We've recently had a reasonable taste of what the summer could hold for us and very nice it's been too. While there is no guarantee of hot weather in the UK, we are sure that many of you have been thinking of the weekend breaks, barbeques and holidays abroad that are now not too far away. We often buy ourselves new clothes and perhaps a new hairstyle for this period of the year, and increasingly, people are also starting to take the decision to have a whiter and improved smile for it too.
One of the most popular ways to do this is with a safe, fast and effective teeth whitening procedure. More and more people are having their teeth whitened for the first time and many come back time and again to maintain the whiteness. This is probably helped by the fact that it doesn’t require any invasive dental treatment and is affordable for a lot of people too.
Let us take a look then, at what the teeth whitening procedure that we offer at the Clarence Dental Practice in Staines, entails.
Almost everyone over the age of eighteen can have their teeth whitened. There are a few exceptions, such as women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, but we will discuss all this with you during your initial consultation with us. The teeth whitening procedure is most suitable for mild to moderate staining or discolouration whereas more severe issues may benefit more from dental veneers which we'll discuss in a later blog.
People often think that their teeth are stained only on the surface, but, as we grow older, it is the dentin part of the tooth (beneath the enamel surface) which becomes darker in colour and shows through the enamel, making our teeth seem dull. No amount of brushing will change this and excessive brushing may even damage the tooth enamel. A teeth whitening procedure is the most effective way to lighten this again and make your teeth appear whiter.
Initially, you will need to have an introductory consultation with us. This includes a thorough oral health check as there is no point in whitening teeth that have started to decay for example. Once any issues have been resolved, we can commence the treatment.
Next, we take impressions of your teeth. This is done so that customised ‘trays’ can be made for you - these contain the whitening gel and fit over your teeth. It is important that these are custom made, not only for reasons of comfort but also to minimise any risk of the gel leaking and coming into contact with the soft tissues of your mouth which could cause irritation.
We will also discuss what you hope to achieve. Some patients like to go ‘all out’ for the whitest of whites that can be achieved, while others prefer to opt for a more subtle improvement. The choice is yours and we will work with you to help you achieve the outcome you want through adjustment of the whitening gel strength or through the amount of time you will be required to wear the trays.
Generally speaking, the trays are designed to be worn for one hour a day or overnight. We will discuss the options with you as well as the care and maintenance of the trays. You should start to notice the initial effects after around one week, with the full results being seen a week or so later.
There are no real significant side effects to this treatment but a few patients have reported additional sensitivity to their teeth. This is typically temporary and can be managed with your usual over the counter painkillers or sensitivity toothpaste until the teeth return to normal.
The benefits of a teeth whitening procedure should last for a long time but eventually your teeth will start to darken again. There are various options here and we will discuss these in more detail at the time. Some people prefer to wait until their teeth have become darker again before repeating the treatment while others prefer to ‘top up’ the whiteness with occasional use of the gel. We are always available if you have any questions about this and will do all that we can to help you maintain a great looking smile.
While a teeth whitening procedure is relatively affordable, you can also save yourself £25 if you wish. If you join our dental care plan, you will receive £25 off your teeth whitening treatment. You can download the form from our teeth whitening page.
The tooth whitening procedure is just one of a range of cosmetic dentistry treatments we have available at our Staines dental practice, so for more information on this, or any other treatment, or to book an appointment or initial consultation, please call the Clarence Dental Practice on 01784 463695.
Address: 21a Clarence Street, Staines upon Thames, Surrey, TW18 4SU
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