Professional Teeth Whitening: What to Know Before Treatment
Thinking about whitening your teeth but not sure where to start? Professional teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental treatment in the UK, but many patients have questions about safety, price, whether it’s right for them and what sort of results they can realistically expect.
This guide explains how professional teeth whitening works, the treatment options available, what happens during a consultation, the potential downsides, costs and how to keep your teeth looking their best afterwards. It’s all designed to help you make a more informed decision before deciding whether it’s right for you.
Professional Teeth Whitening: The Basics
Professional teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment that a registered dental professional uses a whitening product to lighten the colour of your natural teeth.
Before treatment, your dentist is going to need to assess your teeth and gums to see if there are any issues that might need sorting before you can go ahead with whitening. This can help them work out whether whitening is a good idea for you and which approach is best for you.
Professional teeth whitening can help with:
- Reducing stains and discoloration caused by things like tea, coffee and red wine
- Brightening up naturally darker or age-related tooth discoloration
- Lightening the colour of your natural teeth
- Giving you a whiter smile
How much whitening you can expect is different from one person to another and depends on how dark your teeth are to start with, what’s causing the discoloration and the whitening system being used. Your dentist will explain what you might reasonably expect before treatment.
What Actually Is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening is a dentist-supervised cosmetic treatment that uses bleach-like agents to lighten the colour of your natural teeth. The most common active ingredients are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide.
These ingredients work by breaking down the coloured bits in your tooth, helping to reduce the appearance of discoloration.
There are a few things you need to know:
- Whitening changes the colour of your natural teeth but doesn’t change their shape.
- Whitening doesn’t strengthen or repair damaged enamel.
- Crowns, veneers, bridges, implants and tooth-coloured fillings don’t whiten in the same way as your natural teeth.
- If you have visible restorations, your dentist will be able to explain how whitening might affect the colour match and whether you might need to have further work done.
If you are thinking about doing any cosmetic work on your teeth involving restorations, your dentist might recommend whitening your natural teeth before replacing or matching the colour of visible restorations.
Teeth Whitening and UK Laws
In the UK, tooth whitening is considered a dental treatment and can only be done by a registered dental professional – This applies regardless of the product or whitening system being used. The GDC states that only registered dental professionals can offer or provide tooth whitening treatment, regardless of the product used. It also states that the maximum hydrogen peroxide strength a dentist can use for cosmetic tooth whitening is 6%. For cosmetic tooth whitening, products containing or releasing more than 6% hydrogen peroxide are prohibited under the relevant regulations.
This is why it’s really important to have your teeth whitened through a registered dental professional rather than someone who is not.
How Does Teeth Whitening Actually Work?
The process is pretty straightforward:
- Your dentist checks over your teeth and gums
- A suitable whitening product is picked
- The whitening product is applied according to the treatment instructions
- The active ingredients start breaking down the compounds that are causing tooth discoloration
- Your teeth gradually start to become lighter in colour
The exact process might vary depending on the whitening system and whether you’re doing it at home under dental supervision or in the practice.
Teeth Whitening Options
Not every patient needs the same approach. Your dentist will recommend a treatment plan based on your oral health, what’s causing the discoloration, what you want to achieve and what systems they have available.
The 2 main professional approaches are:
- Dentist-supervised home teeth whitening using custom-made trays
- In-practice teeth whitening carried out by a dental professional
Professional whitening might also be part of a bigger cosmetic treatment plan if that’s what you need – this could be alongside other treatments like composite bonding, veneers or orthodontics.
Dentist-Supervised Home Teeth Whitening
Home whitening involves custom-made trays and whitening gel that your dentist or practice will supply.
The trays are designed to fit your teeth snugly and keep the whitening product in the right place during treatment. Your dentist or dental team will explain how to use the trays, how much gel to use and for how long.
The treatment time will depend on the whitening system and what your dentist says. Whitening builds up gradually rather than suddenly changing the colour of your teeth.
