Tooth Whitening
Red wine, coffee, soft drinks, smoking – they’re the dental villains of less-than-white teeth.At Shepherds Hill Dental Centre, we practice a preventive and diagnostic philosophy for teeth whitening to help you achieve a brighter smile safely.
I’m thinking of having my teeth whitened. Do you recommend it?
At our practice, our approach is to keep things simple and look after your basic dental functions first. We believe the quickest, easiest, most affordable way to have whiter teeth is through dental cleans every six months or so. In addition to keeping your gums and teeth healthy, they’ll prevent stains from building up, without the need for anything more invasive.
If, at the end of a check-up,if a patient says they’re worried their teeth are yellow or have other aesthetic concerns, we may recommend you see a dental hygienist who’ll remove the external staining from your teeth. Step two, we’ll reassess to determine whether you’d benefit from teeth whitening.
There are two types of teeth-whitening treatments we offer:
- A take-home kit
- An in-house procedure
Most of our patients use take-home whitening kits that allow them to whiten their teeth in their own time from home, under our guidance. In-house whitening can play a role for patients who require speedy whitening, but for best results this is performed in conjunction with take-home whitening.
So, how does a take-home teeth whitening kit work?
We make custom bleaching trays for patients after taking a set of moulds. We then provide our patients with the whitening gels and provide instructions on how to use it. You can whiten your teeth all the time at home in a safe, predictable manner. We’ll also provide you with some desensitising agent because teeth whitening may cause sensitivity for some people.
How long will teeth whitening last?
The result will always depend on the individual patient and is not permanent. You may have an improvement, but the degree of whitening will depend on your teeth and how quickly they are stained again from food, drink or smoking.
What are the side-effects?
The main side-effect is teeth sensitivity, so we supply a desensitising agent or mousse with the take-home kit to keep it under control. It’s important to monitor how your teeth feel during treatment. If you’re experiencing sensitivity, you might leave treatment for three to four days.
The whitening product can also damage or burn the gum, so we custom-make the bleaching tray to help avoid that problem.
Can you whiten a single tooth versus a whole smile?
If you have a single tooth that’s been knocked and gone black or one that’s had root canal treatment and gone grey, certainly that tooth can be individually whitened.
This can be done externally through take-home bleaching, or internally during a dental procedure similar to a root canal treatment. In this case, we bleach within the heart of the tooth, where the nerve used to be, then fill the hole. This whitens the tooth from the inside out.
Thinking about teeth whitening but not sure if it is right for you? Check with us at your next dental check up and we’ll be happy to discuss your suitability, options and go through the costs of teeth whitening with you.
Latest Articles Answering Your Common Questions
Autism Friendly Dentistry – Shepherds Hill Dental
Looking for a dental partner who provides quality and care for you and your family?
Give us a call today on (08) 8278 6858 or complete the online form to book your appointment or discuss how we can help you with your dental care.
FAQs
Professional teeth whitening uses high-concentration bleaching agents applied by a dentist to lighten teeth several shades in a short period.
Yes, professional teeth whitening is safe when performed by a qualified dentist. It minimizes risks of sensitivity and gum irritation.
Teeth whitening results can last from several months to a few years, depending on your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits.