A bit more information about teeth whitening.

Tooth whitening has become a very popular dental treatment. There are many products available on the market not all of them are ideal nor are they suitable for all mouths. Only natural tooth surface with enamel will whiten so fillings, crowns and recession areas (exposed root surfaces) will not lighten. Whitening gel must be able to access the dentine (inner bulk) of your tooth hence some products may only address external stain and not lighten your tooth. As dental practitioners we are trained and able to assess your needs and legally apply the most appropriate, highest concentration, gentle and safest products available on the Australian market. Not all people (and their teeth) are the same so we offer a consult to assess your needs.

What causes teeth to change colour?

• the white enamel on the outside of teeth can wear away, this makes teeth look darker and more yellow

• foods such as spices, berries, beetroot and sauces

• drinks such as tea, coffee and red wine

• tar from cigarette smoking

• damage to teeth from accidents

• some medicines that are taken by pregnant women or babies when the teeth are growing

Medicines and damage from accidents can change the colour of teeth. These stains may be deep inside the teeth. Whitening gels used on the outside of teeth may not change the colour of these teeth. Your dental health practitioner can talk to you about other treatment options to try and make these whiter.

Whitening options

• at home teeth whitening

• Thin plastic trays are made to fit over the teeth. At home, whitening gel is placed in the trays and they are worn over the teeth every day. Your dental health professional will talk with you about how to do this safely and how to achieve the best results.  They will let you know how much gel to use, how long to wear the trays for each day and how many days to do it.

• whitening toothpaste

• whitening toothpastes work by helping to remove or prevent stains on the outside surfaces of the teeth. They do not usually make a large difference to the colour of the teeth.

• professional ‘in-chair’ whitening

• a strong teeth whitening gel is used during an appointment at the dental clinic. You will leave your appointment with whiter teeth. Your dentist/hygienist knows how to do this treatment safely.

At Oar and Horan we offer two options - take home whitening and in chair power whitening, both with custom made take home trays to enable you to ‘top up’ your whitening at home. You can also use the custom trays to target individual teeth as needed. The take home whitening is a low and slow option with a low dose gel applied at home and can take a few weeks to show results. The in chair power whitening takes approximately 90 minutes and potentially your teeth can be up to 3 shades lighter. There is a range of natural tooth shades, so where the shade your tooth begins will determine the shade that it finishes, so if your tooth is at the darker or mid range it would be unlikely to become the whitest shade.

Whitening can cause temporary sensitivity. We offer soothing gel and sensitive toothpastes with our kits just in case you experience any sensitivity. We use an LED light, cover any recession areas and protect your soft tissue during our power whitening sessions which can also reduce the risk of sensitivity. We do suggest you have your teeth examined to ensure there are no issues and professionally cleaned prior to whitening as this allows the gel to access your tooth surface.

You can phone to make an appointment for a whitening consultation or organise your check-up and clean appointment and mention you’d like to discuss whitening options and this can be done in the one appointment.

So no more guilty pleasures of tea, coffee and red wine stains to your teeth with the custom made take home trays you can top up your whitening at home as required.