Teeth Whitening
If your teeth are no longer as white as they used to be, teeth whitening procedure can eliminate the discolouration and restore your bright smile. At Cherry Trees Dental, we provide cosmetic teeth whitening to anyone desiring to have a whiter and brighter smile. We offer a range of teeth whitening options, depending on your preferences.
Getting the procedure done at our facility is a simple and stress-free process. Once we determine you qualify for the treatment, we schedule your appointment, and you have your bright smile back in no time.
Teeth Whitening Overview
Teeth whitening is a quick, safe, and non-invasive dental procedure that helps many people enhance their smiles. Several factors cause tooth staining, including;
- Age – Teeth may darken (yellowing) as you age due to the accumulation of stain
- Eating habits – Consuming dark-coloured foods and drinks such as coffee, carrots, etc., can stain the teeth over time
- Smoking – Nicotine in cigarettes has browning deposits that discolour teeth
- Drugs – The use of antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline, especially among young children, can affect enamel formation leading to teeth discolouration
In-surgery tooth whitening procedure involves using a bleaching gel which can be activated using either a laser or visible light. There are different home whitening options as well.
The in-surgery procedure takes about an hour, and you are free to go home. But often, the dentist administers the treatment in short application sessions to avoid irritating the gum.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Once on the dentist’s chair, they place a prop on your mouth and a gum barrier to protect the gums. You also wear protective glasses to protect your eyes from the in-surgery light.
The dentist then applies the bleaching gel on your teeth and direct the light on the teeth to activate the chemical in the bleaching gel. This speeds up the whitening process, which involves altering the stain molecules on the teeth.
Once done, the dentist removes the gum barrier and rinses the gel. After giving you some after-procedure instructions to maintain the results, they release you to go home.
Your Teeth Whitening Options
In-surgery teeth whitening is one of the several bleaching options available.
Others include;
Custom Fit Tray Bleaching
It involves fitting custom-made trays that contain whitening products to the teeth for a certain period. A dentist examines your teeth and designs a custom tray that fits your size. This ensures the gel does not get into your gums, which avoids irritation.
Whitening Strips
These are thin and flexible strips of material containing whitening properties that you place on the top and bottom rows of the teeth. Whitening strips are suitable for people with slight or moderate staining.
Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste contains agents that whiten the teeth by removing stains. They do not provide immediate results like other whitening procedures. However, this is not recommended for a long-term use. Please consult your dentist.
Who Is Teeth Whitening Suitable for?
If you have healthy gums and teeth and want to brighten your smile, you are an ideal candidate for a teeth whitening treatment.
However, the treatment is not recommended in the following circumstances;
- Children under 16 years
- Pregnant and nursing women
- Individuals with sensitivities and allergies (e.g., those allergic to peroxide since it is the whitening agent)
- People with gum disease and tooth decay
Also, teeth whitening does not work on fillings, crowns, dentures, veneers, and other dental restorations. If you have these restorations, bleaching would result in an irregular appearance since they do not respond to whitening.
The alternative is having the restorations fixed after bleaching.
Teeth Whitening Costs
The cost of teeth whitening may vary based on the type of procedure and the degree of discolouration. But on average, the charges are as follows;
- In-surgery teeth whitening starts from £500
- Custom-fit bleaching trays starts from £350
- Combined in-surgery and at-home treatment starts from £650
Benefits of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening has loads of benefits, including health, social, and many more. Here are a few of them.
- Boosts self-esteem
- Enhances your appearance
- Minimizes the look of wrinkles
- Hides imperfections
- Reduces bacteria
Generally, teeth whitening is a quick and affordable procedure that can impact your health and social life in amazing ways.
Before and Afters
Want to Improve Your Smile? Book Your Teeth Whitening Appointment at Cherry Trees Dental
Have your teeth discoloured? Cherry Trees Dental is here to help improve your smile. If you have healthy gums and teeth, you are an ideal candidate for a teeth whitening treatment. Book your appointment today and get your bright smile back. But if you are among the excluded category, be sure to schedule an appointment once your situation allows you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is teeth whitening permanent?
No. Teeth whitening is not permanent. It can last from a few months to three years, depending on how well you maintain the teeth.
Avoiding smoking, rinsing your mouth after consuming dark-coloured foods and drinks, regular dental cleaning, and following a good oral hygiene regime are some best practices that can prolong the results.
Can yellow teeth become white?
Yes. Bleaching agent alters the stain molecules that cause yellowing, enabling the teeth to acquire a white shade. However, if the yellow colour is on the inner layer that has been exposed by enamel erosion, then whitening is not possible.
What if I’m unhappy with the results?
Sometimes people might fail to see the expected results, which could be due to several reasons. If this happens to you, ensure you talk to your dentist for a possible explanation of why things haven’t turned out as you expected. They should also be able to advice you on the next course of action.
What is internal teeth whitening?
Internal teeth whitening, as the name suggests, involves whitening the teeth internally. During the procedure, the dentist creates a small hole in the back of the tooth and injects a bleaching agent. The access is then sealed, and the whitening chemical is left for 1-2 weeks, after which the dentist evaluates the results.
How do teeth become discoloured?
Various factors cause teeth discolouration, including aging, smoking, consuming dark-coloured foods and drinks, drugs, etc.
What are the risks of teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a safe procedure. But people may experience heightened sensitivity to temperature and pressure, which should go away after a while. Gum irritation could also occur, but the risk can be minimized by using a custom gum barrier during the treatment. The irritation also goes away after several days.
There is also a risk of eroding the enamel, especially if the whitening is done frequently. For this reason, frequent bleaching is not recommended.
Will teeth whitening work on false teeth?
No. Teeth whitening does not work on false teeth. Whitening your teeth with your dental restorations on causes technicolour teeth, as only your normal teeth respond to the bleaching, while the fake ones retain their colour.