Many things affect the colour of teeth, particular types of food and drink, smoking, red wine and medication like tetracycline and certain childhood illnesses can lead to unsightly discolouration.

In addition, as we get older the colour of our teeth darkens. Trauma to upper front teeth (incisors) that have taken a heavy knock will frequently become discolored, especially if the pulp is damaged.

Visiting the dentist/hygienist regularly for the removal of tarter and other stained deposits helps, but this doesn’t actually whiten teeth.

Visiting the dentist/hygienist regularly for the removal of tarter and other stained deposits helps, but this doesn’t actually whiten teeth.

Today very effective treatments are available, e.g. an effective and proven method is professional tooth whitening with the help of and under supervision of your dentist.

After an examination by your dentist, an imprint of your teeth will be taken. A customised tray is then made by a qualified dental technician.

At your next appointment this tray is then filled with bleaching gel, varying strengths of gels containing hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen that bleaches tooth discolourations in a gentle way. The gel filled tray should be worn for between 2-5 hours per day as recommended by the dentist.

Yes, for an initial demonstration application to ensure that you follow the procedures correctly which your dentist will show you. He will then advise you when you should return, this is to ensure that the treatment is working and the solutions are used safely.

No, always consult your dentist. Certain groups of people e.g. infants, pregnant women and nursing mothers will not be treated also patients who suffer with gout will not be treated.

That varies according to the cause and degree of discolouration. Usually the bleaching effect becomes visible after a few applications (usually five).

Discolourations caused by certain types of food and drinks will normally disappear within 10 to 12 days.

Discolouration triggered by medication or by diseases can call for prolonged treatment that can take months.

Teeth with a yellowish hue usually bleach well, brownish ones less so; greyish teeth may not bleach at all.

According to the latest scientific findings it does not damage teeth, gums or existing fillings you may have, infact we have noticed a marked improvement in the gums of patients who have advanced chronic periodontal disease (periodontitis).

NOTE: We do not advise patients to buy teeth bleaching products by mail order or over the counter shops. We also do not carry out chair-side 40 minute bleaching, as we do feel the results are not as long lasting. You usually need to carry out further home bleaching anyway, so why go through the added expense!

During the course of the treatment, some increased sensitivity of the teeth and irritation of the gums can occur. These effects will disappear at the end of the treatment. With the home bleaching kits you could stop for a few days and then continue when the sensitivity is reduced, using sensodyne toothpaste continuously should help.

In case of extreme sensitivity apply the sensodyne toothpaste on your teeth via the trays for up to an hour, for mild sensitivity apply the toothpaste with your finger.

This is very much related to your lifestyle, the bleaching effect normally lasts between one and four years.

The kind of food and drinks you consume, smoking habbits, age and dental hygiene strongly influence the duration of the bleaching effect. Frequently drinking coffee, tea or red wine as well as smoking can bring discolourations back quite quickly.Toggle Content

This is very much related to your lifestyle, the bleaching effect normally lasts between one and four years.

The kind of food and drinks you consume, smoking habbits, age and dental hygiene strongly influence the duration of the bleaching effect. Frequently drinking coffee, tea or red wine as well as smoking can bring discolourations back quite quickly.Toggle Content

Good oral hygiene keeps teeth beautiful for a long time. Regular professional tooth cleaning at your dental practice also supports the lasting success of professional tooth whitening.

Should your teeth show signs of new discolouration, treatment can be repeated; this usually involves fewer applications than the first treatment and is also less expensive if you keep your bleaching trays safely as these can sometimes be reused.

No. professional tooth whitening only works on the natural tooth substance. Your dentist will advise you if tooth bleaching is suitable for you, and if fillings and crowns need to be replaced. You may be asked to fill in a cosmetic treatment questioner as part of your initial assessment, as other options such as veneers and crowns may be more suitable or a combination of all three to achieve the best result.

Yes. We have the latest composite filling materials that match the shades of bleached teeth. Please ask your dentist for more information.

Yes. Only your dentist can provide you with really effective bleaching systems like professional whitening. According to his examination he works out whether you need internal or external bleaching, experience and knowledge about the latest techniques helps to ensure the right dosage and treatment schedule. Advice from the practice team helps to avoid side effects and to control the results of your treatment. In addition you will be advised of professional ways of keeping your teeth white and of course on what you do at home.

Whitening toothpastes contain an ingredient that increase the effectiveness of superficial stain removal and can prove a very effective messure, if used regularly, to prevent stains gaining a foothold. However they are unable to alter the intrinsic colour of teeth.

All toothpastes contain mild abrasives, which help remove surface stains. E.g. Colgate whitening or Beverly Hills formula whitening toothpaste.

A week before bleaching, do the following:

1. Apply sensodyne toothpaste or fluoride gel in the bleaching tray every evening. This will desensitise the teeth before commencing bleaching treatment.

2. If sensitivity should arise when bleaching, place sensodyne or fluoride gel into the tray and sleep over night with the tray in place.

3. If teeth are frequently sensitive when bleaching, alternate nights placing sensodyne or fluoride gel one night and whitening material next.

Your dentist has given you a bleaching kit to take home with you together with your bleaching trays. It is essential that you follow the instructions given by your dentist and the manufactures instructions in wearing the trays and applying the bleaching agent.

Your dentist has given you a bleaching kit to take home with you together with your bleaching trays. It is essential that you follow the instructions given by your dentist and the manufactures instructions in wearing the trays and applying the bleaching agent.

This depends on the amount of lightening that you desire and the original shade of the teeth. If your teeth are quite dark or very yellow/grey/tetracycline stained it will take longer to bleach your teeth. If you are not experiencing any sensitivity you may wear the trays for at least 1-2 hours and even sleep with the trays in your mouth. It is very important to remove all the excess material around the gums or the palate prior to sleeping with the trays.

The darker your teeth, the longer your teeth will take to get lighter. Tetracycline stained can take up to 6 months or one year to bleach the teeth. Some teeth can whiten after one month. If you cannot wear the trays for a few days because of your hectic schedule, it does not matter. Bleach your teeth according to your own schedule. Some people put the trays in after dinner and wear them while watching an hour of TV or doing the dishes. Then if everything is fine they replenish the trays and sleep with them in the mouth.

Sensitivity is the most common side effect of home bleaching. In fact many patients suffer from sensitive teeth anyway. This occurs usually around the necks of the teeth where the gums have receded. If you are experiencing any sensitivity you should stop bleaching your teeth for a few days. You can resume after about 3-4 days. If the teeth become ultra sensitive you can place sensitive toothpaste into the bleaching trays for an hour a day. That will usually stop the sensitivity. Alternatively you can rub the sensitising toothpaste into the gum margins with your finger 5 times a day for a few days.

If you are at all concerned contact your dentist. You may notice new white spots occurring on the teeth while you are undertaking the bleaching treatment.

These white spots were already present on the teeth before the bleaching. As the teeth become lighter these spots become more visible. Do not worry. As the whole tooth itself becomes lighter these spots will fade. You may notice these white spots immediately after bleaching session or in the morning if you have been wearing trays for the whole night. Some teeth may appear banded with lighter/whiter areas.

Normally the teeth feel very clean after the bleaching procedure. The bleaching materials also have an indirect effect on the gums in helping them heal or improving the health of the gums. This is how the technique was invented as it was first used to heal gum irritation during the orthodontic treatment.

It is very rare, but sometimes the teeth do not lighten at all. If this happens and you are wearing the bleaching trays as recommended, you may need to try a different bleaching product or a slightly higher concentration of the bleaching material. Discuss this with your dentist.