Teeth
Whitening

There are 2 main methods for professional tooth whitening.

1) In-Chair

In-Chair whitening is completed by a trained dental professional generally over a 1 hour in-office appointment.

Soft tissues in the mouth such as gums, lips and cheeks are protected and isolated followed by an application of a strong Hydrogen peroxide gel to the teeth. A light is then used to "activate" the gel and results are achieved within the hour.

B) Take-Home

Take-Home whitening involves the fabrication of custom made "whitening trays" and dispensing whitening gel made from either hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. These trays may be worn from 15 mins per day up to overnight.

Time frame would be discussed at your consultation appointment.

It generally takes 2 weeks of daily wear to achieve your results in this method.

To maximise your results we may recommend an initial In-Chair whitening session followed by a weeks use of the take-home whitening gel.

Teeth whitening is an unpredictable process, even in a professional setting. Everyone has different hygiene and diet habits, different enamel and different levels of staining/discolouration. It is recommended to seek a consultation with a dental professional to ensure you are a suitable candidate for whitening and to ensure expectations can be achieved..

Sensitivity is usually expected in any teeth whitening procedure.

It is purely transient, meaning that once whitening ceases, it will generally stop within 24 hours.

Different levels of sensitivity can be expected for each person depending on multiple variables. These include;

• The patients general dental sensitivity

• Condition of teeth and gums

• Strength of whitening gel used.

Your dental practitioner will advise the best method of whitening for you to reduce the amount of sensitivity felt.

How long results last is dependent on multiple factors. Every person is different due to the existing condition of teeth, dietary and hygiene habits. People who frequently consume food and beverages known to cause tooth discolouration, as well as smoking, will notice teeth returning to their oringinal shade at a faster rate than those who do do not.

If maintained with good diet and hygiene habits, your whitening should last you years.

Depending on the method of whitening, costs can differ. Serene Dental recommends a throrough consultation to determine the best option for you.

Only enamel can be whitened. Dental work such as fillings, caps, crowns, veneers, even exposed root surfaces will not whiten.

Professional whitening products can only distributed by dental professionals. These products are usually stronger in concentration and require supervised use.

Store-bought whitening products are lower in concentration and therefore in their effectiveness.

Generally most people over the age of 16 can get their teeth professionally whitened. This is dependent on tooth and gum health and relative to any previous dental work completed.

Medical history is also reviewed.

A comprehensive dental Check-up and Clean is recommended prior to any whitening procedure to ensure adequate safety and maximum results.

In-Chair whitening is slightly acidic. A one hour session is the equivalent to a can of coca cola.

Your dental professional will advise if the procedure is suitable for you and precautions will be made to ensure no damage occurs to the enamel surface.

The regular use of a fluoridated toothpaste is recommended to ensure the enamel surface is constantly being remineralised.

To maximise your whitening results and to get the most out of Professional Teeth Whitening, is recommended to maintain good oral hygiene habits such as brushing 2 x per day and flossing daily to reduce the amount of plaque in the mouth. Also seeing your dental professional 2 x per year minimises the amount of bacteria you yourself cannot remove.

For the first 24 to 48 hours post-whitening, we recommend adhering to a predominantly "White Diet" these first 2 days you are more susceptible to staining , therefore only consuming light coloured foods and beverages reduces the risk of your results fading prematurely.