Tooth Whitening

Gallery :Before and After

 We have had a lot of interest and questions regarding tooth whitening. Tooth whitening is a great way to brighten up a smile. Whether it is the Hollywood smile or just a slight change of shade, we can often advise on the level of whitening required to achieve a great result. 

Why are teeth stained?

Two types of staining occur with teeth: intrinsic and extrinsic.

Intrinsic staining is staining within the tooth. It is due to medications such as tetracycline taken when teeth are developing, tooth decay, greyness from amalgam fillings, teeth which have died, and as teeth get older, the dentine becomes thicker, so teeth become more yellow.

Extrinsic staining is caused by chromogenic food material, food, and drinks that cause staining. Typically, tea, coffee, red wine, some Chinese food, and Indian food. Smoking is particularly effective at staining teeth - whitening a smoker's teeth can take twice as long as a non-smoker's!

How does tooth whitening work?

Whitening is the process of removing staining from Enamel and Dentine. Enamel is the hard outer, glass like surface of teeth and contains many small pores and cracks. Dentine is the next layer, which is more porous and contains millions of tubules. Both of these surfaces can build up 'dirt' in the micropores, and this reduces the transparency of light through teeth so they appear darker and stained. Whitening uses a carbamide peroxide, which can break down these stains in the pores and therefore increases the transparency of light passing through, which allows teeth to appear lighter. The carbamide peroxide comes in various strengths from 10-16%, and when it works, it breaks down to hydrogen peroxide at roughly a third of the percentage.

What is the tooth whitening procedure?

At Jorvik dental Practice, we use a 'take home' whitening procedure as we have tried various methods and this appears to be the most effective for our patients. 'Take home' whitening requires us to scan your teeth and these are sent to a dedicated whitening laboratory where bespoke, custom-made whitening trays (like thin gum shields) are made to fit each individual. Personally, I feel they are the best whitening trays I have ever made for patients. The trays are returned to us a few days later. In each of the teeth on the tray is a small dimple/reservoir for you to add a precise amount of whitening gel, and then you wear the trays for the whitening gel to contact your teeth, and the whitening process begins!

We have our in-house scanner, which means there is no need to take a dental impression. Our scanner is a wand and takes a scan of your teeth quickly. This is great news for anyone who does not like the feel of the impression material in their mouth or gag. At Jorvik Dental Practice, we have invested in the latest scanner to ensure our patients are comfortable and we can take a scan quickly and comfortably.

Our wireless intraoral scanner

How soon will I notice results? 

The whitening treatment course we prescribe normally is over two weeks. However, after a few days, you should probably notice some results. We advise most patients to whiten their teeth during sleep as it is convenient and the trays normally fit comfortably enough to not disturb your sleep. Saliva flow slows down during sleep, so is less likely to dilute the gel and reduce its effectiveness. However, some patients choose to just whiten their teeth for one to two hours each day. The best results come from having the trays in overnight and doing this each day. Before fitting you with your bespoke trays we take a shade record of several of your teeth using our whitening shade guide and also a quick photograph of your teeth. Then, at a review appointment around two weeks later, we will assess the shade again to see how far you have progressed. Not everyone gets to the same point at the same time, and teeth will reach a saturation point. However, we have a B1 shade on our guide which we hope most patients get to.

Smokers can take twice as long to see results. Sometimes, patients who have severe grey shade staining such as with tetracycline staining, it can take months to achieve the desired result beyond our prescribed two-week course.

Does tooth whitening hurt?

No. There is some sensitivity, and we will always advise on ways to overcome this.

It is only short-lasting and normally resolves quickly once the process is completed or stopped. We advise using sensitive toothpaste before commencing whitening, and we give you advice as you are going through the process with us, which is tailored to your dental health. If the sensitivity becomes too uncomfortable, then we advise our patients to alternate the days they whiten their teeth and to maybe do it for less time. This reduces its effectiveness and takes longer, but it may be more manageable. Some patients prefer to whiten the upper teeth first and then the lower after the uppers.

It is useful to have a drink with a straw to take sips of whilst the trays are in.

Does it damage my teeth?

No. There is no way we would whiten our patients’ teeth if there was a chance it would cause any damage to them. There have been many studies investigating whether whitening harms the nerves of teeth, and none have shown anything of any concerns. The whitening gel we use is within the recommended guidelines. If an inappropriate strength were to be used, then is may cause damage to teeth. There have been some benefits to gum health if tooth whitening is done correctly with a dental professional.

Can everyone have it done?

