All over the UK, professional teeth whitening services are more popular than ever before. Even with such an extensive market for high-quality teeth whitening strips and kits of all shapes and sizes, people are flocking to the experts in record numbers.
In the hands of an experienced cosmetic dentistry expert, professional teeth whitening really can yield outstanding results. But at the same time, it’s surprising how many people make the decision to whiten their teeth professionally, before fully familiarising themselves with what’s to come.
So for those who’ve decided to go the professional root as an alternative to home teeth whitening kits, here’s a quick FAQ covering a few important questions and their respective answers:
How White Will My Teeth Get?
Just as is the case with every whitening product and kit on the market, results vary significantly from one person to the next. While some come out of their first whitening session with an extraordinarily white smile, others need considerably more treatments to achieve the same results. What’s more, there will always be cases where an individual’s teeth simply cannot be made quite as white as another patient’s. As a rule of thumb however, most professionals set out to improve whiteness by a minimum of five shades, though typically edge closer to eight shades.
How Long Does It Take?
This depends on the type of treatment you seek and the professional who carries it out. In most instances however, a single whitening treatment takes in the region of 45 minutes. There may also be additional time required for advice and consultations, both before and after treatment. In addition, you may need any number of sessions over a given period of time, in order to benefit from the best possible results. Your dentist will advise accordingly.
Will There Be Any Pain or Sensitivity?
Again…and as is the theme with the whole piece…it depends on both the quality of the treatment carried out and the specifics of the patient in question. For example, if you already have particularly sensitive teeth, it is possible that you will experience heightened sensitivity or discomfort during the treatment process. That said, some dentists use whitening products and treatment processes in general that are significantly gentler than others. In any case, this is a question you should bring up with your dentist, before agreeing to go ahead. If your teeth are already sensitive, this is something they need to know about.
How Long Does the Treatment Last?
Exactly how long you can expect the results to last will be determined primarily by your lifestyle. For the average person, quality results by way of a premium whitening treatment will take about a year to fade back to their original shade. This is why many people decide to have the whiteness of their teeth ‘topped-up’ after several months. Just as proactively preventing stains from setting in can prolong the whiteness of your teeth, lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking red wine and failing to look after your oral health in general can speed up the discolouration process.
Is Professional Teeth Whitening Harmful?
It’s of crucial importance to ensure that you only ever entrust a reliable, reputable and recommended specialist with the process. Handled correctly, there is no reason why professional teeth whitening should be in any way harmful. But at the same time, substandard service providers who use excessively harsh chemicals and outdated techniques could potentially do your teeth more harm than good. Always look into the general status and reputation of any dentist, before committing to any of their treatments.
How Far In Advance Of An Event Should I Whiten My Teeth?
Dentists are often approached by those who are getting married, going on holiday or planning to attend some kind of event where they need their teeth to look their best. In such cases, those concerned often ask how far in advance they should get their teeth whitened. As a rule of thumb, the answer is somewhere in the region of three weeks. While it doesn’t take particularly long to undergo a professional whitening treatment, it is nonetheless recommended to give it a few weeks prior to the event, just in case additional top-ups are needed.
Will the Treatment Whiten Crowns, Veneers Or False Teeth?
Unfortunately, this is just about the only limitation is far as most professional whitening treatments are available. The products used to whiten teeth are designed to be used with teeth and teeth alone. In turn meaning that anything within the mouth that isn’t a natural tooth is unlikely to respond to the treatment. That said, professional whitening treatments can effectively clean and restore the original colour of false teeth. Nevertheless, it will not be possible for the treatment to whiten false teeth or veneers further than their original colour.
Is It Necessary To Have My Teeth Polished and Scaled First?
Some dentists recommend undergoing an intensive process of polishing and scaling the teeth, prior to having them whitened. In reality however, this isn’t strictly necessary. If you haven’t had your teeth scaled and whitened for some time, it could be in your best interests to get it done for general health and hygiene reasons. In addition, ensuring your teeth are at least adequately cleaned and flossed prior to whitening is important. But if your dentist tells you that it is fundamentally necessary to have your teeth polished and scaled first, they’re technically bending the truth somewhat.
Can Anyone Not Get Their Teeth Whitened?
Last but not least, there are no known side effects or potential risks of any severity that accompany teeth whitening. As such, just as long as you consult with a reliable and reputable service provider, pretty much anyone represents a candidate for teeth whitening. Nevertheless, those with existing oral health issues, sensitive teeth and gums, recent dental surgery or other general health issues may not be suitable for treatment. In addition, the vast majority of dentists refuse to carry out treatments on anyone under the age of 18, while some also advise against professional teeth whitening while pregnant. In all instances, your dentist is the best person to ask regarding your own suitability.
