Teeth Whitening
Teeth Whitening
Are you unsatisfied with the colour of your teeth?
Staining can occur for many reasons, including smoking or tobacco use. Your teeth can also become stained by regularly eating certain foods and beverages. Plus, teeth naturally start to darken as you age.
Choosing a professional whitening treatmentcan reverse the effects of tooth staining for a more aesthetically pleasing smile.
There are many whitening treatments readily available for purchase; however, professional whitening is generally safer and more effective. Applicator trays in chemist shop kits are intended to be “one size fits all” which can result in them fitting uncomfortably in your mouth since they aren’t designed specifically for your teeth. Whitening gels included with this type of product can sometimes be too abrasive or can leak because of ill-fitting trays, leading to gum and other soft tissue irritation.
For these reasons, you may want to choose professional whitening instead. The whitening service provided by your dentist may consist of two phases – an in-office whitening session and a customised at-home kit and care plan.
In-Office Whitening
Your dentist will choose whitening gel in the appropriate strength for your case while accounting for factors like your level of sensitivity and your whitening goals. This gel is typically applied using custom-made applicator trays for maximum comfort and also to protect the tissues in your mouth from becoming irritated by the whitening gel. Teeth can be lightened dramatically in only one session.
At-Home Whitening
If you prefer to whiten your teeth at your convenience, your dentist may provide you with a custom at-home whitening kit. Your applicator trays will be made just for you, and the strength of the whitening gel will be chosen to meet your needs. You will be given specific instructions for how to use it safely.
After this kind of whitening treatment, you will typically be asked to schedule a follow-up visit with our office to check on your progress
Schedule a Consultation to Learn More
Are you looking forward to a whiter smile? Contact your dentist to find out more about whitening services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Sometimes, a simple teeth whitening procedure is all it takes to put the sparkle back into your smile.
If your staining or discolouration is resistant to whitening, however, we have other ways of improving the appearance of your teeth using cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers, bonding, or porcelain crowns. Call us to find out which of our services is right for you.
It shouldn't.
Most professional whitening products contain an added desensitising ingredient that protects even sensitive teeth and keeps you comfortable during the process. Additionally, the customisable nature of professional whitening treatments prevents the product from coming into contact with soft tissues like your gums, lips, and tongue.
If your teeth are very sensitive, please talk to us so that we can help you determine whether whitening is appropriate for you.
Drugstore whitening kits are designed to be "one size fits all" which often translates to "one size fits none".
The strength of the whitening product is much lower than what you can get in a professional kit, meaning that you must use the product for a longer period of time and are still unlikely to get the results you can find in a professional product. Additionally, your results are not being monitored by the dentist you know and trust.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr Rutul Patel
Associate Dentist
Having migrated from India as a child, Rutul completed his schooling in Sydney, before moving to Gold Coast to complete a Master of Dentistry degree at Griffith University. He joined the lovely team at Blackheath dental at the beginning of 2021 and has been striving to provide high quality care to all patients in the Blue Mountains region. Rutul’s main interests are cosmetic dentistry and pediatric dentistry.