What to Expect From Home Whitening
Your dentist will give you specific instructions for your treatment. These may include:
- How to get the trays in and out
- How much whitening gel do you use, and when
- How long do you wear the trays for and how often
- How frequently do you use the whitening system
- What if you get sensitivity or gum irritation while using them?
- When do you come back for that review
You might notice that your teeth colour starts changing during the whitening treatment but the pace of whitening varies from one person to another.
There are some benefits to having your dentist supervise your at home whitening – such as:
- The ease of doing it at home
- Custom-fit trays for better results
- Professional help all the way through the treatment
- You can follow a gentle whitening plan
Your dentist will also be able to let you know if you can keep your trays for future top up sessions and when to get more whitening gel to help keep your smile bright.
In-Practice Teeth Whitening
When you have it done in a dental practice it’s done by a trained expert.
Depending on the whitening kit being used the procedure will be slightly different .An appointment might involve
- Getting your initial tooth colour recorded
- Protecting your gums and surrounding areas
- Applying whitening product according to the instructions
- Removing and reapplying it if needed during the appointment
- Giving you some aftercare advice
The time needed varies depending on which treatment system and plan the dentist is using.
Some of these kits use a light or other special equipment, your dentist will be able to explain to you what that involves and what you can expect.
If you prefer to in-practice whitening rather than at home then in-practice whitening is the way to go.
You may also be offered or prescribed home whitening kits for maintenance or treatment as needed.
Who Can Have Professional Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening is generally for people with healthy teeth and gums. But a dentist needs to check if it’s right for you before they can start. Whitening might be for people whose teeth have got darker or stained due to things like:
- Tea, coffee or other food and drink stains
- Smoking
- Stains that come with age
- Other kinds of external or internal discolouration
Who Should Avoid or Delay Whitening?
If you’ve got certain problems your dentist may tell you to delay or avoid whitening
For example:
- Anyone under 17 for cosmetic reasons
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- If your teeth or gums are unhealthy
- If you’ve got tooth decay or it’s not been sorted
- Gum disease that’s not been treated
- if you’ve got any other dental problems that need looking at first
- Crowns, veneers, dentures or implants that won’t get lighter
The NHS says that teeth whitening is not to be done on people under 17 or pregnant or breastfeeding . They also say it’s not a good idea if your teeth and gums are healthy.
If you’ve got any existing work on your teeth your dentist can tell you if whitening will work for you.
What Happens at a Teeth Whitening Appointment
Your first appointment is a key part of the whitening treatment. Before your dentist starts they need to check that it’s safe to whiten your teeth.
In your consultation they may:
- Go over your medical and dental history with you
- Ask about any medication or allergies you have
- Take a good look at your teeth and gums
- Check for any problems like tooth decay or gum disease
- Examine existing work like fillings or crowns
- Talk about what might have caused your discolouration
- Record your tooth colour if needed
- Go over all the whitening options with you
- Explain any potential sensitivity and side effects
- Discuss the likely cost of treatment
If you do have any problems they may want to sort those out before doing the whitening.
That way you have a chance to ask questions and get a good idea of the treatment and what to expect before you decide if you want to go ahead.
How Your Dentist Can Help You Get Whiter Teeth
The process involves a few steps, but is generally the same for most whitening systems – though this can depend on your dentist and the specific treatment they are using .
Step 1 – Consultation and Assessment
First your dentist will want to make sure your teeth and gums are in good enough shape to whiten. They will probably check for things like tooth decay or gum disease.
Step 2 – Getting Your Whitening Trays
If you need custom trays your dentist will take impressions or digital scans of your teeth to create trays that fit your teeth.
The time this takes can vary depending on the practice and lab they use.
Step 3 – Fitting the Trays
Once your trays are ready, your dentist or the dental team will take a look at how they fit and walk you through how to use them.
You’ll usually get a prescription for a whitening gel along with some instructions on just how much to use, how to put it in the trays and how long you should be wearing them.
Step 4 – Wearing the Trays at Home
You’ll be using the trays according to the schedule laid out by your dentist. Depending on the whitening system, you might be wearing them during the day for a set period or overnight.
