TEETH WHITENING - Oakwood Dental Practice

Teeth whitening - At home treatment for a brighter smile

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a process of lightening the shade of your natural teeth through the use of a dentally safe bleaching agent.

At Oakwood Dental Practice we offer an at-home whitening system which gives you control over not only your result, but also how long you take to achieve it. We will provide you with a set of custom made whitening trays (like mouthguards), whitening gel and the know-how to use everything effectively. From there you can decide whether to use the whole course, or stop once you have reached a shade you are happy with.

Most dental whitening gels, or bleach, contain carbamide peroxide at a strength of 10% or 16%, and are designed to be used in custom fitting trays, worn for at least 2 – 4 hours daily, for up to 2 weeks.

WHO IS TEETH WHITENING SUITABLE FOR?

Teeth whitening is suitable for most adults with good oral health, however, it is important to know that only natural teeth will lighten. This means that any existing fillings (including tooth coloured composite), or restorations such as crowns and veneers will not change and may need to be replaced to match your new
shade once you are happy with your result.

TREATMENT PROCESS – FIRST APPOINTMENT

STEP 1

We will take a digital scan of your mouth which is then sent to a dental lab to make your own custom whitening trays.

TREATMENT PROCESS – SECOND APPOINTMENT

STEP 1

Your whitening trays will be checked to make sure they fit your mouth perfectly and that you can insert and remove them easily.

STEP 2

You will receive your whitening gel and a demonstration of how to use it, as well as a written copy of the instructions that you can refer to over the course of treatment.

STEP 3

We will take some clinical photos, along with the current shade of your teeth, as a starting point , so that we can monitor your progress.

TREATMENT PROCESS – REVIEW APPOINTMENT

STEP 1

Around 2 weeks after starting your whitening treatment we will review your progress, to make sure you are happy with your result. We will take some more clinical photos and a new shade match of your teeth to compare to your starting shade, so that can really see the difference you’ve achieved.

HOW MUCH DOES TEETH WHITENING COST?

Tooth whitening is £400 which includes your custom whitening trays an express clean and a course of whitening gel.

As with many of our treatments, patients on one of our membership plans get a 10% discount.

Read more about our membership plans here.

BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION

AFTERCARE

During your whitening treatment and for around 3 days after, it is best to avoid or limit any foods or drinks that you wouldn’t want to spill on white clothing e.g. strong tea and coffee, red wine and dark or staining sauces, to reduce the risk of surface staining.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will teeth whitening make my teeth sensitive?

Whitening can temporarily make teeth sensitive for the duration of treatment, however, this will subside a few days after completing your course and there are a couple of things you can do to help:
– use a sensitive toothpaste throughout your treatment, this can help try to prevent or ease any sensitivity you may experience
– you can choose to use the gel every other day instead of daily, just keep in mind that it will likely take you longer to achieve your desired shade.

How long should I be wearing my whitening trays for?

The system we use is designed to be worn for at least 2-4 hours daily. You can do this at any point during the day however most people tend to opt for whitening overnight, as you will not be able to eat or drink whilst you are wearing the whitening trays.

How long will my treatment take?

Courses are generally 14 days but you have the option to stop sooner than that if you are happy with the shade of your teeth. Alternatively if you have finished your course and would like to try lightening your teeth further, you can discuss this with your dentist to see if it is appropriate to buy more whitening gel and continue.

How long will my teeth stay lighter for?

How long your results last will depend on various lifestyle factors including smoking and how heavily staining your diet is. Top up whitening treatments, usually 3-5 days long, can be carried out periodically to keep your teeth at your preferred shade.