Teeth whitening treatments in dental surgeries and at home

Various treatments available from both dentists and at home

Teeth whitening is now quickly becoming one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures available as people aim to have their own Hollywood smile, with the costs and risks becoming fairly minimal with several options available.

At the core of the teeth whitening industry is the two different levels of treatments that are available to the consumer, either at the dental surgery or at home.  Depending on cost and the severity of the stains on the teeth enamel, it is up to the individual which method to pursue for their own dental needs.

Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments

There are a number of treatments available from the standard dental surgery including:

Britesmile Teeth Whitening – a bleaching system that uses a special light with a whitening gel is usually followed up with the patient being given an at-home bleaching kit. This treatment works by the whitening gel being applied to the teeth which are then exposed to a special activating light source which activate the gel crystals that then allow the light to penetrate the teeth enamel to increase the lightening effect on the teeth.  Usually only requires one two hour visit for good results, costing around $600.

Laser Bleaching - a laser with a whitening gel works much the same way as the Britesmile treatment except that instead of the gel being used with the light product, it is used with a laser light system which will act in a similar way. That is, the gel crystals being activated by the laser and allowing the light to penetrate the stained enamel and lighten. One visit is usually the only requirement.

Before making any appointments to have a teeth whitening procedure performed, it is important to have your teeth professionally cleaned and a consultation with your dentist. During this consultation the dentist will be able to assess your suitability for the whitening procedure as patients who have fillings or crowns will have to consider that these will not be lighten and therefore may result in dark areas around the teeth.

Ask your dentist which treatment is more appropriate for your teeth and advise of any staining habits you may have. For example, smokers will soon find that stains will return and may have to have repeat treatments every few months.  These treatments are also better suited for yellowish teeth than on grey, so if your teeth have a grey tinge the results may be different than predicted.  

Teeth whitening is also not suggested for those who already have highly sensitive teeth or gum disease as it may exacerbate the issue, but a consultation is advised on a case-by-case basis.

There are negative side effects associated with teeth whitening, with some people reporting that afterwards their teeth were far more sensitive and susceptible to pain when eating cold or hot foods.  There are also some that report of gum irritation.

Home teeth whitening treatments

While maybe not as effective as quickly as the professional whitening techniques used in dental surgeries, home teeth whitening treatments are a great option for those who do not have the time or money to invest.

When talking about home teeth whitening systems, this is usually referring to toothpastes, pastes and bleaching systems which are usually available over the counter at most pharmacies.  Usually the least expensive and easiest option are the range of whitening toothpastes that are available which are used instead of normal toothpaste and whiten thanks to the peroxide content. Whitening toothpaste is able to remove stain that is on the outside of the teeth.

There are also gels and whitening strips that are applied to the teeth over time to brighten and lighten the enamel but they do require almost daily effort to be effective.

The strongest of the home teeth whitening techniques is that of the whitening tray which is where a whitening gel is placed in a tray that fits over the teeth and left for around 30 minutes.  The active ingredient is carbamide peroxide which enters the enamel and bleaches the coloured substances. It is important that the tray is fitted to suit the individual’s teeth structure so the gel is not exposed to the other areas inside the mouth.

Of course, prevention is always better than cure so if you are concerned about the colour of your teeth there are a range of foods that should be avoided from darkening the colour any further.

Common Discolouration Causes:

•  Coffee
• Tea
• Soft Drinks
• Wine
• Smoking
• High sugar foods
• Processed foods