The length of time you need to do this varies between whitening systems and people. Don’t go over the amount of gel or wear the trays for longer than you’re told to.
You might start to notice your teeth getting lighter over the course of the treatment, but how much of a difference you see will vary from person to person.
Step 5 – Managing Sensitivity and Aftercare
Some people can experience temporary tooth sensitivity or gum irritation when they get their teeth whitening done.
If sensitivity is a problem, your dentist will be able to advise you on what to do – they might recommend changing the way you do things, or using a product to help with sensitivity.
You might also be advised to avoid strongly coloured foods and drinks while you’re in the middle of treatment and to keep on top of your oral hygiene.
Step 6 – Review and Getting Your Results Checked
Depending on your treatment plan, your dentist may want to check in with you after a while to see how you’re doing and whether there are any issues you’re having.
They can also let you know if you can use the whitening trays again in the future and when that might be a good idea.
If you follow your dentist’s instructions, you should be able to maintain the results you get while keeping the risk of sensitivity or irritation to a minimum.
How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost in the UK?
Just how much teeth whitening costs in the UK depends on a few different things:
- The type of whitening treatment you get
- The whitening system used
- Whether you do it in the practice or at home
- Whether custom trays are needed
- The specific treatment plan you’re on
- The dental practice and where it is
Instead of giving you a rough idea of what it might cost, get in touch with the practice you’re thinking of using and ask for their current fee guide – they might also be able to give you more information on what the treatment would cost.
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment so it’s not something you can get through the NHS – most people will need to pay for it privately.
If you’re thinking of getting some other cosmetic work done at the same time, your dentist can tell you what the total cost would be and what your payment options are.
Safety, Side Effects & UK Whitening Regulations
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
The NHS says that getting your teeth whitening done by a dentist or using a kit provided by a dentist is the safest way to get it done.
Of course, like any treatment, teeth whitening can have some side effects. The two most common ones are temporary sensitivity and irritation of the gums or soft tissues.
Common Side Effects
Some people might experience:
- A bit of sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks\
- Mild irritation of the gums\
- Temporary whitening or pale patches on the gums if you get some whitening gel on them
These effects are usually just temporary, but if they do happen you should follow your dentist’s advice.
Managing Tooth Sensitivity
Your dentist will be able to advise you on how to manage any sensitivity you might get. This could be things like using a special toothpaste or changing the way you do your whitening.
Just remember not to overdo it and try to get faster results.
Why a Dental Check is Important
Before you get your teeth whitened, a dental professional will be able to check if you’ve got any problems like tooth decay or gum disease that need to be sorted out first.
Dental professionals are also bound by the UK regulations that govern tooth whitening products and treatment.
How Long Do Whitening Results Last & How to Keep Your Smile Looking Great?
Teeth whitening isn’t a permanent solution – the NHS says that if you follow your dentist’s advice, the effect might last for about three years. But how long it stays that way will vary from person to person.
Factors like your diet, smoking, what you do to keep your teeth clean and natural changes in tooth colour can all affect how long your teeth stay looking whiter.
What Causes Teeth to Get Stained Again?
Common things that might cause staining include:
- Coffee and tea
- Red wine
- Smoking
- Certain strong coloured foods and drinks\
- The natural changes that come with getting older
How to Keep Your Results Looking Good
To keep your smile looking its best, just make sure to:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between your teeth regularly with floss or interdental brushes.
- Get to your dentist for check-ups as recommended.
- Get professional dental hygiene care when it’s needed.
- Limit your intake of foods and drinks that can stain your teeth.
- Follow your dentist’s advice on any future whitening or top-up treatment.
- Don’t repeat whitening courses more frequently than your dentist recommends.
What About A “White Diet”?
You’ve probably seen whitening aftercare advice that suggests limiting brightly coloured foods and drinks after treatment – but forget about following a super strict diet. The best thing to do is just stick to the aftercare instructions your dentist and the instructions for the whitening system you used to provide.
