The Options available In-Office Teeth Whitening | Dental Treatment Guide


Most teeth whitening options will follow a similar technique and will produce the same outcome but they can vary in terms of the concentrations of peroxide and the duration of time they are used for.

In Office Whitening:

Office whitening is most effective at producing the greatest change in the colour of your teeth. This procedure involves the application by a dentist of a high concentration of peroxide gel. This gel will remain on the teeth for around 20 minutes and may be topped up every 15 minutes until it has been on for an hour in total. This one session should be sufficient but if you have extensive staining on the teeth then it may be necessary to have some follow up sessions.

Professional Dispensed Take Home Whitening Kits:

Whitening kits that you use at home in your own time can be very effective at improving the colour of your teeth. The gel used has a lower concentration of peroxide but this means that it can stay on the teeth for a longer period of time. The whitening gel will usually be applied to the teeth in a bleaching tray that will have been shaped to fit your mouth.

Buying Whiteners Over the Counter:

This is the cheapiest and most convenient way of whitening your teeth as kits can be purchased in pharmacies and do not require a visit to the dentist. The kit will contain a peroxide gel that will have a lower concentration than that used by a dentist, and this will be applied to the teeth in a generic bleaching tray that is meant to fit everyone. This means that it is only likely that you will be able to whiten the front teeth due to the fact that the tray will not made to uniquely fit your own mouth.

Hydrogen or Carbamide Peroxide

If you are whitening teeth over a short period of time then it is recommended that you use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide that will be supplied by your dentist in a strength of 9 to 40%. If you are whitening your teeth at home then it is more suitable to use a lower strength carbamide peroxide gel.

Shades of Whitening

The extent of whiteness will vary between each person but your dentist should be able to give you a realistic idea about what you should expect. Before starting the process of whitening you will be able to assess your current level of teeth whiteness on a shading guide. Then after a period of whitening you will be able to revisit the shade guide to establish the change in colour. It is most common for people to experience a change of 2 to7 shades as a result of teeth whitening though this can vary for people.

Are there risks of teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a safe procedure though there can sometimes be risks that are caused by the process of bleaching.

It is possible that your teeth may become more sensitive to touch, taste and temperature after bleaching. This tends to be more likely where people have experienced previous problems with their teeth such as gum disease or cracks in the teeth.

If you use higher concentrations of peroxide gel then it is more likely that you will experience some degree of gum irritation. This issue can usually be resolved by taking a break from bleaching for a few days or by changing to a lower concentration of peroxide.

If you have had some extensive dental work previously such as crowns or porcelain veneers then it is possible that these teeth may not respond to the bleaching treatment and so will not change colour. The other teeth that have not been worked on will respond to the bleaching so there could be a difference in tooth colour.

What can I do to maintain the whiteness?

In order to maintain your new teeth whiteness it is necessary to have top up treatments at least once a year if not more depending on the level of whiteness you wish to keep. After the initial whitening it is important to avoiding certain food and drink that may discolour the teeth such as red wine and coffee. The most important thing is to continue with good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly.

Realted Articles