Teeth whitening

• What is teeth whitening?
• Why do teeth darken?
• Considerations
• Methods
• At-home kits
• Professional whitening
• Products
• Whitening strips
• Whitening Gel
• Side effects
• Treatments
• Keep your teeth whitened

Having A Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment

The advantage of having a professional, such as your regular dentist, carry out the teeth whitening treatment is that they will have a record of the condition that your teeth and gums are in. That knowledge enables them to know which type, or course, of teeth whitening treatment will be most appropriate and suitable to you. In the long term this could save you both time and money in experimenting with the different ‘at-home’ products that you can buy from a local store or over the internet.

Whilst part of a dentists teeth whitening treatment will be a peroxide based compound - just like the ones you can buy yourself, they will also have an array of extra facilities available to them. A key point here is that if they are using a ‘trough’ system for the application of the teeth whitening gel they will be able to take a mould of you teeth and manufacture a trough exactly the right size to maximize the effects of the gel. If they are using a ‘brush on’ or ‘strip’ based system they will be able to position with a high degree of precision where to apply the gel, as opposed to it being wasted or misplaced when you try to whiten your teeth yourself. Also, teeth whitening products do not work on veneers, crowns or fillings. So, if you have had a course of teeth whitening treatment you may need to visit your dentist to have these replaced, as they will not be as white as your normal teeth. Another thing your dentist will be able to do is assess the shade of white that will be most natural to you. Having done this they will be able to calculate the strength of gel to use and for how long to apply it, in order for you to have a bright - but natural - whiteness to your teeth.

Any existing, veneers, fillings or crowns that have become stained or discolored may have to be replaced if they are to match the whiteness of you teeth following the treatment program. This will, of course, have to be done by a qualified and professional dentist. For people who a gel based treatment program would not be suitable, having veneers fitted might be their only solution to getting whiter teeth. A veneer is a thin section of porcelain that is fitted over the front of each tooth. They can be used not only to whiten teeth but also to improve their overall shape and appearance.