Teeth whitening can be as simple as a scale and polish to one or more treatments where the teeth are "bleached" to removing stains and discolouration from teeth and make them look whiter. .

Can I not just whiten at home with a kit?

Home whitening kits usually have a low concentration of peroxide so that there is less chance of any damage occurring and the end result is not as good, however, there has recently been some high-strength home whitening kits purchased online and from certain stores which have attracted media attention due to the issue the have caused with badly burnt lips and gums. We believe teeth whitening is not a procedure that can be carried out effectively or safely using a home whitening kit.

How does is work?

Prior to carrying out the whitening procedure, Smilescene will have a consultation to make sure that you are suitable candidate for teeth whitening and to fully explain the possible risks and side effects of the procedure.

Before the teeth whitening process is carried out we thoroughly clean the teeth and remove any surface stains and tartar before making a record of the shade/colour of the teeth. The area is then prepared for the procedure by place a protective cotton & gel barrier that hardens around the gums so that only the teeth are exposed to the bleaching compound.

Some patients may suffer from higher than usual sensitive immediately following this procedure and should try and avoid hot or cold drinks for a while, however, this is normally short lived and only lasts 24-48 hours.

Once the whitening procedure is complete, the results are instant and can often be up to 10 shades lighter.

Professional home whitening kits provide more permanent results over a longer time scale, whereas laser tooth whitening offers immediate results. A combination of the two provides the perfect solution to both immediate and long-term whitening needs.

Professional home whitening kits

To make a professional home whitening kit, a dental impression (mould) of your teeth is made using a special dental putty. This is then used to make your custom teeth whitening trays which are used in combination with professional whitening gel until you are happy with the results.

Can everybody get teeth whitening done?

Many people are not suitable for teeth whitening which is why we have a consultation beforhand. If you have gum disease or other dental health problems, you may not be suitable and you should also be aware that the whitening process does not change the colour of crowns, veneers or fillings and these may need changing to match the colour of your whitened teeth.

How much whiter will my teeth look?

This varies from individual to individual, and also depends on the type of whitening system used. Some people respond very well to teeth whitening and have dramatically whiter teeth as a result, whereas others may notice very little difference at all. People with heavily stained yellow teeth tend to have more dramatic results than those with slightly discoloured teeth.We will advise you on the likely results following our initial consultation.

Does it hurt?

Some people experience no pain or sensitivity with their teeth at all. However, the majority of people will experience some kind of sensitivity either during and/or after the initial treatment which settle down after approximately 24-48 hours, for patients with excessive sensitivity which is rare we can provide a special gel or mousse which greatly reduces the sensitivity.