TEETH WHITENING / BLEACHING

Teeth whitening is a safe and effective procedure to lighten the existing colour of your teeth by a “bleaching” process. It does not require the removal of tooth surfaces and keeps your tooth intact. Stains can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as regular intake of stain-causing foods and beverages like coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco smoking. Stains can also be caused by other factors like an infected tooth or discoloured fillings. It is important to determine the cause of your stained teeth prior to bleaching as not all stains can be improved with bleaching. Do speak to your dental professional to find out more. There are various type of teeth whitening procedures, and can be widely categorised into two types: in-chair whitening, take-home whitening, or even a combination of both. In-chair whitening will be done in the dental clinic by your dental professional, and requires the use of a blue light to enhance the whitening procedure. The results are usually more effective, and more lasting. Take-home whitening involves the use of a take home whitening kit, where the patient applies the whitening gel onto a customised tray, and wears the tray for a duration of time for a few days in a row until the desired shade is achieved. Bleaching is not permanent, and there can be relapses after a period of time, depending on your dietary habits. For patients who smoke or take in more stain-causing foods and beverages, your teeth may relapse to the previous shade faster. You may also experience some sensitivity after the bleaching procedure as bleaching will cause teeth to dehydrate. Rest assured, the sensitivity is temporary, and will resolve after your teeth rehydrates after a period of time. Your dentist may advise you to use sensitive toothpaste to help with the sensitivity.