Protection during whitening
It is very important that your dentist isolates your gums and lips with a protective material in order to avoid any potential damage and burning of your soft tissue. It is for this reason that home whitening kits usually have a low concentration of peroxide so that there is less change of any damage occuring at home. Although recently high strength home whiteining kits that can be purchsed online and from certain stores have attrracted media attention with horror storied of people with badly burnt lips and gums. Teeth whitening is a procedure that should always be carried out under the supervision of a dentist.

Home Teeth whitening Kits
The take home whitening kits provide more permanent results over a longer time scale whereas laser whitening offers immediate results. A combination of the two provides the perfect solution to both immediate and long-term whitening.

How much whiter will my teeth look?
This varies from individual to individual and also the type of whitening system used. Some people respond very well to teeth whitening and have dramatic whitening results whereas others may notice very little difference at all. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the likely results expected with your teeth.

Whitening/Bleaching
Over time our teeth tend to become discolored or stained. Whether this is from smoking, coffee, or any other foods, a beautiful smile could be closer than you think. We offer a safe, inexpensive solution to an unsightly smile. Whitening your teeth is a very simple procedure that can be completed in relatively short period of time.

Procedure
The first step in the whitening process is impressions. We will take full impressions of your upper and lower teeth. These impressions will be made into custom bleaching trays. The trays will fit onto your teeth perfectly so there is a small possibility of gum damage from the bleaching solution.

The second step is to place the bleaching solution in the trays and wear them for a few hours a day. Within 7-10 days, you will see a significant improvement in the color of your teeth. Your smile will look brighter and younger. We will take before and after photos so that you will be able to compare the amazing transformation.

Bleaching only works on natural teeth and may not be effective in all cases. We will inform you as to the potential whitening for your specific situation.

Does it hurt ? what are the side effects of Teeth whitening?
Some people expereince no pain or sensitivity with their teeth. However, the majority of people will expereince some kind on sensitivity either during and / or after the initial treatment. This is usually described by patients as spoaradic sharp shooting pains coming from your teeth. This should settle down after approximately 48 hours. Your dentist may give you a special gel or mouse to apply to your teeth to help with the sensitivity. It is advisble to avoid and hot or cold food or drinks within the first 48 hours of your whitening treatment.

Which is the best teeth whitening brand / System?
There are many different brands of professional teeth whitening systems each claiming to provide the best results depending on who you believe, with the most popular systems being Zoom!®, as featured on extreme makeover, Opalescence® , BriteSmile® and the latest Enlighten system. Each of the systems have their pros and cons and your dentist will be able to discuss which system would be best suited for your teeth.

How much does teeth whitening cost? This depends on many different factors including:

• The clinic where the whitening is performed
• The teeth whitening system used
• The locationof the clinic
• The skill of the dentist performing the treatment