Teeth Whitening

Patients receive a free panoramic x-ray for the doctor to firstly screen for any dental decay or infection of the gum and or teeth. Previous root treatments and fillings are able to be seen on the x-ray. Provided the patient’s oral status is good health, the doctor can start preparations for the bleaching.

Patients will have a deep clean of their front and lateral incisors, canines and premolars. Bacteria, plaque and tartar build-up is removed. The teeth are then polished. A thin line of protective gel is carefully set in place on the gum line. A drop of whitening chemical is then placed on each tooth. The patient is now prepared to receive laser treatment. The patient wears ultra-high UV protective glasses and the doctor aligns a blue light at an appropriate distance from the mouth and a timer is set. The light is set and the patient remains still for the remainder of the treatment. Whitening time can last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. Once the time is up, the doctor turns off and removes the light. The bleaching chemical is then cleaned from the tooth and the protective gel removed from the gum line. The treatment is complete.

Patients will experience hyper-sensitivity for the remainder of the day and will gradually decrease over the week. This is normal.

Patients that have had professional teeth whitening at the clinic can expect hyper-sensitivity for about a week and should avoid hot and cold foods and beverages. Drinking with a straw is recommended to avoid direct contact with liquids. A sudden inhale can induce sensitivity, so nasal breathing is advised.

The bleaching chemical opens the enamel therefore, susceptible to staining & discolouring foods and beverages. So it is highly advised to avoid drinking coffee, tea, orange juice, wine and acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, berries and curries for the next 7 days.

Bleaching chemicals only affect the natural enamel so it’s not advised for those with crowns/veneers. Smile makeover patients that will have Emax crowns/veneers can consider teeth whitening treatment to enhance a naturally white smile. Emax is translucent and so the colour of natural teeth will be observed after treatment, so teeth whitening can be advised in most emax smile makeover cases.

Patients can expect to see an improvement of multiple shades of white. However, the amount of whitening can depend on the patients’ original condition. Factors include:

Years of smoking

Continuing to smoke after treatment

Original enamel condition

Current and post-treatment diet of acidic and staining foods/beverages.

Professional teeth whitening can last from 6 months to 2 years depending on the patient. Steering clear of acidic & staining foods and beverages as a sure way to preserve the effects of teeth whitening.

Patients are often pleased to see the effects of professional teeth whitening and wonder when they can get the treatment again. Due to the corrosive nature of teeth bleaching and enamel repair, it is advised to have teeth whitening once in a year. Repeated treatments can lead to long-term hypersensitivity. A smile makeover is a great option for people looking for a permanent whitening solution and correcting minor positional issues. For more information, head over to our Smile Makeover page here.