No longer an out of reach extravagance reserved for the rich and famous, professional teeth whitening is available to everyone and it’s here to stay. Past patients confirm it’s given them a more vibrant smile, so what’s involved in the process and what effect will it have on our everyday lives?
The active ingredient
Teeth whitening was once reserved for film stars and celebrities, seen in red carpet photos in the gossip magazines in our dentist’s waiting room. Now, as you flick through the same magazines in the same waiting room, you’ve realised that certain food or drinks have dulled your tooth colour. But it’s you that can undergo the same treatment.
With over the counter home whitening kits promising the same dazzling smiles, they lack the compound strength to give you what we need for a long lasting, brighter smile. It’s only with professional teeth whitening from your private dentist that you can achieve the look you’re after. So what’s the secret?
All teeth whitening treatments use the same active ingredient which is usually a safe hydrogen peroxide. A colourless gel that bleaches whatever it comes into contact with, including your teeth. As it starts to break down on your teeth, oxygen gets to the enamel, making them whiter. Yet, as with many over the counter treatments, the strength of the active ingredient will be much lower. That means it will take much longer to achieve the results you want.
Choose your shade
When you visit your private dentist in Exeter, you should expect a thorough examination of your teeth to make sure they’re in the condition required to undergo treatment. This may include X-rays to look at any potential issues. If you’re a patient at the practice, this process will be simpler as your dental records will already be on file.
If you’re good to go, with the guidance of your dentist, you can start to think about how many shades lighter you’d like to go. Tooth whitening can’t give you a brilliant white set of teeth, but you can move significantly to lighten your current colour by several shades, giving you a completely new look.
There are limitations thought, and certain teeth can’t be whitened. So, if you’ve had dentures, veneers, crowns or dental implants fitted, please note that these do fall into this category. The whitening process can only happen on natural teeth.
A four-week improvement
The first step to your new look smile will be to visit your private dentist in Exeter to take moulds of your teeth. With these, custom made gum shields get created that fit your teeth precisely. The whitening agent is then applied to your teeth using another custom-made tray that fits into your mouth, a bit like a mouth guard.
This process is then repeated, usually at home, for up to four weeks. After the treatment is complete, you should see an improvement where your teeth will have lightened significantly from when you started. It might be useful for you to take a before and after photo as well, so you can see the difference the treatment has made.
As the treatment can be a bit awkward, it’s best to do it overnight and avoid having conversations with others that could prove difficult!
The price is right
When you choose to undertake a whitening treatment, you can go to your regular private dentist in Exeter or any other practice that offers the treatment. You don’t necessarily need to be a patient to get the treatment if the price suits you and your budget, but, every practice has their own pricing structure.
Though teeth whitening is available under the NHS in certain cases, it’s unlikely that you’ll receive treatment unless there’s a medical reason for it, such as discolouration due to nerve damage. The majority of whitening procedures are undertaken purely for cosmetic reasons, to give you a healthier looking, brighter smile, so you should expect to pay.
Your care and upkeep
Your new whiter, brighter teeth should stay the same shade for up to three years. But, you might need to put a little bit of work in to make sure they stay that way. Treatment results can be quick, but stains could start to reappear if regular cleaning isn’t stuck to. You could purchase teeth whitening powder to get a really white smile, learn more about teeth whitening powders here.
Though we’d recommend making regular visits to your dentist for check-ups and cleaning, you could also use some of the home whitening kits available to protect and prolong the life of your newly-whitened teeth. Using mouthwash or brushing immediately after eating or drinking will help prevent stain build-up. Even using a whitening toothpaste once or twice a week to avoid surface stains will help keep the shine and the shade.
Professional teeth whitening might be a more expensive way to get a whiter smile, but its effects will be much longer lasting. And with regular cleaning and care, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t stay with you for life. For more information visit us at www.lifedentalandwellbeing.co.uk.
Photo courtesy of Wedding Guide.
