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Your smile is important.
It's one of the first things you notice when you meet someone. A
whiter, brighter smile is beautiful - it can help you feel better about
yourself and make a memorable impression.
Your lifestyle and the
aging process can stain and darken your teeth. Many things we do regularly can contribute to stained teeth, such as drinking coffee,
tea, cola and red wine or smoking.
What does teeth whitening involve?
At
your consultation your dentist will tell you if teeth whitening is
suitable for you and will recommend the best system for use. Currently we have 2 main systems:
- Zoom Power Whitening
- Tray System for Home Whitening
- Combination of the above
The
‘active ingredient’ in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or
carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen
gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.
Zoom power whitening
This is commonly knows as
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 chemical reaction of
the whitening product and the colour change can be achieved more
quickly using this procedure. Laser whitening is said to make teeth up
to six shades lighter.
Tray System for Home Whitening
The
total treatment can usually be done within three to four weeks. First,
your dentist will need to make a mouthguard and will take impressions
for this at the first appointment. Once your dentist has started the
treatment, you will need to continue the treatment at home. This means
regularly applying the whitening product over two to four weeks, often
during the night whilst sleeping.
How long will my teeth stay white?
Teeth
whitening lasts many years, especially if you take good care of your
teeth with your cleaning and regular visits to the hygienist. You may
build up some stain if you drink and eat certain foods that contain
colour or if you smoke, however it is very simple to ‘top-up’ your
whitening using your trays every few years.
What are the side effects?
Some
people may find that their teeth become sensitive to cold during or
after the treatment for a short period of time. Others report no
discomfort at all. These symptoms are usually temporary and should
disappear within a few days of the treatment finishing.
Teeth whitening does not remove any layers of your enamel or have any adverse effect on your teeth.
Contact us for a confidential discussion
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