ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

There are some people who should NOT undergo teeth whitening-

1/ Pregnant or lactating women

2/ People with poor enamel or decalcification caused by excessive use of fluorides

3/ People with periodontal disease including gingivitis or gums in poor condition

4/ People who wear braces or have had them removed in the last 8 months

5/ People who have recently had oral surgery

6/ People with decaying teeth, exposed roots or open cavities

7/ People who are allergic to peroxide products

8/ People under the age of 14

If you are uncertain as to whether you fit into one of these categories please check with your dentist as to whether they feel teeth whitening is advisable for you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1/ Is Teeth Whitening Safe ?             

A/Yes it is, decades of research have proven teeth whitening to be both safe and effective.

2/How long does the treatment take?

A/ It takes about an hour, sometimes a little less and occasionally a little longer.

3/How white will my teeth get?

A/. It varies. A teeth whitening treatment will not make your teeth snow white; it will make them whiter. How much whiter? It really depends on a number of factors, including your natural dentine colour, how stained your teeth were before the whitening, what kind of staining agents caused most of the coloration, how well your enamel reacts to gel, the kind and strength of gel used and the number of treatments performed. However, your teeth can only be whitened to their natural colour, which varies significantly from person to person. Most people get impressive results while a few get less dramatic results, but 99% of people are very satisfied with the results they obtain with our system.

4/Can all teeth be whitened?

A/. While most natural teeth can be whitened, there are a number of exceptions. Unfortunately, only real (natural) teeth can we whitened significantly. Caps, crowns, veneers, etc can sometimes benefit slightly from a teeth whitening treatment, but not much really, and could only be taken back to their original colour. People whose stains are derived from the antibiotic tetracycline or from fluorosis will see little or no improvement, but in some cases a little improvement means a lot to them. The more yellow your teeth are, the easier they are to whiten and the greater the improvement you will obtain.

5/ Are there any Side Effects?

A/ There are no common side effects. Teeth sensitivity is an occasional issue for some people during the first 24-48 hours after treatment. This is generally very minor, and can be minimised by using Sensodyne toothpaste until the sensitivity goes away. Another again uncommon issue is being allergic to peroxide without being aware of it. If you find a blister developing on your lip after treatment vitamin e applied topically will be beneficial. This will usually go away within a couple of days.

6/ How long will the results last?

A/. The normal range is between 6 months and 2 years. There is such a wide variation because people have different habits. The more staining beverages and foods you consume [ie coffee, tea, red wine, cola, curries, etc] and the more you smoke, the shorter the duration of your results. The other factor is how porous your teeth are. Unfortunately there is no easy way of knowing how porous your teeth are, but the more porous the quicker the stains will creep back in there. If you expose your teeth to an absolute minimum of staining agents, don’t smoke and have averagely porous teeth, then the results could last as long as two years.

7/ What can I eat or drink after the treatment?

A/. It’s called the “White Diet”. After the treatment you cannot smoke or eat or drink anything but water for 1 hour. For the next 24 hours (preferably 48 if you can), you should abstain from enjoying any of the usual tooth-staining suspects (coffee, red wine, tea, colas, tobacco, and even citrus juices). We can tell you how you might be able to get away with drinking these beverages if you really must get your fix. A full set of after-care instructions are provided after the treatment concludes

AFTERCARE

 

Short Term After Care.

The First 24 Hours after Treatment.

It is critical to be very aware of everything you are eating and drinking for at least 24 hours [and preferably 48 hours] after your whitening treatment. This is because the pores in your teeth will be open for this time period and any foods that you eat or drink will be able to enter these pores.

After your session you will be provided with The White Diet Guide a very clear set of instructions on what to eat during this time period to avoid re-staining your teeth. It is essential that you adhere to this guide for at least the initial 24 hour period after your whitening session.

Long Term Aftercare.

In the long term the length of time that your whitening treatment lasts ultimately depends largely on you. If you reduce consumption of  staining foods and drinks such as curries and red wine, [and clean your teeth immediately after eating or drinking staining substances] and don’t smoke, then your whitening treatment may last up to 2 years.

If on the other hand you eat and drink a lot of staining foods and/or smoke heavily, then your treatment could last as little as six months.