Teeth whitening has gained popularity over the last couple of decades. Having a white smile is something that the majority of people desire, whether they do end up whitening their teeth or not. So, why don’t we all get our teeth whitened?
There are several reasons. Some people are concerned about the cost, some are worried that it will damage their teeth, others may think that it won’t last or that it might not even work for them at all. A lot of people have tried shop/ online bought products that didn’t work (more on this later) or even had their teeth whitened at their dentist and weren’t satisfied with the result, or had to stop due to side effects. Others might be worried that their teeth will be too white and look fake.
A Closer Look At The Results
Cost of teeth whitening is comparable to other beauty procedures.
There is an initial fee and then the cost of maintaining your white smile. In our fee, we include all the necessary appointments, impressions (or a scan) of your teeth, manufacture of whitening trays, whitening gels, instructions and after-care should you need it. *Thereafter you can just buy syringes from us for your regular top-ups to keep the teeth as white as when you finished your initial course of whitening, (*subject to the maintenance of your oral health). You will need those if you want to continue enjoying your whiter teeth.
You had whitening before, but it didn’t work.
I cannot comment on shop/internet bought products as they usually aren’t regulated and/or contain low percentage gels. Many are based on abrasives and those can remove some staining but over time it can worsen your tooth colour by abrading the outside layer of your teeth (enamel) and making it more see-through, exposing the yellowish coloured inner layer (dentine).
If you had whitening from your dentist and were disappointed with the result, I would be asking you a few questions:
- Did you use trays made to measure for your teeth and intended for whitening rather than retainers/aligners/mouthguard?
- Were you told to keep your trays in overnight or during the day?
- Did you get your teeth professionally cleaned before starting your whitening?
- Have you got any dental restorations on your front teeth (fillings; crowns etc.)?
- Did you see celebrities with very white teeth and were you hoping to get similar results? All of those can affect the result.
Whether you are new to whitening or just looking for better results, we at Distinctly Dental take time to discuss these things with you at your initial appointment, to avoid potential pitfalls that can make the whitening less effective. We examine your teeth properly and explain to you what is achievable, whether you will require additional work (i.e. changing old restorations) and explore alternatives to whitening. All pros and cons and costs are explained, and you are given time to ask questions.
You started whitening but you couldn’t carry on.
Most common complaints made by patients are sensitivity or sore gums. During your consultation we identify the risk of you having sensitivity. If you are very young and already have sensitive teeth, have receding gums or cavities, you will be high-risk. Firstly, if you have cavities, we wouldn’t start whitening for you and you would have to have them filled, which is something we can do for you. If you already have naturally sensitive teeth, we will check if there is a reason for this and if we can reduce the sensitivity even before the whitening. If not, we can adjust your regime and discuss whether a special toothpaste or coating for sensitive areas is required. Sore gums are usually caused by badly fitting trays (or trays not intended for whitening) that allow the gel to leak on your gums or if you already have gum disease. Again, unstable gum disease will need to be addressed first before your whitening. Well-fitting trays and thorough instructions of how to do whitening at home will help you reduce the possibility of making your gums painful
Have you experienced other side effects?
You want to have nice white teeth, but you don’t want to have them too white, and you don’t want to cause any damage to your teeth.
Then you have come to the right place. If your teeth and gums are healthy (which will be checked at your examination), you do not need to worry about them. We only offer home whitening, which whitens your teeth gradually and you can stop whenever you want so you will never make them too white (or you can also buy more gels if your teeth require a longer course of whitening). In addition to this, there is a limit to how white a human tooth can get. If you have seen people with very white teeth, they most likely have some form of dental restoration covering their original teeth because synthetic materials can be made much whiter than natural teeth.
To sum it up there is good news and bad news.
We cannot whiten your teeth if you already have issues with your teeth or gums as this would compromise your oral health. We can however fix those issues for you. This will come at additional cost for which we can provide you with an estimate and we also offer payment plans. You also can’t have whitening if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18.
Whitening can be done relatively quickly from the comfort of your home, with our support.
We are always here to help you with any issues you may have.
Types of whitening:
Over the counter whitening products – there are numerous brands and products promising to whiten your teeth. One can often come across fake ‘before and after’ photos and videos, and reviews by influencers who get paid to sell such products.
The active ingredient in whitening gels is hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, both can be legally sold over the counter only in concentrations that won’t make a difference to the colour of your teeth. It is probably possible to find some illegal products with a higher percentage online, these are however unregulated and people using them could put their oral and general health in danger, as harmful chemicals could be present. Without well-fitting trays that hold the whitening gels, it can leak onto the gums and mouth and be ingested.
Other whitening products contain abrasives. These can temporarily remove some superficial staining when rubbed on your teeth with a brush, but over time they will damage and thin the enamel. Enamel is the outer layer of teeth and is white, underneath is dentine, which is yellowish. With thinning enamel, more of the dentine shines through and teeth start looking more yellow. Enamel is however the only part of the tooth that is possible to whiten so at some point even the whitening may not be effective without sufficient layer of enamel and other means of improving tooth colour will be necessary, like composite bonding or veneers or crowns. These will require ongoing maintenance, and some are invasive.
In office whitening – this is a whitening that you get done at the dentist with quite a strong peroxide product and could sometimes be accelerated by light or laser. This is in this day and age less used than dentist prescribed home whitening. There are two advantages of office whitening – the results are quick and you are not required to wear trays for what is usually a few weeks. The rest is disadvantages – due to the rapid effect and high strength of the gels, it can cause a lot of sensitivity, also the results are not as predictable and you have to return to the dentist once the teeth go back to the original colour.
Home whitening kits prescribed by dentist – this is what we offer. The disadvantage is that the results are not instant, and you have to put a little effort in yourself. However, this treatment is very gradual and you are leading the way deciding when to stop or skip a day, etc. Side effects, if any, are much milder than with office whitening. You get to keep your trays so you can top up regularly (around once a month for a few hours), rather than waiting until teeth get discoloured again. This way you can keep your teeth white indefinitely provided your teeth and gums are healthy.
So please Contact Us to book a whitening consultation or Book Online, to assess your suitability for whitening, or a new patient examination, where apart from a comprehensive oral health assessment we can also address your cometic concerns. Our helpful receptionists can advise which would be best for you.
