Tooth whitening can be a key component in a conservative treatment plan when you want to improve the vibrancy of your smile. Used alongside other treatments, whitening can help us preserve more of your own natural healthy tooth than would otherwise be achievable. Aside from choosing no treatment at all, whitening is one of the most conservative interventions I offer.

 

What can whitening achieve?

Whitening can be used to lighten individual teeth, or to brighten the overall shade of multiple teeth. 

 

When might whitening be appropriate?

If you have a good amount of healthy enamel on your teeth and minimal staining, whitening may be an excellent stand-alone treatment.

 

In most other situations whitening can be a valuable component of a wider treatment plan, and is often an ideal starting point. Bringing the natural shade of your teeth closer to the intended shade of a restoration can mean that less natural tooth needs to be removed to achieve the desired result. 

 

When might another approach be better?

If you have a lot of surface staining on your teeth from food, smoking or calculus, it is usually worth having this professionally removed by a dental hygienist or therapist, this will allow you to appreciate the true natural colour of your teeth. 

 

Depending on your needs, this may include airflow treatment, which is specifically designed to remove surface staining. 

 

If you have heavily restored teeth with multiple restorations on visible surfaces, or existing crowns and veneers, the potential benefit from whitening is further limited as these restorations will not change colour with whitening. 

 

Whitening can also have limited benefits where toothwear has resulted in substantial loss or thinning of the enamel. This could be the result of grinding your teeth, heavy brushing, or dietary factors. 

 

How I approach treatment

I don't recommend whitening simply because you would like whiter teeth. I consider whether it is likely to be beneficial for you and how it fits within your overall treatment plan.

 

If I recommend whitening, I'll explain what I think it can realistically achieve, how it may influence any subsequent treatment, and what the potential benefits are for you.

 

What does treatment involve?

For most patients, I recommend whitening gradually over a 2-6 week period using custom-made home whitening trays. This allows the process to take place gradually and with minimal disruption to your daily life. 

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During treatment, you wear your whitening trays overnight (for 6- 8 hours), according to the recommended whitening protocol. 

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Longevity and maintenance

It is rare for teeth to completely revert to their original colour. Some reduction in brightness should be expected, as our teeth are exposed to food, drink and other sources of staining. 

 

For many patients, a simple maintenance regime of 1-2 nights of top-up whiting each month may be enough to maintain the results for many patients. We usually facilitate this by making you a new set of whitening trays at the end of your treatment. ​

 

Related treatments

• Professional Hygiene Appointment (to remove surface staining before deciding whether whitening is appropriate)

• Composite bonding (for subtle changes to shape, colour and proportion that whitening in isolation cannot achieve) 

• Porcelain restorations (for when more substantial changes are needed to improve the appearance and structure of the teeth)

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