What does tooth whitening involve?
Professional bleaching is the most usual method of tooth whitening. Our team at Empire Dental Clinics will be able to tell you if you are suitable for the treatment, First we will put a rubber shield or a gel on your gums to protect them. Then apply the whitening product to your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a mouthguard
How long does this take?
The total treatment can usually be done within three to four weeks. First, you will need two or three visits to our clinics. Our experts will need to make a mouth guard and will take impressions for this at the first appointment. Once the treatment has started, you will need to continue the treatment at home. This means regularly applying the whitening product over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes to one hour at a time.
What other procedures are there?
There is now laser whitening or ‘power whitening'. During this procedure a rubber dam is put over your teeth to protect the gums, and a bleaching product is painted onto your teeth. Then a light or laser is shone on the teeth to activate the chemical. The light speeds up the reaction of the whitening product and the colour change can be achieved more quickly. Laser whitening is said to make teeth up to five or six shades lighter.
How long does chair-side power whitening take?
Our dentist at Empire Dental Clinic will need to assess your teeth to make sure that you are suitable for the treatment. Once it has been agreed, this procedure usually takes about one hour.
How long will my teeth stay whiter?
The effects of whitening are thought to last up to three years. However, this will vary from person to person. The effect is less likely to last as long if you smoke, or eat or drink products that can stain your teeth.
What are the side effects?
Some people may find that their teeth become sensitive to cold during or after the treatment. Others may have discomfort in the gums, a sore throat or white patches on the gum line. These symptoms are usually temporary and should disappear within a few days of the treatment finishing.
Can a single tooth which has been root filled be whitened?
Yes. Sometimes dead teeth go discolored after a root filling. If the tooth has been root treated, the canal (which contained the nerve) may be reopened. The whitening product is applied from the inside to whiten the tooth.
