At Dentistry with Care we prefer our teeth whitening treatments to give you a natural-looking whiteness rather than a ‘glow-in-the-dark’ smile. We tend to recommend take-home whitening kits as you can control how white your teeth become over the course of the treatment. The cost is also less than in-chair whitening. However, there are occasions when we believe that in-chair whitening can be the best solution. You may have a special occasion coming up very soon. Alternatively, you may just not have the time to use a take-home kit for 15 minutes every night for two weeks.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
What is it?
Take-home teeth whitening is a non-invasive dental treatment that lifts stains from the teeth and lightens the colour of the enamel. This leads to the appearance of whiter, brighter teeth.
We create a customised mouth tray to which you add the whitening product. You take home the mouth tray with the whitening product and wear it on on your teeth at specific intervals over a period of up to fourteen days.
When do we recommend take-home teeth whitening?
Take-home teeth whitening is a cost-effective solution for people wanting whiter, brighter teeth. It can help people with wear to the outer tooth layer (enamel) or stains on the teeth. Typically, these are caused by smoking, coffee, wine and cola and some foods.
What are the benefits?
There are several advantages associated with take-home whitening treatments:
- You have control over the shade of white that is achieved.
- Custom-fitted mouth trays, made from impressions taken by the dentist, ensure maximum contact between the whitening product and the teeth.
- These trays also minimise contact of the whitening gel with the gum tissue.
- The whitening product is milder than products used within dental surgeries, leading to less tooth sensitivity.
- Take-home teeth whitening is more affordable than in-chair whitening performed within dental surgeries.
Considerations
- Positive results from take-home teeth whitening rely on you following the instructions
- Teeth whitening is not recommended for pregnant or breast feeding women
- Treatments are not permanent
- The degree of whiteness will vary from individual to individual depending on the condition of the teeth
- Teeth whitening will only work on natural teeth and extrinsic stains
- Teeth whitening is not appropriate for people with wear to the outer tooth layer (enamel).
The initial appointment with our dentist will confirm your suitability for take-home teeth whitening.
In-Chair Teeth Whitening
What is it?
In-chair whitening is a non-invasive dental treatment that lifts stains from the pores of teeth. It lightens the colour of natural tooth enamel, leading to the appearance of whiter, brighter teeth.
This treatment is the quickest dental solution for whitening teeth and removing or reducing stains and discolouration. It involves the application of whitening product directly onto the teeth and the use of heat, a special light or laser to activate and/or accelerate the effects.
With in-chair whitening, we can typically achieve the results you want with one 30-60 minute dental appointment.
When is in-chair teeth whitening used?
In-chair teeth whitening is an ideal solution for people wanting instant results. It is an appropriate for people with wear to the outer tooth layer (enamel). It can remove the yellow and brown stains caused by some foods and drinks.
What are the benefits
There are several advantages associated with in-chair teeth whitening:
- Dentists typically use whitening products that contain stronger concentrations of hydrogen peroxide compared with off-the-shelf or take-home products. This ensures results within one 30-60 minute dental treatment.
- We apply the whitening agent directly to the teeth so that the use of mouth trays, such as those provided in take-home and off-the-shelf whitening kits, is unnecessary.
- Dentists supervise the treatment and can control the amount of whitening that occurs.
- A rubber shield protects the gums from the whitening product.
- Dentist can match the types of stains with the best treatments, leading to better results.
Considerations
- We do not recommend teeth whitening for pregnant or breast feeding women.
- It is not permanent
- The degree of whiteness will vary depending on the condition of the teeth and the type of whitening system used.
- Teeth whitening will only work on natural teeth and extrinsic stains. The initial appointment with our dentist will confirm your suitability for in-chair teeth whitening.
