Teeth whitening is a safe and effective way of using a bleaching gel to lighten the colour of your teeth. Whilst there are many teeth whitening options available online, over-the-counter options can only contain a maximum of 0.1% hydrogen peroxide in the UK. Bleaching gels prescibed by a dental professional can be up to 6% hydrogen peroxide or 16% carbamide peroxide and are clinical proven to be safe and effective.
Continue below to find out more about teeth whitening.
If you have any questions that are not covered below, or to enquire about booking in for treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Teeth whitening is a form of dentistry and legally it can only be carried out by a dentist or dental professional in the UK. The most effective and long lasting whitening treatment is 'at home' whitening, using trays and bleach prescribed by your dentist. We will take moulds of the teeth and create custom bleaching trays for you before showing you how to load your trays and use the bleaching gel at home. In most cases we recommend putting the gel and trays in before bed and wearing them throughout the night. On average it takes around 2 weeks of wearing nightly to see great and long lasting results, though for some people this will be slightly longer or shorter.
In most cases teeth whitening is done externally, to the outside of the teeth. However, in some cases people get very dark yellow or greying teeth, usually after root canal treatments or trauma. For these teeth we recommend a combination of internal and external bleaching. Results are not guaranteed with teeth whitening, though nearly all patients see a great outcome. Results tend to last around 1 year before they start to fade again, but you can top up the treatment within a couple days using your existing trays and gels, to get back to brilliant white. You can also buy further whitening gel directly from us for any top up treatments should you run out at any stage.
Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but this is illegal if there is no dental professional present, and it may put your oral health at risk. You can also buy DIY home teeth whitening kits but these may also carry risks. Most non-prescription whitening treatments look effective due to temporary dehydration of the teeth (e.g. light activated treatments or charcoal toothpastes), however these methods do not result in long lasting effects and they can be very damaging to the teeth. Dentist-prescribed whitening uses a maximum of either 6% hydrogen peroxide or 16% carbamide peroxide. These two bleaches are of equal strength, but are used in different situations, and we will discuss which is best for you.
For further information, please check out our FAQs or contact us for more information or to book an appointment.
As you must be 'dentally fit' before whitening treatment, this treatment is only available to patients who have had a new patient examination.
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