Teeth Whitening
Do you wish your teeth were whiter? Do you dream of having sparkling teeth but aren’t sure what to do to get them?
There are so many things that keep our teeth from looking their best. Smoking, drinking red wine, eating certain foods and even just time can make our teeth lose their sparkly shine.
Having dull or discoloured teeth can give your confidence a knock. If you want to put the gleam back in your pearly whites, professional teeth whitening at The Dentist is precisely what you need.
If you are tempted to try some DIY techniques, it’s best to come to the experts! Our safe and modern teeth whitening techniques give you the smile of your dreams.
Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me?
A lot of us want those perfect gleaming white teeth, but there’s not just one way to achieve that. While we believe professional teeth whitening is the best — and safest — way to upgrade your smile, it’s not right for everyone.
If you’re unhappy about tooth staining or discolouration, we could look into giving you a dental scale and polish. Often stains are caused by a build-up of tartar, so our hygienist can brighten up that smile in no time without teeth whitening.
Looking for a more permanent solution? Dental veneers could be the right choice and give you an extra layer of protection. Our dentists will always recommend the best treatment for you.
How Does It Work?
Our gentle teeth whitening gives you the results you want without the risk that comes with DIY kits. Our procedure ensures your enamel — the protective layer on your teeth — won’t be damaged.
The first thing to do is have a consultation. There’s no obligation to get the treatment after — it’s an opportunity for a good chat about what teeth whitening is all about. We use a system that has been shown to make teeth many shades lighter.
There are two ways we can whiten your teeth. The dentist will make a mould of your teeth, and this is used to apply the whitening substance evenly across all your teeth.
Or you may want to go the laser whitening route depending on what’s right for you. We can also give you a few things to use at home that will keep your teeth whiter for longer after you’ve had teeth whitening with us.
How Do I Get Started?
We make have convenient opening hours because we know what it’s like to not have time for appointments during the working day. The Dentist is open from 9 am to 11 pm Monday to Sunday. You can get in touch with us for an appointment and discuss what procedure you need.
We’ll chat about whether teeth whitening is right for you or whether you’d be better off with a different treatment. If you have any dental health problems, like gum disease or another oral health issue that needs treating, teeth whitening might not be suitable.
But not to worry! We have a range of other treatments like veneers or implants that will help you get the smile you want.
Who can carry out teeth whitening?
Only dentists registered with the General Dental Council should carry out teeth whitening.
Many products that can be bought online or over-the-counter can pose risks to our health, particularly if you don’t know whether the level of bleach they contain is safe. ‘Likewise, whitening treatments performed in unregistered beauty salons or shops can also be risky – therefore it’s important to remember that only dentists registered with the General Dentist Council can carry out teeth whitening.’
It is also worth bearing in mind that, while teeth whitening is completely safe when conducted properly, it can lead to temporary sensitivity to temperature, pressure and touch, as well as temporary gum irritation. With that in mind, it’s important for you to visit your dentist to assess the status of your teeth and gums prior the treatment.
Teeth Whitening Frequently Asked Questions
Is whitening suitable for me?
For the vast majority of people, whitening can work really well and the results will be a significant improvement. However, there are some instances where patients aren’t suitable for treatment.
Teeth whitening can lead to temporary sensitivity to temperature, pressure and touch.
‘People who have dental restorations such as crowns or bridges; porcelain veneers; cosmetic bonding or tooth coloured fillings will find that the bleaching agents won’t work on all their teeth, in other words those teeth will not respond to whitening, there colour will remain the same as it is.
Does teeth whitening affect your enamel?
Contrary to popular believe, your tooth enamel is safe. ‘I get asked this a lot, Dr Dhody. ‘The conclusive answer is no. Dental whitening products only remove surface stains that are in the microscopic pores of your teeth. The bleach does not penetrate deeply within the tooth.
Types of Teeth Whitening:
- At Home – The dentist will take an impression of your teeth to make tailor made trays for you like a mouth-guard, and ask you to come back in a weeks time. During your second visit Dr Dhody will tell you how to use it with a bleaching gel. Then, using your trays at home, you regularly apply the gel for a specified period of time over 2 to 4 weeks depending on how white you want your teeth to be. Some whitening gels can be left on for up to 8 hours at a time.
- In Surgery– Zoom or laser whitening, also known as power whitening, is another type of teeth whitening system that a dentist can provide. A bleaching product is painted onto your teeth by the dentist and then a light or laser is shone on them to activate the whitening. Laser whitening takes about an hour and more.
- ICON whitening– to remove white spots from teeth
How long does teeth whitening last upto?
The good news is the effects of whitening does last for a long time. However, this will vary from person to person, ‘The effect is less likely to last as long if you smoke, or eat or drink things that can stain your teeth.
What causes teeth to stain?
Smoking
Drinking coffee
Red wine
Having food with Turmeric
It is important for patients to brush and floss regularly, to maintain good hygiene.
It is also important for patients to brush and floss regularly throughout the day, to maintain a good oral hygiene and a whiter shade.
Here at The Dentist, we treat everyone as an individual. We’ll explain everything at a pace that suits you, and make sure we meet your needs.
ICON WHITE SPOT TREATMENT
ICON Whitening treatment to remove white spots from teeth is becoming increasingly popular. It improves the appearance of white spots or a mottled appearance of teeth without an injection or drilling.
WHAT CAUSES WHITE SPOTS?
- White spots on teeth are very common. They may be caused due to a lack of calcium (Hypocalcification) in areas of tooth enamel. There are many reasons for white spots to form including
- Fluorosis – this occurs when there is a very high fluoride intake when the adult teeth are developing.
- Family genetics
- Wearing braces causes decalcification – this is the loss of minerals from the enamel and can occur during fixed braces treatment if there has been a lapse in excellent oral hygiene around the brackets as it is difficult to brush your teeth.
- Enamel erosion due to plaque
- Molar or Incisal Hypoplasia
- Acid reflux
- White spots on adult teeth due to trauma as a baby
- Diet that includes sugary and acidic food.
How does Icon Whitening work
ICON uses a series of processes:
ICON-Etch gel is applied to the surface of the white spot to remove the surface layer and prepare the tooth
- The treated area is dried with ICON-Dry
- ICON-Infiltrant is applied. This penetrates deep into the enamel, filling out the air-filled pockets
- The treated area is light-cured and the natural shade restored
- The procedure is simple, painless and effective in restoring the shade of your enamel. ICON will not give an overall whitening effect to your teeth, it is intended only to restore evenness of shade. For an overall whitening effect
It is an invasive and safe way of getting rid of white spots/patches on teeth. Icon targets only on the white spots themselves. White spots are caused by acids drawing minerals away from tooth enamel and leaving a more porous structure in which air becomes trapped. The trapped air is the source of the white colouration. ICON works to infiltrate and fill in these areas of trapped air and restore the appearance of your enamel. For any queries call 01922624900.
We believe that our patients deserve healthy and beautiful smiles for life
At The Dentist, Walsall, we understand the anxieties surrounding dentistry. Because of this, we place a lot of our effort in making your dental experience as calming as possible. While we place focus on comfort and accessibility, our aim is to make your experience the best it can be. If you kindly inform us beforehand, we can put extra measures in place to help ease your nerves.
Get in Touch With Us to Schedule a Dental Consultation.