Treatments
Teeth whitening
Whitening is usually the cheapest change with the most visible payoff, which is exactly why it is worth doing properly rather than out of a supermarket box. It also does not work on everything, and you should know that before you spend anything.
Take-home whitening
Custom trays made from scans of your teeth, plus professional gel. You wear them at home over a couple of weeks, at your own pace.
- Gentler on sensitivity, because you control the pace
- Trays are reusable for cheap top-ups later
- Gradual, so the change is less obvious to others
In-chair whitening
Done here in a single appointment using a stronger gel, with your gums protected throughout. Useful when there is a date in the diary.
- Noticeable change in one visit
- Supervised the whole way through
- More likely to cause short-term sensitivity
Plenty of people combine both: in-chair to make the change, take-home trays to maintain it.
What whitening will not do
This is the part usually left out, and it is the reason some people end up disappointed after paying for treatment elsewhere.
- Crowns, veneers, bridges and existing fillings do not lighten
- Grey discolouration from old trauma responds unpredictably
- Staining from certain childhood antibiotics is often resistant
- Whitening cannot fix shape, chips or alignment, only colour
I will look at what is actually causing the colour before recommending anything, and tell you honestly if whitening is unlikely to get you where you want to be.
Planning other cosmetic work? Whiten first
Bonding, veneers and crowns are made to match your shade at the time. Whiten afterwards and they will no longer match. Whitening first, then matching new work to the result, is the sequence that avoids an expensive mistake.
Individual results and timeframes vary from person to person, depending on the condition of your teeth, gums, and other relevant medical conditions. I'll always give you a personalised treatment plan at your consultation appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Find out if whitening will work for you
A quick look tells us what is causing the colour and whether whitening will shift it. Better to know that first than to find out afterwards.