trays and sleep with them in overnight. In the morning, when you wake up, you remove the trays. The system we use for this is Polanight 16% Carbamide Peroxide
Below are some of the questions frequently asked by my patients:
Q: Is it safe?
A: Yes, tooth whitening, carried out by a dentist is safe. It will not damage your teeth or gums.
Q: How does it work?
A: The surface of your tooth has small little pores which the bleach travels into and oxidises, removing any staining and lightening the colour of the tooth.
Q: Is it sore?
A: Normally no. However, some patients do get MILD sensitivity. This only lasts for the duration of time you are bleaching your teeth, two weeks. Usually these patients just avoid iced drinks etc. The sensitivity is only temporary. It can be eased by taking breaks in your bleaching regime, or using sensitive toothpaste as an ointment on the sensitive teeth.
Q: How do I know I am suitable?
A: Most people are suitable candidates to have their teeth bleached. The exception to this is people who have active decay (holes in their teeth) or periodontal (gum) disease. Also, if you have plaque or tartar on your teeth, you may need to have your teeth cleaned first (scale and polish), as the bleach will not work through this build up.
Q: Are there any special instructions while I am bleaching my teeth?
A: Yes – any heavily staining foods/drinks will slow down the effect the bleach. So things like blueberries, black coffee, red wine, vibrant orange curries etc need to be approached with caution! Also, some toothpastes have an ingredient that blocks the pores that the bleach needs to enter, thus rendering the bleach ineffective. We will provide you with advice on what toothpaste to use.
Q: How long will it last?
A: Normally, our patients continue to enjoy their new white smile for approx two years. They then enter a maintenance phase where once/twice a year they use their trays and some top up bleach for approx two sessions to maintain their colour. However, if they are smokers or have a heavily staining diet, this will be vastly reduced.
Q: What if I go too white – and glow in the dark?!
A: This will NOT happen! You have full control over how white you go, and can choose to stop at any time.
Q: What if I don’t go white enough?
A: Usually, this is just a case of having quite dense enamel and needing to bleach for a little longer (extra bleach will be supplied at no extra cost). However, sometimes the patient can have unrealistic expectation – remember the ultra violet white you see on some celebrities (TOWIE etc) is because of laboratory made porcelain covering on teeth (veneers) and not tooth whitening.
Q: How many visits is the treatment?
A: Three visits. The first is a consultation where we discuss the procedure and answer any questions you have. If you are happy to proceed we can take the impressions at this visit. The second visit is one week later, we fit the trays give you your bleach and show you exactly what to. We also take your “before” photos. The third visit is your review appointment to check you are happy with the results and give you a tube of top up bleach for the future. We also take your “after” photos.
Q:Why should I choose Elmwood Dental?
A: First, we will keep your teeth safe during bleaching and cause no harm. Secondly, we achieve FANTASTIC results. And finally, included in the price is all three visits, some toothpaste suitable for use during bleaching and a tube of top up bleach. Also we can email you a copy of your before and after images. All in all a DAZZLING service!!
