Teeth whitening is a bleaching process that lightens stains in the enamel and dentine of your teeth, to give a brighter tooth colour.

What are the benefits of teeth whitening?
The confidence of a bright, white smile!

Are all teeth suitable for whitening?
Tooth whitening may be done on live teeth and teeth that have had root canal treatment.

Before having your teeth whitened, your dentist will check to make sure your teeth are suitable to be treated. In some cases treatment may be difficult or ineffective, for example with staining caused during tooth formation by certain antibiotics.

Tooth whitening may make your old fillings or crowns look darker after treatment, so it is very important to be checked and advised of this before you proceed. Areas of your teeth may whiten at different rates depending on the location of the stain, hardness of the tooth and the intensity of the stain.

How can your dentist whiten your teeth?
Tooth whitening can be done at home (using a customised tray system designed by your dentist) or in the dental office. Your dentist can provide a more effective tooth whitening system for use at home than the 'do-it-yourself' kits available at pharmacies.

Your dentist can also whiten your teeth at the dental office, using similar ingredients to the home use whitening. The whitening gel is
applied to the tooth and may be activated with a special light for up to 20-30 minutes. Several repeat processes may be necessary.

Are there side effects of home or dental office treatment?
Sometimes people will experience increased tooth and gum sensitivity during treatment, which goes away shortly after stopping the treatment. The structure of the tooth is not changed by the process.

Can teeth with root fillings be whitened?
Yes. Root filled teeth are treated by placing bleach inside the tooth. A protective rubber shield is placed over the tooth, and the tooth is partly opened into where the root filling has been placed.

The inside is cleaned and a bleaching material is placed inside. The tooth is temporarily resealed and left 7-10 days. Sometimes two or three applications may be necessary.

How long does tooth whitening last?
Over time your teeth can lose some of their whiteness. You may need to repeat the process occasionally.

** Check out our latest Whitening Promotion on the Promotions page.