If your teeth have lost their natural lustre and appear discoloured, stained or yellowed, then whitening should be an avenue to consider. There are various options that promise to enhance your pearly whites, yet differ in price and method. Some rely on us professionally performing the procedure, whilst others are sold Do-it-yourself (DIY) using custom fitted trays or over-the-counter (OTC) one-fit solutions for home use. Having your teeth whitening procedure executed at the dentist is not only the fastest method but a premium way to achieve the best result.
There are various options available so below is an explanation of the most common dental whitening procedures to help you make an informed choice. Remember, it’s best to consult any of our branches prior to whitening to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy.
1. Professional Teeth Whitening
External Bleaching
External whitening is a fast and effective way to whiten teeth. It’s also great for sensitive teeth as the procedure is closely monitored by our dentist/hygienist. It involves applying a highly concentrated hydrogen/carbamide peroxide gel onto the teeth exterior. Light is often used in conjunction with the gel to accelerate and amplify the tooth whitening process for enhanced results. Maintenance whitening is very important, and before you undertake any external bleaching method, it is important to understand that if you wish to maintain your achieved results you will need to continue to bleach at home every couple of months.
Internal Bleaching
Internal staining can discolour teeth from the inside out, so this procedure is required if the inside of a tooth is the actual cause of the discolouration. It is administered when a tooth has undergone endodontic therapy (root canal treatment). Essentially, the affected tooth is accessed through an existing filling, and a bleaching agent is inserted directly inside the tooth. Bleach is left inside the tooth for a short period of time before being removed. This may take several appointments depending on the extent of the staining.
2. DIY Teeth Whitening
Professional Custom Fitted Trays
We cast impressions of your teeth to create a laboratory fabricated customised plastic tray for you to take home so you can complete the tooth whitening process by yourself. These trays are designed to hold bleach gel correctly in place over the teeth while avoiding the gum area. That’s why they’re considered to be a superior at-home style treatment since we can also determine what type of whitening gel concentration is best suited to your teeth.
3. Over-the-Counter (OTC)
Whitening take-home treatments can be purchased online or over-the-counter. Take home whitening kits are a ‘One size fits all’ solution and are the least expensive option available.
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- This kit contains 10 prefabricated trays with a bleaching solution of 10 – 15% hydrogen peroxide already inside.
- The trays are placed in the mouth for up to 60 min per day until the desired results are achieved.
- The trays are designed to fit any mouth and are not personalized