Teeth Whitening

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is a quick and easy way to improve the look of your smile – it’s one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments available. It involves breaking down the discolouration so that your teeth look whiter. Whether the process will work for you depends largely on the cause of your discolouration.

Whitening Options

Given the different causes of discolouration, it is important to have your dentist thoroughly assess your dental health to determine whether teeth whitening will be an effective treatment for you.

Here at Happy Smiles we have two teeth whitening treatment options available: at-home teeth whitening and in-chair teeth whitening.

At-Home Teeth Whitening

Our at-home kit contains close fitting custom-made teeth whitening trays and a whitening gel. Whitening gel is applied to the trays, which need to be worn consistently for an hour every day for a week or two to achieve the desired result.

This is a simple system promising good results. You can comfortably whiten your teeth either while you sleep or for an hour during the day. It offers you the convenience of being able to use it whenever you like for the 7 to 14 day period. We provide you with enough whitening gel for your initial treatment period and a number of maintenance applications. Under our supervision this technique is safe for your teeth and gums

In-Chair Teeth Whitening

We offer a two hour in chair whitening procedure known as Zoom Whitening! This immediately improves the whiteness of your teeth, but some patients choose to maximise and maintain the results by following up with an at-home whitening system as well.

The Zoom process combines a patented whitening gel with the unique light. During the procedure your dentist will apply a rubber shield and liquid latex to protect your gums, and will then apply the whitening gel to your teeth in 15 minute intervals for a total of 120 minutes. A specialised blue light is used to activate the gel and speed up the whitening.

The main benefit of in-chair teeth whitening is the immediacy of results – a significant change in whiteness is seen within a short period of time.

Risks Associated with Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is generally safe when used in the correct way. One of the biggest risks associated with teeth whitening arises when it is applied incorrectly or by someone who is not properly qualified.

Because a bleaching agent is involved, some of the side effects of teeth whitening can include damage to the gums, tooth sensitivity and irritation, and possibly bleeding in the oesophagus and stomach if the bleach is swallowed.

Sensitivity from teeth whitening usually only lasts a day or two. Patients with receding gums, cracks in their teeth or failing restorations (which can result in leaking) are the most likely to experience sensitivity. Gum irritation can arise as a result of contact between the whitening agent and your gums.