We wouldn't advise patients who already have acute sensitivity problems to whiten their teeth as this could make the problem worse. Also, patients who have tooth decay which needs fixing or ongoing gum problems need to avoid whitening until the current problems are resolved and stable. Although the guidelines have recently become more flexible we normally will only whiten patients’ teeth when they are 18 or over. There is no upper age limit to whitening teeth.

Will Whitening change my restorations?

Whitening will not change the colour of crowns, bridges, veneers or fillings.

There are a few medical conditions which can prevent whitening. These are fairly uncommon and we can advise you where appropriate.

I have seen it on offer at the local beauticians and it is very cheap, can't I go there?

Whitening is a dental procedure that can only legally be carried out by a dental care professional; a dentist, a hygienist or therapist who are registered with the General Dental Council. Currently, the General Dental Council is in the process of prosecuting many beauticians who are carrying out tooth whitening illegally. Unfortunately, some of these people may not even realise they are doing something illegal and have a strong potential to be taken to court. There are certain things a dentist will check before prescribing any tooth whitening. The laboratory we send our impressions to requires us to write our General Dental Council registration number on the tickets to prove we are registered. We use one of the very best materials and ensure the procedure is carried out safely and effectively.

What about over-the-counter kits?

Some kits are abrasive and work by wearing the enamel away. Your teeth may initially appear whiter but can cause long-term tooth surface loss.

After I have whitened my teeth do they stay white?

After whitening your teeth will 'rebound' ever so slightly. This means at the end of whitening they will dull down just a little immediately after. However, with the technique we use it can be quite subtle in most cases. Normally at the end of your two week course it is likely you would still have some gel left. I advise my patients to whiten their teeth once a month to keep them tip top. Providing you keep the trays safe and do not have any major dental treatment carried out the trays should fit for a long time to come, so you can top them up whenever you want. You can always purchase tubes of whitening gel from us. From time to time would would ask to check the trays still fit accordingly and we will have a look at them with you in the surgery. We advise patients during the whitening treatment to be a little more conscious of the foods you are eating and drinking in terms of their colour. Patients often try to stick to a ‘white diet’ such as avoiding dark staining foodstuffs. As mentioned earlier tea, coffee, red wine. However, there are some ideas that you should avoid dark meats and veg whilst carrying out the whitening procedure. There is limited evidence whether this is really true.

Some places use a blue light or a 'laser' and apply the gel in the surgery. Why don't you do that one?

The short answer is that it doesn't really work! The light is there to heat up the gel and 'activate it'. The teeth also become hotter and dehydrated loosing water. As the water leaves the teeth they will become whiter but instantly more sensitive. This process of whitening undergoes a massive rebound and results disappear quickly. Most likely, when this process is carried out patients would then follow it up with home tray whitening also.

I have one grey tooth, can I whiten just that one?

Sometimes a single tooth goes darker due to the nerve on the tooth dying. Sometimes these teeth have had root canal treatment previously. Essentially, it is a bruise left inside the tooth, so the tooth appears greyer/darker. External conventional whitening will not improve this, and a special process called inside-outside whitening is needed. Normally, the tooth needs to be whitened internally and externally, and can have fantastic results. Sometimes further treatment may be required.

How long will it last?

 When carried out properly, tooth whitening results should be permanent and only need simple top-ups every six to nine months, which you can do at home. This depends on

personal choices and diet, so if you having a lot of coffee or red wine, the whitening may need more frequent topping up. Also, we recommend a dentist and hygiene visit to check the health of your teeth and remove any stains before any top-up treatments.

How much does tooth whitening cost?

At Jorvik Dental practice, the at-home tooth whitening system keeps the costs affordable and reliable. The package can vary depending on the colour desired and the existing shade of your teeth. At your initial discussion appointment, we will guide you through any costs that may vary from our normal package. This can be the case if an increased duration of whitening is required or if there are fillings, etc, which may need to be changed to a lighter colour at the end of treatment. Go to Prices at Jorvik Dental Practice

How do I book to get it done?

If you are a regular patient at Jorvik dental practice, then just ask our team for more information or book a review appointment. we can make an appointment to take impressions, photographs, and a shade and guide you through the process.

If you are not a patient at our practice, we would need to see you first for a full ‘New Patient’ examination to assess your dental health, which looks at your teeth, gum health, oral cancer screen, and normally involves taking x-rays. Please do contact us to find out more!

I hope this information has helped to answer some commonly asked questions.

We will look forward to seeing you soon

Dr. Tris Harrison