Professional Whitening vs Shop-Bought Whitening Products
You might be wondering how professional whitening stacks up against whitening products you can buy from shops or online.
Dental Checks
Professional whitening involves a registered dental professional checking your teeth out before treatment. This means any potential dental problems can be sorted out before you even get started.
Getting the Best Out of Treatment
When you have dentist-supervised whitening, your dental team will show you how to use the product properly and what to do if you get any sensitivity or irritation.
Treatment Options
Professional whitening can either involve custom-made trays for treatment at home or treatment done at the dental practice – which all depends on your individual needs and circumstances.
Shop-bought products are all a bit different though, and their ingredients, concentrations and instructions can change from one product to another. If you’re not sure whether a whitening product is right for you then discuss this with your dentist.
Results Vary
The degree of whitening you get will depend on the product, the treatment you have and your individual situation – so don’t try and assume that one type of whitening will produce the same result for everyone.
Some claims that are made about whitening performance, the number of shades achieved, how fast the results come in and how long they last can be pretty exaggerated so its always good to look for some actual evidence to back them up.
Cost
Shop-bought products might have a lower upfront cost than professional treatment, but prices can vary a fair bit between products. Professional whitening costs can also vary depending on the treatment system and the dental practice you go to.
Your dentist can talk you through the options and the costs involved before you decide to go ahead with treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Professional Teeth Whitening Safe?
When you get whitening done through a registered dental professional and use the treatment as instructed, then its generally considered safe. However, you may get some temporary sensitivity or gum irritation. The NHS advises that getting whitening done by a dentist or at the dental surgery is the safest way to have your teeth whitened.
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Some people might get a bit of tooth sensitivity or gum irritation while they are having their teeth whitened – but this is usually just temporary. Your dentist can offer some advice on how to manage these effects if you do get them.
How Long Does Professional Teeth Whitening Take?
The time it takes to have teeth whitened will depend on the whitening system that is used. Home whitening usually involves a course of treatment that lasts for the time that your dentist advises, while in-practice whitening is done in one go during an appointment. Your dental team will let you know what you can expect before you start.
Can I Have Teeth Whitening With Crowns or Veneers?
Whitening products only lighten up your natural teeth, they don’t change the colour of crowns, veneers, bridges or any other dental restorations. If you have any visible restorations then you should discuss this with your dentist before you have the whitening done.
Can I Have Teeth Whitening While Pregnant?
Its not a good idea to have teeth whitening when you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Discuss this with your dentist if you are thinking about whitening and you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Can Teeth Whitening Damage Enamel?
Teeth whitening products are designed to change the colour of natural teeth rather than their shape or structure. However, whitening can cause temporary sensitivity or soft-tissue irritation, particularly if products are used incorrectly or for longer than instructed. Your dentist can explain how to use the whitening system safely
How Long Do Teeth Whitening Results Last?
The results of teeth whitening are not permanent. The NHS says the effect may last for around three years if you follow your dentist’s advice – but this can vary from person to person.
Is Teeth Whitening Available On The NHS?
No. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment and is not available through the NHS. It’s usually done privately at a dental surgery.
Can Anyone Have Professional Teeth Whitening?
Not everyone is suitable for whitening. Your dentist will take a look at your teeth and gums before you start and may recommend addressing any problems with tooth decay or gum disease before you go ahead.
Booking Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment
If you are thinking about having professional teeth whitening in Henfield, West Sussex or the surrounding areas then you can arrange a consultation with Mallards Dental Practice.
- Phone: Give the practice a ring to book a consultation
- Online: Use the online appointment booking form to get in touch
- Location: Mallards Dental Practice, Henfield, West Sussex
During your consultation your dental professional can take a look at your teeth and gums, talk to you about what you want to achieve and explain which whitening option may be suitable for you.
The team can also answer any questions you have about treatment, aftercare and current fees.
Professional teeth whitening is not suitable for everyone, so a personal dental assessment is a good first step. Don’t assume you will get the same result as someone else – your dentist can explain what is realistic for your teeth and help you decide whether whitening is right for you.
