Want to brighten and whiten your smile?
Teeth whitening is a popular and affordable option to brighten your smile. A healthy mouth and radiant teeth will help you to put confidence into your everyday life.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening or tooth bleaching is the process of enhancing the appearance and colour of your teeth. Before starting a whitening treatment, it is important for a dentist to examine your mouth to advise whether the whitening process is right for you.
There are two options of professional teeth whitening available at our Maven practices;
- Custom-made take-home teeth whitening kits
- In-chair teeth whitening treatments.
Your dentist or hygienist will be able to recommend the best option to suit you.
Results may vary depending upon the original shade and condition of your teeth, but most people notice visible improvements shortly after treatment.
Take-Home Whitening
Take-home whitening treatments allow you to brighten the shade of your teeth in the comfort of your own home. Before you get started, book a teeth whitening consultation with your dentist to discuss your suitability and how the treatment can help you reach your smile goals.
In your consultation a dentist will take impressions of your teeth for custom-made trays and book you in for a follow up appointment to pick up your custom whitening kit.
Your take home whitening kit will include two new custom-made trays (1 complete set with upper and lower teeth), syringes of dental grade whitening gel and easy-to-follow instructions.
Your dentist will advise you how often to repeat your at-home whitening sessions with the snug fit design of your custom-made tray and dentist quality whitening gel to achieve the level of whitening you desire.
In-Chair Whitening
In-chair whitening is a professional whitening procedure that is the fastest and most effective way to brighten your teeth and is carried out in the dental practice. In-chair whitening is the best option if you’re after almost 'instant' results and usually takes around 1-2 hours to complete.
If you’re ready for a brighter, whiter smile simply book a pre-whitening consultation with your dentist to check your suitability for a whitening treatment and to prescribe the most suitable method for you and the level of ‘whiteness’ you desire.
During the consultation, we will examine your mouth and identify any treatment that may need to be done prior to proceeding with whitening treatment.
The treatment involves the application of dental grade whitening gel to the teeth before it is activated by a special LED light in some cases.
*Please note: Not all Maven Dental practices offer In Chair Teeth Whitening. Please contact your local practice before booking your appointment.
What Can Teeth Whitening Treat?
Teeth Whitening is effective for treating stains known as extrinsic stains, that lie on the surface of the teeth (on the enamel). Some things teeth whitening can treat effectively include:
- Discolouration from natural aging of the teeth
- Discolouration from consuming staining foods and beverages (such as tea, coffee, wine, tomatoes)
- Discolouration caused by smoking & nicotine stains (in most cases)
What Can’t Teeth Whitening Treat?
There are some things that teeth whitening is less effective at treating, such as intrinsic stains that lie on the deeper layers of the teeth. In these instances, whitening may not be able to make a visible difference from causes including:
- Stains caused by taking certain antibiotics as a child
- Stains caused by trauma or damage to the tooth
- Crowns, veneers, and other dental restorations or appliances
What about Over the Counter Teeth Whitening Products?
It's not hard to find a variety of over-the-counter teeth whitening products in your local pharmacy or grocery store- from toothpastes, whitening strips, gels, UV devices and more. These products are easy to access and usually inexpensive, but do over the counter teeth whiteners work?
While most of these products do work to an extent, often brushing is the mechanism of whitening, which removes stains but does not necessarily change the colour of your teeth. Products that come with a one-size fits all tray may have an improper fit, and result in discomfort and a patchy result where contact has not been made with the gel and your teeth.
Overall, these over-the-counter products are not as effective as professional dental grade whitening treatments like take-home or in-chair treatments.
Preparing for your Teeth Whitening Appointment
Appointments for Teeth whitening
- Usually requires 1-2 appointments (including the initial consultation)
- At the consultation, we will check if teeth whitening is suitable for you
- If you’re receiving a take-home whitening kit, the consultation is where impressions will be taken for custom-made whitening tray.
How long does teeth whitening take?
- The consultation will usually take around 10 to 15 minutes
- Treatment will usually only take around 1 to 2 hours.
You may be asked about
Your dental and medical history.
Do I need to prepare?
No special preparation needed.
How long after teeth whitening can I eat normally?
Avoid certain food and drinks in the first few hours after teeth whitening, as directed by your dentist. In the first 48 hours, you should avoid any food and drinks that may stain teeth, including strongly coloured, dark food and drinks like wine and coffee, and acidic beverages such as fruit juice and alcohol.
Quick tip
We offer several teeth whitening options. Talk with your Maven dentist to discuss what is better suited to you, and the results you are after.
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FAQs
The cost of a teeth whitening treatment will depend on whether you choose in-chair whitening or a take-home whitening kit. Treatments vary across dentists and some practices may have special offers on teeth whitening packages. Contact your local Maven Dental Practice for our current teeth whitening prices.
There are many factors that come into play when it comes to whitening teeth or tooth bleaching. Your dentist will examine your suitability and oral health to identify any pre-existing dental areas of focus. We work with you to make sure you are comfortable and pain-free through the duration of the treatment. Please discuss any concerns you may have with your dentist.
Teeth whitening at home is a convenient way to brighten your smile - but there are safe and not-so-safe ways to go about it. Many of our Maven Dental practices offer a take-home whitening system that contain dental grade products that are safe and effective for your teeth, as well as a custom fit whitening tray.
There are over-the-counter versions of whitening systems, toothpastes, and gels, however these are not as effective as professional teeth whitening systems and may not give you the results you want. We recommend you discuss any questions you have about teeth whitening with your dentist.
The length of time that teeth whitening last depends on many contributing factors including your lifestyle and habits that originally caused teeth to stain. Most people find that it is a few years before the stains reappear to the level before treatment. Our practices also have home touch-up kits available to top up to help further enhance the whitening.
Teeth whitening is safe when done correctly or as advised by your Maven dentist. It is important to visit the dentist for a consultation before undergoing any whitening treatment. At Maven Dental, we assess the overall oral health and teeth condition allowing us to check if your teeth are suitable for whitening treatments. We advise against ordering DIY teeth whitening kits online that aren’t dental grade, as you don’t know if it is safe to use or if your teeth are suitable.