The answers to your most frequently asked teeth whitening questions
If you decide you want to go ahead with your teeth whitening treatment, the first thing you’ll do is come to the Dental Perfection surgery in Hampstead. Here, your dentist will check if you’re suitable for the treatment and you’ll be able to ask any teeth whitening questions you may have.
For now, our team have answered some of the most frequently asked teeth whitening questions for you to read before your consultation.
How does teeth whitening work?
At our practice in North London, we provide you with custom-made mouth trays and several Polanight syringes so that you can whiten your teeth from home.
These syringes contain a carbamide peroxide whitening gel. This gel is positioned between your teeth and the tray. The gel comes in a variety of strengths with the higher percentages requiring less contact time.
When applied to the tooth, the chemicals break down into water and oxygen ions. Whilst the water will work to nourish and hydrate your tooth, the oxygen is able to enter the enamel. On entry, the ions break down long stain molecules which makes them lose their colour.
Then, the short and colourless stain molecules are naturally washed away by your saliva. The amount your teeth will whiten depends on the number of oxygen ions in the gel and the length of time they are able to work on the stain molecules.
Call our Hampstead team on 020 7431 2710 for answers to any of your teeth whitening questions.
How white will my teeth go?
This will depend on the concentration of whitening gel used, as well as the frequency and length of time you use it for. But, there will be a limit on how white your teeth will get.
In most cases, you can expect your teeth to lighten by at least three to four shades. The teeth whitening gel will bring your teeth to their optimum level of natural whiteness, and then plateau. Once your teeth reach the level of brightness you want, or are not getting any lighter with the treatment, that’s when you know your treatment is complete.
The best teeth whitening results are normally seen after two or three weeks of using Polanight every day.
Teeth whitening only works on natural teeth, so if you have veneers, crowns or bridges their colour will not change. It’s likely your dentist colour matched them to your natural set when placing them so, once whitened, you may find your real and replacement teeth no longer match.
Speak to your teeth whitening dentist here in North London about having your crowns replaced after your treatment to match your newly whitened teeth.
How long will the results of my teeth whitening last?
Again, this can vary. But, the results of your teeth whitening will last much longer if you make the effort to maintain them.
Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking also stain your teeth but with a good home oral hygiene routine and regular appointments with your dentist, your teeth could stay white for years.
And, if at any point you feel you need a ‘top-up’ on your teeth whitening, you can get individual gel syringes from the Dental Perfection practice in Hampstead. Some of our patients also keep their tooth whitening trays and repeat the process every few years.
Call our North London team on 020 7431 2710 for answers to any of your teeth whitening questions.
Will it hurt?
This is the most common worry when it comes to any kind of dental work. Whilst teeth whitening shouldn’t hurt, you may experience some sensitivity in your teeth after the process. Any sensitivity you feel shouldn’t last long – typically only for a few hours to a few days.
We recommend brushing with sensitive toothpaste following your teeth whitening and, if your teeth are feeling too uncomfortable, that you don’t wear the whitening tray for a few nights until it feels better.
It is also a good idea to refrain from eating or drinking anything ice cold or particularly hot whilst you’re experiencing sensitive teeth.
Teeth whitening can be made more comfortable depending on the product used. At Dental Perfection in Hampstead, we use Polanight. This contains natural soothers and desensitising agents which act on the nerve endings in your tooth to minimise sensitivity.
Call our North London team on 020 7431 2710 for answers to any of your teeth whitening questions.
Am I suitable for teeth whitening?
Instead of visiting a qualified cosmetic dentist, many people buy home teeth whitening products online and assume they will be fine using them. This is extremely dangerous as these people don’t realise there are a large number of factors your dentist takes into account before starting a teeth whitening programme.
When you come in for your consultation at our Hampstead practice, your Dental Perfection dentist will ask you a number of health and lifestyle questions and give you a physical assessment. If they say you’re okay to continue, you can start your treatment with our teeth whitening kit.
However, there are certain groups of people that we can’t treat. These groups are children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and patients who suffer with gout.
How much does teeth whitening cost?
For our up-to-date charges, please view our teeth whitening costs on our fees page.
Teeth whitening consultation
To find out if teeth whitening is suitable for you, and to ask any other teeth whitening questions you may have, speak to our team today on 020 7431 2710 to book your Teeth Whitening consultation. Or pop in and make an appointment at the Dental Perfection practice in Hampstead, North London.
We have been working with clients from all over North London (including St Johns Wood, Belsize Park, Highgate, and Swiss Cottage) from our Hampstead clinic since 1979.
Our North London premises is less than a minute's walk away from Hampstead Underground Station.